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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Outreach Specialist
Job Summary:
The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI), in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Section, seeks a candidate to join the Harm Reduction Response Team (HRRT). The HRRT provides mobile harm reduction outreach services in Wisconsin communities to prevent overdose and the spread of communicable diseases associated with substance use. This position will work with other members of the HRRT to conduct mobile outreach to provide health intervention services that include overdose prevention and education, point of care testing for communicable diseases, and screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Mobile services are provided utilizing a team approach and are targeted to participants where access to harm reduction service is limited and health disparities are great. Services are targeted to communities that have high need: active substance users, people who inject drugs (PWIDs), people living with HIV or HCV, sex workers, and other high-risk populations. The Harm Reduction Outreach Coordinator will conduct mobile harm reduction outreach services to prevent overdose and the spread of infectious diseases. These services include but are not limited to:
Distribute safer use supplies.
Provide HCV, HIV, STI education to participants.
Provide overdose education and buprenorphine education to participants.
Conduct harm reduction training to participants.
Travel Expectations
In-state travel is required. Must provide a valid driver's license. Employees may use their own transportation or receive approval for University Car Fleet usage. Employment is conditional pending the results of a Pre-hire Driver Authorization Check. See https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/#become-authorized-driver (click on “Become an authorized driver;” then click on “Required criteria”).
Overnight travel may be required at times for this position. While overnight travel may not occur on a weekly basis, there maybe several times per month it will be required
This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Candidate must live in Wisconsin, within driving distance of Madison for on-site commitments and outreach activities.
This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. [his position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility towork.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
Conduct individual low threshold interventions with high-risk clients that use harm and risk reduction interventions and principles to decrease risk in drug use, decrease risk in sexual practice and encourage HCV, HIV and STI testing.
Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
Department: School of Medicine and Public Health, Population Health Institute, DHS Harm Reduction
Compensation: The minimum salary for the position is $60,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage. SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026
Required Qualifications:
At least one year of work experience with at risk communities, including but not limited to: people living with HCV, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, homelessness, or substance use.
Experience with harm reduction services, syringe service programs, or overdose prevention education.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience conducting mobile outreach.
Experience working with communicable diseases like hepatitis C,HIV, and STIs including providing counseling, testing, and referral services.
Experience working with local and tribal health departments
Experience with coalition building and creating community partnerships
Experience with program coordination to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and deadlines while maintaining high quality work.
Experience with community based or lived experience providing outreach with various communities impacted by health inequities or organizations that work with these communities.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or related field is preferred. Experience with community based or lived experience providing outreach with various communities impacted by health inequities or organizations that work with these communities may suffice in lieu of a formal degree.
How to Apply: For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload all required documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.
Upload required documents:
• Cover letter
• Resume
Your cover letter should address how your training and experience align with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected
Contact Information:
Brittany Brown, brittany.brown@wisc.edu, 608-265-2978
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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