Overview
Salary Range: $22.15 – $22.65 Hourly
Position Type: Full Time
Job Shift: Any
Education Level: 4 Year Degree
Travel Percentage: Up to 25%
We Are YSS!
Helping communities see, understand, and act before it’s too late.
YSS is seeking a collaborative, energetic, motivated Hidden in Plain Sight Outreach Coordinator to help lead statewide substance use prevention and early intervention efforts. Working closely under the guidance of the Statewide Prevention Manager, you will collaborate with YSS staff, schools, community agencies, coalitions, stakeholders, and subcontractors to develop, implement, and promote programs that educate, empower, and protect youth.
A cornerstone of this work is the Hidden in Plain Sight initiative, a mobile program that immerses adults in a simulated teen environment to spot signs of substance use or risky behavior. By helping adults recognize these warning signs and engage youth in proactive conversations, the Coordinator works to prevent harm, addiction, or other serious consequences.
In this role, you will not only deliver and support evidence-based prevention programming, but also foster youth empowerment, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful opportunities for communities to engage, learn, and act. Your work transforms education into real-world impact—helping families, schools, and communities intervene early, protect young people, and build hope for a healthier future.
What You’ll Do…
- Lead statewide substance use prevention and early intervention programs, ensuring programs meet grant goals and agency standards.
- Supervise and support Prevention Specialists, Facilitators, Volunteers, and Interns in program delivery.
- Plan, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based curricula and specialized initiatives, including Hidden in Plain Sight.
- Empower youth as leaders, supporting public engagement, board participation, and community involvement.
- Build strong partnerships with schools, community agencies, coalitions, and stakeholders to expand program reach.
- Promote programs through public speaking, media outreach, and statewide engagement.
- Manage data collection, reporting, compliance, and program documentation.
- Participate in trainings, staff meetings, and community coalitions; complete other duties as assigned.
This is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
What We Provide…
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond the meaningful work, YSS provides the following benefits:
- Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture.
- Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment.
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits.
- Health insurance
- Voluntary dental insurance
- Voluntary vision insurance
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Professional liability insurance coverage
- Flexible spending account/health savings account
- Supplemental compensation award
- Generous Paid Time off and Leave
- Four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
- Volunteer time off
- Paid holiday leave
- Birthday holiday
- Wellness Program Opportunities
- Paid membership to the Athletic Club of Ames
- Employee Assistance Program for all employees
- Flu shots
- Mental health support
- YSS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.
- 403(b) retirement offerings
If this sounds like work you’d be proud to do—and a team you’d want to grow with—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s do meaningful work, together.
What We Ask…
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values – Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.
MUST HAVES – Required Qualifications
- .Bachelor’s degree in education, child development, human services, family environment, sociology, social work, or a related field, or an Associate’s degree with equivalent relevant experience and skills.
- Minimum of one year of experience in prevention, youth development, or related work.
- Experience should include public speaking and working with adults and youth in a group setting.
- Travel is required for this position. For YSS insurance purposes, you must:
- be 21 years of age,
- have a current, valid, state-issued, driver’s license, and
- have a clean driving record. .
SHOULD HAVES – Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to legally and safely operate a vehicle pulling a trailer preferred.
- Professionalism and the ability to represent YSS with integrity and confidence.
- Excellent communication and writing skills.
- Ability to manage resources effectively.
- Ability to manage one’s own time and the time of others.
- Ability to coordinate and work collaboratively with colleagues and community partners..
- Ability to actively learn and listen.
- Ability to use critical thinking skills to problem-solve.
The IDEAL candidate:
- Be rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
- Bring humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
- Speaks a language in addition to English (especially one spoken in our communities).
Who You Are…
You’re a compassionate, observant, and strategic professional who believes in the power of awareness, education, and connection to prevent harm and empower youth. You thrive collaborating with schools, families, and community partners, turning evidence-based prevention programs into meaningful opportunities for learning, early intervention, and resilience. You approach your work with empathy, creativity, and clarity—helping adults see what youth may be hiding, guiding proactive conversations, and creating safer, healthier communities across the state.
We Celebrate Your Story…
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Who We Are…
We’re YSS – one of Iowa’s oldest & largest nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission? To spark hope, create opportunities, and help young people thrive. With life-changing programs, an enthusiastic leadership team, and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re growing fast and thinking big. Check us out at yss.org!
At YSS, we celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences that each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment where everyone can grow and succeed. And we’re always working to do better together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
Heads Up! Don’t Miss Our Messages! – We communicate with applicants via email – straight from our Paycom system. So be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam/junk folder too). Got questions? Email yss@yss.org – we’re happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
- Apply – Fill out the online app at yss.org/ysscareers.
- Assessment – We’ll check out your skills and experience.
- Interview – Phone, video, or in-person – we’ll chat and get to know you.
- References – Send us three+ people who can sing your praises.
- Screening – Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
- Offer – If it’s a match, you’ll get a formal offer through Paycom.