Director of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction

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Job description

Job Description

This position is responsible for managing the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The mission of SUPHR is to reduce the number of people initiating while ensuring that individuals in active addiction are receiving the harm reduction and treatment resources they need. The Division manages and analyzes data on local drug use and its consequences, including overdoses, hospitalizations, and drug treatment utilization, and prepares summary reports and statistics that are used to inform City policy and initiatives. The Director oversees the overall day-to-day operations and personnel responsible for managing the following SUPHR program areas: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Surveillance and Outreach, Overdose Death Review (OD Stat), Surveillance and Epidemiology, Communications, Prescriber Training and Education, and Treatment Linkage. This individual assures that the Division is effectively working towards its mission by coordinating programs and strategies, identifying critical issues, and helping to manage the Division's budgets and contracts. The Director works closely with other Health Department Divisions, the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Department of Prisons and other city and non-city agencies involved in addressing substance use in Philadelphia.

Essential Functions

Oversee development, implementation and evaluation of grant-funded programs and activities relating to substance use prevention, harm reduction, and surveillance.

Organize, lead, and manage supervisory staff.

Direct Division specific strategic planning, team building, and goal setting.

Identify and follow-up on substance use-related funding opportunities.

Initiate and manage special projects aimed at better understanding the drug crises in Philadelphia.

Identify data and information sources for substance use prevention and harm reduction related programming.

Develop collaborative relationships with City and non-City partners and stakeholders.

Serve as a representative for grantee teleconferences/meetings.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to interpret analytic findings and write project proposals and technical reports.

Ability to develop and monitor budgets and contracts.

Ability to analyze and think critically to apply reasonable judgment and problem-solving skills.

Experience working and conducting research with health and prevention service agencies.

Excellent organizational and communication skills.

Ability to work as part of a team, to prioritize and handle multiple tasks, and to work independently in a high-pressure environment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons contacted in the course of work.

Sensitivity to and experience working with ethnically, culturally and sexually diverse individuals, communities, agencies and organizations.

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