Program Manager – Overdose Prevention & Recovery Services

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA

9h•Remote

About The Position

Join Us in Saving Lives and Strengthening Recovery Across Iowa Are you driven by purpose? Passionate about creating healthier communities? Ready to make a measurable impact in preventing overdoses and expanding recovery opportunities statewide? The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a mission-focused Program Manager to lead some of our state’s most critical efforts to reduce substance-related harms and support recovery. This role offers the opportunity to shape programs, influence systems change and work alongside dedicated professionals committed to improving the lives of Iowans. What You’ll Do As a key leader in the Division of Behavioral Health, you will guide statewide initiatives funded through the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) project and opioid settlement funds. You will help drive the direction of Iowa’s prevention and recovery ecosystem by: Leading flagship statewide projects that prevent overdoses and expand access to meaningful recovery supports. Advancing evidence-based strategies across Iowa’s continuum of care. Guiding and supporting staff who are on the ground implementing prevention and recovery initiatives. Partnering with local, state, and national organizations to innovate, collaborate, and bring best practices to Iowa. Ensuring programs are effective, accountable, and continuously improving to meet the needs of communities. This is a role for someone who wants to lead with purpose and help build a healthier, more resilient Iowa. Your Impact You will directly influence programs that: Expand Recovery Housing, Recovery Community Centers, Recovery Cafés, and Recovery Support Services. Strengthen statewide prevention infrastructure through training, technical assistance, and workforce development. Increase public awareness through media, communications, and community outreach. Improve the quality and performance of service providers statewide. Advance data-driven decision-making by working closely with epidemiologists and project teams. Support strategic planning, policy development, and systems improvement across the Division of Behavioral Health.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to four years of full-time professional-level work in program administration, program development, program operations, or management.
A total of eight years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.
Two years of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations, or management; and a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, public health, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes twelve months of full-time work as an Executive Officer 1 or comparable specific management-level position.
Public Health 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both related to improving, maintaining, and protecting the general condition of health within society, either on a personal, institutional, organizational, or community basis. Experience may be gained from direct provision of health care or from other ancillary programs and support mechanisms such as government public health departments.
Social Work 6 months’ experience as a Social Worker or 6 months’ experience in the following areas: Activities Specialist (in a therapeutic capacity), Youth Counselor, Treatment Program professionals, Psychologist and Psychology Assistant, Drug Abuse and Correctional Counselor, Probation/Parole Officer, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, School Counselor
Substance Abuse Programs 6 months’ experience, 12 semester hours, or a combination of both in prevention programs, clinical substance abuse, or preventative abuse (counselors, treatment workers) that includes: Applicants who develop and/or present programs designed to inform a population on the use, abuse, and dependency of alcohol or other drugs. Initiation, design and/or review of education curriculums, which include alcohol/drug, related information (pharmacology, reasons for use, chemical dependency, etc.). Presentations to professionals, community organizations, youth in school, on chemical dependency. Preparation of media campaigns, including newspaper articles and public service announcements on prevention of substance abuse. Training of youth, parents, and professionals in assertiveness training (“saying no” strategies), communication skills, assertive discipline, decision-making, peer helping, employee assistance programming, and/or student assistance programming. Consultation with community organizations or other human service providers to develop prevention programming. Provide OWI classes to first-time offenders. Inform the public of the effects of chemical dependency on families.

Nice To Haves

Is energized by public service and community impact.
Thinks strategically and executes effectively.
Builds strong partnerships and leads with collaboration.
Values data, evidence-based practice, and continuous improvement.
Enjoys managing complex projects with statewide reach.
Is passionate about prevention, recovery, and behavioral health.

Responsibilities

Lead major prevention and recovery initiatives, including project planning, design, and implementation.
Oversee contracts, budgets, compliance requirements, and performance monitoring.
Conduct site visits, support providers, and ensure fidelity to evidence-based practices.
Develop RFPs, manage procurement processes, and support funding strategy.
Coordinate statewide partnerships and represent the Division at meetings and industry workgroups.
Develop prevention materials, resources, public awareness messaging, and digital content.
Facilitate training, workgroups, advisory committees, and collaborative meetings.
Support high-quality reporting for state and federal funders.
Identify system barriers and recommend innovative solutions that strengthen Iowa’s prevention-treatment-recovery continuum.