Suicide Prevention Program Specialist Non-Perm (HSC 3) DOH8987

Suicide Prevention Program Specialist – Health Services Consultant 3 Prevention and Community Health – Injury and Violence Prevention

This full-time, non-permanent appointment has an anticipated duration of 12 months.

This home-based (remote) position is open to Washington residents and those living in Oregon and Idaho only. Field work throughout Washington is infrequently required and is expected to comprise approximately 5% of work time.

The Opportunity The Washington State Department of Health is seeking a Suicide Prevention Program Specialist (HSC3) to support statewide efforts to prevent suicide before a crisis occurs. This position coordinates and manages contracts, provides technical assistance to state and local partners, and strengthens community-based approaches that address the underlying conditions and risk and protective factors associated with suicide.

Working within the Suicide Prevention Program, this position partners with state agencies, community-based organizations, and suicide prevention coalitions to advance primary prevention strategies and connect community efforts to Washington’s State Suicide Prevention Plan. The work focuses on strengthening protective factors such as social connection and cultural belonging while addressing factors such as isolation and financial stress.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage multiple state and federally funded contracts, including monitoring activities, providing technical assistance, and supporting partners in meeting program goals and requirements.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with DOH programs, state agencies, community-based organizations, and suicide prevention coalitions.
• Provide technical assistance to partners implementing upstream, primary suicide prevention strategies tailored to the needs of specific populations and communities.
• Support statewide suicide prevention efforts using a shared risk and protective factor framework and align community-based activities with Washington’s State Suicide Prevention Plan.
• Represent the Department at partner meetings, forums, and other activities related to suicide prevention and the broader factors that contribute to suicide risk.
• Collaborate with Injury and Violence Prevention staff, including epidemiologists and programs focused on suicide prevention, gender-based violence, overdose prevention, and violence surveillance.

Why You’ll Love This Role This role offers an opportunity to contribute to suicide prevention by working upstream, supporting communities in addressing conditions that influence health and well-being before they lead to crisis. The position works across programs, agencies, and communities, providing variety and opportunities to build partnerships, strengthen prevention strategies, and contribute to meaningful statewide public health work.

Required Qualifications There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities.

Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.

Option 1: Bachelor’s degree or higher in public health, health care administration or a related field AND Four 4 years of public health, consultative or program management experience at a government agency or in a public health or injury and violence prevention or health services-related field.

Option 2: Master’s degree or higher in public health, health care administration, public administration or related field AND 2 years of public health, consultative or program management experience at a government agency or in a public health or injury and violence prevention or health services-related field.

Option 3: Five 5 years of public health, consultative or program management experience at a government agency or in a public health or injury and violence prevention or health services-related field.

Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in suicide prevention

• Serving in a leadership role to enhance collaboration among various groups.

• Experience writing and managing grants and contracts including developing and monitoring statements of work, amendments and line-item budgets that comply with federal and state funding requirements.

• Experience reviewing and approving invoices, following organizational workflows to submit invoices for payment, and coordinating with internal fiscal and operations staff to ensure invoices are paid timely.

Preferred Qualifications While these aren’t required, having them can help you stand out as a candidate.

• One or more years of experience working in state government.
• One or more years of experience working in suicide prevention and with rural communities.
• One or more years of experience working with primary prevention and upstream approaches.
• Project, grant and contract management experience or training.
• Plain talk training.

Employee Benefits We offer a solid benefits package that supports you and your family’s health, financial security, and work-life balance. You’ll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, and retirement plans that help you plan for tomorrow while you’re living today. Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave help you recharge, and additional programs like dependent care assistance and professional development opportunities add value beyond basic coverage. Join us and enjoy benefits designed to care for you as much as you care about public health. Learn more about DOH benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health.

About the Washington State Department of Health We're nearly 2,700 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience.

At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.

Working Conditions: The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Setting:

• This position may work from home, a DOH facility, or remotely from an alternate location. The official duty station for this position is home-based. If onsite work is requested by the supervisor, the request will be planned and communicated in advance.

Schedule:

• Standard DOH business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; however, an alternate or flexible work schedule may be considered at the employee's request, subject to supervisory approval.
• The position would not normally require working in excess of 40 hours per week, but if it became necessary for business needs, your supervisor would notify you in advance.

Travel Requirements:

• Regular or infrequent travel may be required to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences; meet with customers, provide in-person training, conduct community outreach, etc. Locations for travel include local health offices, community based organizations, conference venues, contractor offices, Universities, event centers, and other locations necessary for job functions, etc.
• When traveling for work, the position may require traveling alone or with another employee for multiple days and nights in or out of state.
• When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternate transportation while on state business.

Tools and Equipment:

• This position requires reliable access to an internet connection sufficient to perform all job duties remotely.
• This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer, monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse; and when in the office, the position may also require the use of a printer, phone, fax machine, and/or copy machine.

Customer Interactions:

• Daily contact with office-level managers and staff.
• The position regularly requires engaging with customers in a variety of settings agency staff, agency managers, agency supervisors, external partners, professional associations.

Other:

• This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment.
• This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.

Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references, directly in your Applicant Profile or as a separate attachment, including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).

DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.

Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.

DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Andrea Thieme at [email protected] and reference DOH8987.

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.

SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.

Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.