Health Promotion and Prevention Specialist

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, the Mental Health and Addictions Health Promotion and Prevention Specialist is responsible for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of a comprehensive range of health promotion, prevention, community engagement, harm reduction, and community development initiatives. This position involves extensive work with all facets of community, mental health and addictions staff, allied health professionals, as well as numerous intersectoral partners and a variety of community based organizations.

The IWK MHA Health Promoter applies an EDIRA-informed, Anti-racist, Anti-oppressive lens to all aspects of their work, with a focus on addressing social and structural inequities that impact the mental health and substance use outcomes for, children, youth and families. The Health Promotion and Prevention Specialist facilitates and fosters active communication, collaboration, and linkages among key stakeholders, within and outside the community, that shapes policy and program design. S/he acts as a catalyst to mobilize and support community members in taking a more proactive role in health promotion and prevention practice. S/he also takes a leadership role in advocating for health public policy, influencing a service delivery system that reflects community development practices, and in creating a foundation for health promotion practice to be implemented. The Health Promotion and Prevention Specialist responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Applying a population health approach to addressing the social determinants of health, particularly in relation to youth substance use prevention and mental health promotion


• Analyzing and interpreting the impact of policy decisions on population health and health care; advocating and participating in the development of healthy public policy


• Planning, facilitating, and evaluating community development and community mobilization activities with a particular focus on substance use prevention and mental health promotion


• Applying and maintaining standards and best practices for health promotion/population health, youth health, substance use prevention and mental health promotion


• Developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and strategies for health promotion initiatives


• Working with and supporting a variety of volunteer and/or community-based organizations


• Establishing and maintaining collaborative and mutually supportive partnerships with numerous intersectoral partners


• Participating in strategic, business, operational, and other planning processes


• Participating as a member of various working groups and committees

Hours of Work

Monday – Friday; 37.5 hours weekly. Some evenings may be required.

Your Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a health related field required (i.e., Health Promotion, Public Health or Health Education preferred).


• Currently licensed with, or eligible to be licensed with, the relevant licensing body required, where applicable.


• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in community based health promotion initiatives, population health, health public policy development and advocacy, program planning, and evaluation/research required.


• Previous experience in substance use prevention, mental health promotion, health promotion, public health, education, and/or community development an asset. 


• Demonstrated competency in applying comprehensive health promotion approaches in the community required. 


• Demonstrated understanding and working knowledge of Health Promotion Canada’s Health Promotion Competencies preferred.


• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in population health, health promotion, and healthy public policy required.


• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for working with vulnerable populations, particularly youth.


• Strong analytical ability’s to interpret data and convey results in a meaningful way required.


• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative and supportive partnerships with numerous intersectoral partners.


• Demonstrated effective communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, and leadership skills required.


• Demonstrated ability to take initiative required.


• Demonstrated excellent time management, workload prioritization, and organizational skills required.


• Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including judgement, problem solving and decision making abilities required.


• Previous media experience an asset.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within the identified scope of employment, and to seek consultation where required from clinical resources.


• Valid Class 5 driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle, and appropriate car insurance coverage required.


• Competencies in other languages an asset.