Harm Reduction Manager

Job Summary: 

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services.  Health equity is at the heart of all our work. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

This position is responsible for providing programmatic leadership within the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH)’s Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR). The Harm Reduction Manager will oversee a staff of Harm Reduction Specialists responsible for developing and coordinating harm reduction activities in the community. Emphasis will be placed on community education and distribution of naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid-related overdoses, as well as activities relating to safe syringe disposal, drug-related litter clean-up, and coordinating community outreach activities during overdose surges. This position will work with City partners to promote harm reduction strategies and facilitate access to treatment for people who use drugs. The Harm Reduction Manager will report to the Director of SUPHR and work very closely with staff within the Division, the Opioid Response Unit, the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services, the Police Department, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Office of Homeless Services, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and health care providers associated with all major Philadelphia area hospital emergency departments.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

Under the supervision of the Director of the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction, the Harm Reduction Manager will perform the following essential job functions:

  • Oversee a team of Harm Reduction Specialists and coordinate the responsibilities of each member.
  • Order and maintain an adequate stock of harm reduction supplies.
  • Identify effective harm reduction strategies and work to implement at a community level.
  • Coordinate outreach, education, and access to care services for those affected by opioid use disorder and opioid overdoses.
  • Plan and implement a community-based naloxone education and distribution program, identifying community organizations in high-risk neighborhoods who are receptive and able to partner with the Department.
  • Coordinate activities relating to safe syringe disposal and drug-related litter clean-up.
  • Oversee outreach activities during and following surges in overdose.
  • Collaborate closely with community organizations to develop culturally appropriate materials and strategies to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids, availability of naloxone, and other harm reduction strategies.
  • Maintain records about the distribution of naloxone from PDPH to these community organizations, including but not limited to number of events hosted, number of people trained, and number of doses distributed.
  • Develop processes and procedures that will facilitate client access to drug treatment, such as warm hand-offs and expedited enrollment in medication assisted treatment programs.
  • Support other drug-related activities in the Department through close work with staff involved in addressing the drug crisis in Philadelphia, including primary prevention, harm reduction and treatment initiatives.
  • Participate in local, state, and national conferences, conference calls and workgroups addressing opioids and related public health topics.
  • Perform other activities related to opioid and substance use initiatives, as identified.

Qualifications

Education

  • Master’s degree in public health or related graduate-degree from an accredited school and one year of experience involving community-based work or programs that focus on client and agency education and engagement.

OR

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school and three years of experience involving community-based work or programs that focus on client and agency education and engagement.

OR

  • Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Department of Public Health

Skills/Experience:

  • Knowledge of substance use (in particular, opioid-related) medical terminology
  • Knowledge of current harm reduction strategies utilized in Philadelphia and in other jurisdictions
  • Knowledge of programmatic and/or policy barriers to harm reduction
  • Experience with program management in the public health field
  • Experience providing training and/or technical assistance
  • Flexibility and willingness to learn new tasks quickly
  • Excellent writing, communication, presentation, and organizational skills
  • Experience working and conducting research with health and prevention service agencies
  • Ability to work as part of a team, to prioritize and handle multiple tasks, to manage time effectively and to work independently in a high-pressure environment.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons and organizations contacted in the course of work
  • Sensitivity to and experience working with ethnically, culturally, and sexually diverse individuals, communities, agencies, and organizations
  • Skilled in Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Excel

Work Environment:

Standard office setting with extended periods at workstation and periodic use of office equipment.

Position Type and Work Schedule:

Salary - $65,000/year

Full time position, typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Flex office schedule options available with supervisor approval.

Travel:

Local travel to multiple sites and community meetings a few times a month.

Physical Demands:

None

Salary and Benefits:

Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:

  • Medical with vision benefits
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Life, AD&D and long-term care insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan, with a company contribution
  • Paid time off including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
  • Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation are handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy. 

DISCLAIMER

The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.