Prevention Specialist

Vivent Health • Chicago, IL

2d

About The Position

The Prevention Specialist provides anonymous and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), along with counseling and referral services. The role supports a comfortable, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment and provides prevention education, syringe access programming where applicable, and harm-reduction services for priority populations, including gay, bisexual, and same-gender-loving cisgender men, people of trans experience, and people who inject drugs.

The Specialist establishes and implements testing, counseling, and referral sites; distributes approved educational materials and safer-sex or safer-injection supplies; provides individual education and client assessments; and connects clients with internal and external services such as PrEP, treatment, housing, and employment. The position also involves community outreach and events, service documentation, grant reporting, and regular activity updates to a supervisor. Additional job-related tasks may be assigned, and employees must adhere to agency policies. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working with HIV/AIDS, PrEP, and alcohol and other drug (AODA) issues.
• Experience presenting to small and/or large groups.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Windows, and databases.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the service delivery area.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the HIV/AIDS patient population, or eagerness to learn about this community.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to HIV/AIDS, PrEP, and AODA issues.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including comfort discussing sexuality, orientation, gender, and sex.
• Ability to complete assignments with minimal supervision, thoroughness, and efficiency.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Dependability and punctuality.
• For positions requiring use of a company vehicle: valid driver's license, auto insurance, and a clean driving record.

Nice To Haves

• HIV Prevention Certified Provider certification.
• Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification.
• HIV experience in a not-for-profit environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct confidential and anonymous HIV, HCV, syphilis, and STI testing, counseling, and referral (CTR), where applicable, in accordance with state guidelines.
• Establish and implement CTR sites for priority populations.
• Distribute approved educational materials, safer-sex materials, and/or safer-injection supplies.
• Conduct one-on-one educational sessions and client assessments, including referrals to internal and external services such as PrEP, treatment, housing, and employment.
• Conduct regular outreach at bars, barber shops, treatment and recovery centers, and other venues frequented by priority populations.
• Plan and participate in community events, such as Pride Fest, that engage priority populations.
• Document services and activities in established internal data systems and develop public and private grant reports as required.
• Report activities regularly to the supervisor through biweekly personal management interviews (PMI).
• Implement special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
• Adhere to agency policies, including confidentiality, the Employee Handbook, the Health Care Corporate Compliance Plan, and Standards of Conduct.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including 12 paid holidays.
• 401(k) with 100% employer match up to 5%.
• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for benefits-eligible employees after one year.
• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision, and gender-affirming care.
• Tuition reimbursement and licensure assistance.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility through the organization’s nonprofit status; eligibility depends on other factors.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED