Peer Education Specialist

Job Title: Peer Education Specialist

Department : Education

Job Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Reports To: Peer Education Manager

Salary : $25.50 per hour

Bargaining Unit : Yes

POSITION SUMMARY

Amount of Travel Required: 50%-75%

Job Type: Regular

Positions Supervised: None

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

The Peer Education Specialist implements Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania’s (PPWP) 34- year peer education program, Peer Helpers, a long-term teen education/mentoring program to reduce teen pregnancy and ensure school completion through structured education programming, peer helping, recreation, and community service.

The Peer Education Specialist builds relationships with youth over the course of a student’s middle and high school career and nurtures youth empowerment by engaging students in important conversations around topics like decision-making, communication, relationships, identity, gender, personal values, consent, contraception, STD prevention, etc.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Committed to the goals, mission, standards and objectives of Planned Parenthood by fostering a positive environment to serve as a resource in teaching sex ed topics to varying audiences in an age-appropriate, trauma-informed way.

• Organizes, develops and implements lessons and activities based on sexuality topics of the Peer Education Program (i.e., relationships, consent, STIs, contraception) to engage youth in the classroom using curricula tailored to the specific needs of the community.

• Demonstrates effective teaching and presentation techniques with health classes inside Peer Helpers schools and follows and implements PPWP’s “Life Skills” curriculum (instruction to comprehensive sexuality education series).

• Encourages and engages Peer Helpers by providing them with opportunities, activities and support to develop, apply and share their leadership skills with the community, which includes implementing (planning, organizing, teaching and reporting) in accordance with goals outlined by funding sources and supervisors.

• Participates in community education and outreach events as assigned, with particular emphasis on Peer Education and Life Skills.

• Cultivates and maintains a respectful and supportive safe space for staff and students to work and learn healthy behaviors.

• Engages in respectful, professional communication with all teens, parents and school/community leaders from diverse communities and strong public speaking skills. Able to resolve conflicts quickly when they arise.

• Remains current and reads literature in the field concerning peer education, peer mentoring, adolescent development, human sexuality, family planning, and behavior change/risk-reduction.

• Attends workshops and/or seminars on peer education, teen pregnancy, human sexuality and family planning as assigned to contribute towards the mission of the program.

• Provides outstanding customer service and is expected to be available throughout the workday for communications . Maintains regular communication with the Peer Education Manager on students and curriculum.

• Assist in completion of departmental goals; complete administrative paperwork and other duties as assigned in a timely and accurate manner.

• Accurate and timely completion of job responsibilities and assigned tasks.

• Administration of the Peer Education Program using curricula tailored to the specific needs of the community.

• Cooperative effort to take initiative, work independently and as part of a team in an effective and timely manner.

• Maintain regular communication with the Peer Education Manager.

• Any duties as assigned.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Highschool Diploma or equivalent

Minimum of two years’ experience and/or training working with underserved youth and/or risk-reduction programs. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong knowledge of and who have a good standing with local communities with our education programming.

Skills:

• Receive and maintain current Pennsylvania Act 33/34 clearances.

• Flexible schedules since weeknights/weekends may be required based on the needs of the program.

• Good organizational skills

• Work under pressure

• Travel independently.

• Communicate professionally effectively in person, by phone, and email.

• Work in a flexible, fast-paced environment.

• Able to perform extensive standing without breaks and walking during the day.

• Must be able to lift, carry and transport (up to 20 pounds) boxes of pamphlets, brochures, teaching aids, program/office supplies between office and program sites.

• Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility of each employee. Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start working. Employees also are expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule

Computer Skills: Ability to use Microsoft Office - Word, Outlook, and Excel. Google Suite

Physical Demands Key

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.

O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5+ hrs/day)

F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5+ Hrs/day) C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs/day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

School and/or community environment. This position requires frequent travel. Access to reliable transportation required.

This description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements associated with this job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, PPWP reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different duties, responsibilities, and/or requirements be made part of the job. Paragraph headings are for convenience only and not intended to have substantive meaning. Nothing in this description is intended to confer any legal rights or powers on the President and CEO or to benefit any party other than PPWP.