Field Officer - MATES North America Pilot

Location: New York City (NY) or Houston (TX)

Type: Full-time

Duration: 12-month contract with possibility of extension, commencing February 2026

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 + benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience

Reports to: Program Operations Manager

Direct reports: None

Works with: Field Officer; Case Manager / Field Officer; Administration, Communication & Reporting Officer, Senior Leaders from US and Australia

About MATES and the North America Pilot

MATES in Construction is an evidence-based, industry-backed, peer-led workplace program that brings suicide prevention and mental health support onto the jobsite. The model blends:

• Engagement, awareness and capacity building through toolbox-style conversations and formal training that reduce stigma, empower help-offering and reduce barriers to help-seeking.
• Peer network activation by training and supporting natural helpers called “Connectors” who notice, ask, and link people to help.
• Facilitated pathways to care via structured referral and escalation. The MATES team are the bridge to supports, not the clinicians.

Visit www.matesna.org for more information.

The MATES North America pilot is adapting the proven Australian model to North American conditions through a pilot delivery approach with strong governance, and rigorous evaluation. This pilot is delivered in partnership with Quanta Services, whose leadership and nationwide network provide real-world pilot sites and industry ownership for a solution built by and for the construction industry. Your work will directly enable the industry to own a sustainable solution. What you deliver in this role shapes how the program scales across North America.

Purpose

Shape and own this newly created role, and influence program and operational implementation from the ground up. Be the face of MATES onsite - building trust with leaders and crews, delivering General Awareness Talks and Connector training to fidelity, and activating peer support networks. You turn conversations into practical next steps by spotting risk early, enabling supported referrals, keeping sites engaged for follow-ups, and modelling safe messaging while capturing clean data.

Why this role will excite you

You’ll be on worksites most days meeting crews, running engaging sessions, activating Connectors, and watching culture move from silence to support. Because this is a pilot, your insights will directly inform how the model grows - what works, why it works, and how we keep it strong at scale. You’ll receive high quality supervision, and operate in a supportive regional team that makes a real difference and celebrates wins together.

Training and accreditation you’ll receive

• MATES Model Induction: learn the history, methodology and evidence of the program, understand the brand, and become part of our mission.
• Training and support to deliver General Awareness Talk (GAT) sessions, boundaries/safe messaging, and referral/escalation protocols.
• safeTALK Training and Trainer Accreditation (LivingWorks): complete train-the-trainer requirements to deliver safeTALK to fidelity and maintain trainer currency.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) training (LivingWorks).
• Operational systems: orientation to HR, communications, finance, IT and program database platforms.
• Ongoing coaching: regular practice feedback, reflective sessions with your Coordinator, and oversight from senior leaders in the US and Australia.

Note: You will not provide clinical care. You’ll create the conditions for real conversations, activate peers, and bridge workers to support (through case management and external services).

What you’ll do

Engage, mobilize and support sites

• Build relationships and trust with leaders, foremen, union reps, and crews; assess readiness for the MATES program; and tailor the approach to local realities.
• Maintain a pipeline of sites moving through engagement → GAT → Connector activation → follow-up.
• Activate and sustain Connector networks; schedule check-ins and refresher training as needed.
• Maintain ongoing site relationships and provide support as needed, including when critical incidents or suicides occur.

Deliver high-impact training

• Facilitate GAT to fidelity, ensuring it is relatable, practical, and evidence informed.
• Facilitate safeTALK and ASIST with a strong focus on safe messaging and protective practices.

Facilitate early identification and supported referral (non-clinical)

• Be a visible, trusted presence; notice cues, start conversations, and bridge workers to support via clear pathways.
• Follow escalation protocols; document contacts and outcomes accurately.

Operate as a regional team, and one program

• Work within your regional team coordinating activity calendars, coverage, and resources.
• Share learning across regions; use standardized materials; log any proposed adaptations through governance to protect fidelity.
• Spot risk; respect role boundaries; escalate issues to Coordinator/Case Manager/Senior leaders per protocol.

Contribute to data, reporting and evaluation

• Capture simple, accurate data; use checklists; and meet reporting cut-offs.
  • Provide inputs for weekly ops snapshots and monthly KPI reports; respond to evaluation data requests on time.

What you’ll bring

Essential capabilities and experience

• Construction credibility: experience in construction or a closely related setting (e.g. civil, utilities, major projects, OHS). You “speak site” and understand the rhythm, pressures, culture, and humor.
• Relationship-building and stakeholder management skills: demonstrated ability to build rapport quickly across roles (from apprentices to project managers); collaborate well with unions, contractors, and site leadership.
• Training delivery and facilitation: demonstrated experience leading groups from 10 to 150 people; able to adapt style to crews; use activities, stories, and plain language; can handle tough questions with composure.
• Comfort discussing suicide and mental health: ability to work within safe-messaging principles; ability to open, hold, and close sensitive conversations and escalate appropriately (you do not do clinical work).
• Program implementation know-how: ability to turn a plan into day-by-day action - scheduling, run sheets, room/gear readiness, follow-ups, and basic continuous improvement.
• Data discipline: demonstrated ability to keep accurate notes and CRM entries; comfortable with checklists, attendance records, and simple dashboards.
• Digital literacy: confident using Microsoft 365, shared drives, email/calendars, video meetings; able to learn new operational systems quickly (e.g. CRM/database, HRIS/onboarding, travel booking and expenses).
• Time and territory management: plan efficient routes; adjust to early starts/shift patterns; keep commitments and close loops.

Highly regarded capabilities and experience

• Prior peer leadership or union engagement; EHS/OHS/safety background.
• LivingWorks safeTALK/ASIST program completion or trainer accreditation.
• Bilingual capabilities (English and Spanish) and experience working with culturally diverse people.
• Lived / living experience of your own, or caring for someone with, mental health challenges, suicidality or suicide bereavement.
• Basic A/V skills for training delivery.

Essential attributes

• Approachable and dependable: warm, credible, and kind while holding the line on quality and safety.
• Team-first: share the load in the region; offer and seek help early.
• Learner: open to coaching and reflective practice; turn feedback into action.
• Reliable and consistent: on time to sites, prepared, and diligent about closing loops on referrals and commitments.
• Inclusive and non-judgemental: welcome every worker regardless of role, background, or beliefs. Listen first, avoid assumptions, and challenge stigma respectfully.

What success looks like (first 6–12 months)

• Sites move smoothly from engagement → GAT → Connector activation → follow-up; repeat invitations grow.
• A live, supported Connector network exists on your sites; leaders describe MATES as credible and useful.
  • Onsite activity commitments are fulfilled with version-correct assets and smooth logistics.
• Your region runs like clockwork through clear calendars, coverage during peaks/leave, strong collaboration with the other region/s.
  • CRM data ≥95% complete at cut-off; evaluation requests met on time; issues/risks/actions tracked and closed.

Role conditions

• Regular travel across your region and sometimes to others; early starts and occasional evenings aligned to site schedules.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to move training kits (<25lbs).
• Compliance with all site safety requirements.
• Pre-employment checks as required.

Ready to help the industry build a solution it owns?

If you want a role where what you do on site could help someone reach out, support a mate, or choose to stay, this is it. Apply with a one-page summary or 2-minute video explaining why crews will trust you and why you’re interested in this role, plus a resume that shows your fit.

We use a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) for payroll and benefits administration.

Health & benefits

• Medical insurance offered; employer contribution is employee-only with a cap
• Dependent coverage is available, with premiums for dependents paid by the employee (the employer contribution applies to employee-only coverage)
• Dental and vision offered as voluntary benefits (100% employee-paid)
• 401(k) offered
• Employer-paid basic Life insurance + Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• HSA contribution: capped for employees enrolled in an HSA-eligible plan
• Benefits start: 1st of the month after hire

Travel & expenses (when travel is required for work)

• Mileage reimbursed at the IRS standard rate for business travel between sites; tolls/parking reimbursed for business travel.
• Overnight travel: company-paid hotel + meals paid using General Services Administration (GSA) – Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE) per diem by destination
• Required training (and related travel) is employer-paid

Other provisions

• Pre-employment checks apply (consistent with applicable law).
• Paid sick leave will be provided consistent with applicable law and policy

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements, plan terms, and may change over time

Required: Digital literacy: confident using Microsoft 365, shared drives, email/calendars, video meetings; able to learn new operational systems quickly (e.g. CRM/database, HRIS/onboarding, travel booking and expenses).

Preferred: Bilingual capabilities (English and Spanish) and experience working with culturally diverse people.