LDA - Community Needs Consultant - IPS

The Community Needs Consultant is an initial 2-year limited duration appointment (LDA) position for the SMART Initiative (Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee) with the Institute for Public Service (IPS), though the position is expected to extend beyond the initial 2-year appointment.

The SMART Initiative is a state-wide program whose primary goal is to empower Tennessee communities to overcome the overdose crisis. The SMART Initiative guides community leaders in implementing evidence-based, cost-effective strategies that mitigate damage from substance use disorders and the opioid crisis. The SMART Initiative’s vision is a healthy Tennessee where people impacted by substance use can live and thrive.

The SMART Initiative Community Needs Consultant will work would local government leaders to identify community needs and develop program strategies related to substance use, as well as provide state-wide technical assistance and education to local government for the management and spending of opioid settlement funds. This position will provide services in the absence of the other SMART Initiative consultants by delivering educational presentations, attending meetings, assisting with community grant processes, and other activities needed to support local government in spending settlement funds. This position will focus primarily on more intensive services, including but not limited to conducting county level comprehensive substance use needs assessments and leading all phases of project implementation while working with other members of the SMART Initiative team to identify spending priorities and evaluating projects for success and impact.

• Establish and maintain close relationships with state, county, and municipal leaders and other state professionals

• Provide state-wide technical assistance to local officials across the state to manage and spend opioid settlement funds as needed in the absence of the other SMART Initiative consultants, this includes providing education, attending meetings, supporting community grant processes, or assisting any other needs that arise

• Develop and conduct county level substance use needs assessments to identify spending priorities when requested by local governments

• Conduct key stakeholder interviews with representatives from multiple local sectors, this includes developing interview questions, interviewing, transcribing, and coding for themes

• Hold stakeholder workshops or townhalls to obtain community input regarding services, needs, and barriers related to substance use services in the county

• Identify and categorize local and surrounding resources to identify gaps in services, populations served, and geographic regions

• Develop easy to read comprehensive reports to share back with local government that includes recommendations for spending priorities or projects to implement

• Present findings to local government as requested

• Construct plans in partnership with local government to design and implement new or enhance or expand existing substance use projects

• Identify and review best practices for projects desired and incorporate evidence or promising practices into the design

• Identify partners and foster relationships with multiple community organization to decrease working in silos and increase collaboration

• Support budget development and identify possible funding sources and provide assistance with obtaining funding as needed

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in public health or related field
• Experience: A minimum of four years of experience in a position related to substance use or equivalent education or experience
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Substance use disorder content expert or knowledge of the impact of the opioid crisis on rural and urban communities at a minimum
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Detail-oriented with a commitment to producing accurate and reliable results.
  • Familiarity with data ethics and protocols.
  • Experience working in diverse settings, including academic, non-profit, or government environments.
  • Knowledge of data visualization tools for conveying data findings.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize activities when reacting to numerous and competing requests for assistance from communities
  • Ability to complete tasks independently with little supervision while working in office or remotely while overseeing multiple projects simultaneously

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in public health or related field

Work Location:

• Location: This remote position will serve the state of Tennessee. Full-time residence within Tennessee is required, though this can be anywhere within the state. Office space may be provided if needed depending on area of residence.

Benefits

• Find more information on UT Benefits here
  

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before December 11, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
  

About The College/Department/Division

The UT Institute for Public Service provides outreach and assistance to all of Tennessee. Through our agencies and initiatives, we offer technical assistance, training, and consulting on a wide variety of services, including government operations, language services, local planning, law enforcement excellence, leadership training, manufacturing excellence, opioid abatement and much more.