Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

The Health Promotion, Practice, and Innovation (HPPI) Portfolio, within EDC’s US Division has an opening for a full-time Senior Prevention Specialist (Training & Technical Assistance Associate I). The position is eligible to work in EDC’s Washington, DC, or Waltham, MA offices and is open to telecommuters.

The HPPI portfolio includes projects related to trauma, violence and injury prevention, substance abuse prevention, and suicide prevention. This position has a specific focus in suicide prevention, which is one of EDC’s priority areas of expertise. The Senior Prevention Specialist (Training and Technical Assistance Associate I) is expected to collaborate across teams, particularly within the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and other HPPI portfolio projects. The individual in this role will report to the Director of State and Community Initiatives for SPRC project work. SPRC is the nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP).

This full-time position will provide capacity-building consultation and training to state suicide prevention coordinators, state suicide prevention coalitions, communities and other SPRC constituents. Key functions of this role will include providing tailored consultation and support for an assigned regional portfolio of state-level suicide prevention leaders, leading and/or contributing to training events, developing products and resources, and working closely with the team director to ensure coordination amongst the team and the broader SPRC initiatives.

The ideal candidate understands the public health approach to suicide prevention and best practices in suicide prevention. Specific experience in state or community suicide prevention and mental health promotion, or experience providing consultation or training at the state or community level is desired. Experience developing and delivering virtual or in-person training or training materials is preferred. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management and have excellent communication, time management and organizational skills. This position may support other EDC projects as needed and may participate in portfolio business development efforts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

Under general guidance, the Senior Prevention Specialist (Training & Technical Assistance Associate I) will advance EDC’s suicide prevention priorities by participating in complex projects to provide professional development training and technical assistance, including:

• Serving as the point of contact and providing consultation and support for an assigned regional portfolio of state-level suicide prevention leaders
• Developing or adapting virtual learning and training tools that incorporate adult learning principles for diverse audiences on suicide prevention
• Leading, assisting and contributing to live virtual group training events for the team’s audiences, including webinars, peer-to-peer learning, and other presentations
• Supporting other discrete team projects and coordinating this work with other teams, the SPRC funder, and other national partners as appropriate
• Advising on, developing, and supporting team workplans, processes, and systems
• Research, with expertise of content area, including identifying tools, resources, trainings, and evidence-based practice that can help stakeholders achieve their objectives
• Conceptualizing and overseeing product testing & evaluation
• Documenting & cataloguing
• Maintaining records, including financial
• Disseminating information
• Assisting with project workplan, budget development and project implementation

The Senior Prevention Specialist (Training & Technical Assistance Associate I):

• Builds knowledge and capacity of organizations and staff
• Facilitates project teamwork and feedback exchanges
• Coordinates contract and quality adherence
• Coordinates administrative and logistical tasks
• Troubleshoots complex problems, proposing initiatives and recommending or negotiating solutions
• Provides training and guidance or administrative direction to junior staff; may supervise support staff
• May lead parts of a project or coordinate sections of larger projects
• May travel within the US up to 2-3 times per year

This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. Experience strongly preferred:

• Content Knowledge: A strong understanding of the public health approach to suicide prevention. Experience in the mental health or suicide prevention fields, especially within state or community systems.. A strong understanding of adult learning principles as they relate to virtual and in-person trainings.
• Technical Assistance Experience: Experience providing consultation (technical assistance, information services, or similar functions) to clients via phone and email on suicide prevention best practices. Experience working with diverse communities and cultures strongly preferred.
• Training Experience: Experience providing virtual or in-person trainings that meet the needs of adult learners.
• Project Management Experience: Experience managing parts of projects and processes to ensure that high quality deliverables are produced on time. Experience coordinating across teams and deliverables..
• Relationship Building: Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and funders over long distances.
• Communications: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in supervisory relationships, with colleagues, and with project partners and funders. Experience developing and reviewing written materials for outside audiences.
• Collaboration: Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others.

Specific requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• With Bachelor’s degree, 5–8 years related experience in the disciplinary area, social science or public health research, education, training, curriculum design, consulting, organizational development or administrative management, including experience with computer applications, instructional design, and Internet research
• Master’s degree or teacher certification or equivalent combination of training and education in a related field preferred
• With Master’s degree, 3–5 years related experience (as above)
• Familiarity with multimedia techniques
• Some prior project leadership or supervisory experience preferred
• Ability to lead projects independently and also consult with colleagues and senior staff, as appropriate

Applications should be submitted directly through the EDC website (www.edc.org). 

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. The cover letter should be a succinct statement of interest to include highlights of relevant qualifications and experience for the role desired, and should not exceed two pages. The resume should not exceed five pages. Note: applications without requested items will not be considered.