Job Description:

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. 

SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION DIVISION OVERVIEW

Many cities have been impacted by the overdose crisis, but Philadelphia has been hit especially hard. The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health has responded by creating the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR), a team focused on improving the health and well-being of people who use drugs in Philadelphia.  SUPHR has 10 units: Bereavement (Philly HEALs), Communications, Community Engagement, Environmental Services, Epidemiology, Harm Reduction, Medical, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Philly LIFTS), Operations, and Overdose Fatality Review (OD Stat). The division's mission is to prevent overdoses and other health issues by offering services and shaping policies to promote the dignity, autonomy, and health of people who use drugs. To name just a few things, SUPHR offers overdose prevention training, support to families with babies born with NAS, and a same-day pay program focused on creating job opportunities while cleaning communities. Since so many Philadelphians have been touched by the overdose crisis, SUPHR also provides counseling to children and adults who have lost someone in their lives to an overdose. Behind the scenes, SUPHR works with other city agencies, hospitals, and community groups to ensure that everyone is working together to combat stigma and encourage harm reduction efforts. SUPHR recognizes that many communities have been dealing with substance use for a long time, and SUPHR is invested in giving communities the tools they need to keep people who use drugs, their loved ones, and the larger community healthy and safe.

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 the Harm Reduction Team responsible for developing and coordinating harm reduction activities citywide. 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 the distribution of fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, and coordinating community outreach activities during overdose surges. This position oversees the scheduling and implementation of Harm Reduction 101 and Overdose Reversal Training. This position will be responsible for creating a citywide training plan and strategy. This position will work with City partners to promote harm reduction strategies and facilitate access to care 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 Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services, the Police Department, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Prison Department, the Opioid Response Unit, Free Libraries of Philadelphia, and community-based harm reduction organizations.

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 the Harm Reduction Team and coordinate the responsibilities of each member.


• Identify effective harm reduction strategies and work to implement them at a citywide level.


• Coordinate outreach, education, and access to care services for those affected by opioid use, stimulant use, and overdose.


• Plan and implement a community-based naloxone education and distribution program, identifying community organizations in high-risk neighborhoods that are receptive and able to partner with the Department.


• 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 harms of illicit opioids, the 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 the number of events hosted, number of people trained, and number of doses distributed.


• Maintain and oversee the naloxone near me tower as well as the installation plan for additional towers.


• Develop processes and procedures for citywide training and distribution of harm reduction resources.


• Support other drug-related activities in the Department through close work with staff involved in addressing the overdose crisis in Philadelphia, including primary prevention, harm reduction, and treatment initiatives.


• Participate in local, state, and national conferences, conference calls, and workgroups addressing substance use, prevention, and related public health topics.


• Perform other activities related to opioid and substance use initiatives, as identified by Division Director.

Education

• Master’s degree in public health, social work, public administration, 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:

• 2-3 years of management experience


• Knowledge of substance use medical terminology.


• Knowledge of current harm reduction strategies utilized in Philadelphia and 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, prioritize and handle multiple tasks, manage time effectively, and 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, PowerPoint, and Excel

Work Environment:

Standard office setting with extended periods at a workstation and periodic use of office equipment. This role does require work time in the field to meet with community-based organizations, external partners, and internal partners as needed.

Position Type and Work Schedule:  Full-time position, typical hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Flex office schedule options are available with the supervisor’s approval.

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

Physical Demands:  Ability to transport materials and supplies. This also includes assisting with deliveries of harm-reduction supplies.  

Salary and Benefits:  Salary - $84,665 /year.  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.

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