SADD works to empower, engage, mobilize, and change students and adult allies on the issues of mobility safety, substance use, mental health, and leadership development. SADD was founded on the simple philosophy that young people, empowered to help each other, are the most effective force in prevention. Therefore, we’re trying to change the world through a peer-to-peer model of school and community-based chapters.

Key Responsibilities

Chapter Development & Strategic Field Implementation

The State Coordinator drives the growth, retention, and activation of SADD chapters within their assigned territory, implementing strategies that increase the effectiveness of peer-to-peer student leadership at the local, regional, and national levels.

• Recruit, establish, reactivate, and maintain active SADD school-based as well as community chapters; proactively identify and engage at-risk or inactive chapters.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for chapter advisors, providing consistent support, troubleshooting, onboarding, training, and check-ins.
• Keep the network of chapters and advisors informed, enrolled, and aligned with state and national SADD initiatives; ensure program reporting guidelines are met to accurately reflect statewide work completed on the chapter level          .    
• Work collaboratively with state affiliates and prevention partners to advance strategic prevention programming throughout the region.
• Support the development of culturally responsive outreach efforts that reflect the diverse communities and health and safety needs of assigned counties.

Program Execution & Community Engagement

• Recruit and train students and adult leaders to serve as peer educators, advocates, and SADD chapter officers.
• Conduct and facilitate both virtual and in-person meetings, workshops, and trainings with stakeholders.
• Present safety programming and youth leadership content in schools, community settings, and public events.

• Spend ample and appropriate amounts of time seeking out and actively engaging with relevant contacts and attending organization-related events.  Maintaining physical presence in the state for mission-related events is critical.            

• Attend and present at conferences, tabling events, awareness activities, and state/regional outreach opportunities.
• Spearhead planning and capacity-building with students and chapters to support independent growth.
• Pro-actively build SADD's presence and relationships in local and regional prevention coalitions, highway safety networks, and community stakeholder groups.
• Manage or co-lead a regional Student Leadership Council (SLC), supporting leadership development and the national SLC pipeline.
• Assess regional needs, identify underserved communities, prioritize outreach efforts, and develop implementation strategies that maximize impact while aligning with organizational priorities and grant objectives
• Work closely with volunteers and grant-funded interns as applicable.

Independent Field Operations & Self-Directed Performance

• Independently plan and manage a field calendar that balances in-person community engagement with remote administrative responsibilities.
• Prioritize high-impact activities and adapt scheduling in response to changing community needs, grant requirements, and organizational priorities.
• Maintain a consistent and professional presence in the field, reliably representing SADD's mission and brand in all community interactions.
• Manage personal travel logistics including planning, expense tracking, and compliance with grant-authorized travel requirements.
• Serve as a “Network Stewardship” to actively build relationships with youth, advisors, community partners, and leveraging those relationships to help progress the role and goals forward.
• Participate in evening and weekend events as needed to meet program obligations.

Travel & Regional Field Coverage.

• Travel approximately 25–50% of scheduled work time to conduct in-person chapter visits, community events, partner meetings, tabling activities, and school presentations.
• Maintain reliable personal transportation and a valid driver's license with a driving record in good standing — required for day-to-day field mobility within the assigned region.
• Manage travel and independently travel to field assignments, community partner locations, and outreach events across assigned counties without relying on carpools or shared transportation                              .
• Attend and actively participate in SADD regional or National events, local prevention and mobility safety-focused conferences, and the annual SADD National Conference.
• Represent SADD at grant-required site visits, state highway safety meetings, and prevention coalition events.
• Coordinate and log all field travel per grant requirements; submit timely expense documentation and travel authorizations as directed.

Grant-Aligned Program Administration & Compliance

• Implement activities aligned with assigned grant goals, deliverables, and target populations.
• Collect, document, process, and report data related to chapter activity, program participation, outreach reach, and youth engagement outcomes.
• Complete internal and external reports accurately and on time, including monthly progress documents, activity logs, and photo/data submissions.

• Assist with grant documentation requirements, including outcome tracking, success stories, and compliance records.

• Offer state-based guidance on annual grant application processes with data-informed approaches.

Stakeholder Relations, Partnerships & Community Presence

• Build and maintain productive relationships with schools, school districts, State Highway Safety Offices (HSOs), community coalitions, law enforcement, and state/local prevention partners.
• Represent SADD at local, regional, and state events,      serving as a visible ambassador for the organization's mission and programs.
• Coordinate distribution of program materials, toolkits, and supplies to chapters and partners.
• Support sponsor and partner engagement at the field level in coordination with national leadership.

Communication, Reporting & National Collaboration

Though the State Coordinator operates independently in the field, they are a connected and contributing member of SADD's national team. Regular communication, knowledge sharing, and collaborative spirit are expected.

• Utilize independent and innovative thinking to bring new ideas and solutions to the table
• Act as the primary liaison between SADD's national office and local chapters within the assigned region.
• Respond to advisor and student inquiries in a timely, professional, and mission-consistent manner.

• Participate in team meetings, virtual staff calls, and organizational initiatives.

• Provide required reporting and data for monitoring, evaluation, learning, or media purposes    

• Appropriately communicate in writing and verbally, in person and virtually with a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and expertise.  This role will frequently engage with staff on the leadership levels to peers and young people. 
• Contribute positively to team culture across a virtual, geographically dispersed organization.
• Bring field-level perspective and regional data to inform national program planning and priorities.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed to support organizational priorities.
• Assess statewide needs and relevant data to identify underserved communities, prioritize outreach, and develop implementation strategies aligned with organizational priorities and grant objectives.
• Develop annual and periodic state work plans using strategic prevention, capacity-building, and continuous-improvement principles.
• Build the capacity of students, advisors, chapters, and community partners to sustain and expand SADD programming independently.
• Exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making, recognizing emerging challenges and opportunities and adjusting strategies when appropriate.
• Serve as SADD’s primary statewide representative and steward of the chapter, advisor, and partner network, using relationships to expand SADD’s reach and strengthen long-term sustainability.

RACI SUMMARY — STATE COORDINATOR ROLE

The table below reflects the State Coordinator's functional responsibilities as derived from the SADD organizational RACI chart. R = Responsible | A = Accountable | C = Consulted | I = Informed

Functional Area