Harm Reduction Operations Associate

VOCAL-KY is building a movement of low-income people dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness across the country. We fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, policy advocacy, and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and is led by those most directly impacted.

Our Drop-In Center provides a low-barrier, trauma-informed, evidence-based harm reduction space where people experiencing homelessness, substance use, HIV, and other intersecting challenges can access basic needs, community, and life-saving resources with dignity.

The ideal candidate will have an understanding of harm reduction principles and a commitment to building power among low-income people who use drugs to fight for social justice.

This position will provide harm reduction support for active and former drug users on site at our office.

Position Summary

The Harm Reduction Operations Associate serves as an operational support position for the Drop-In Center, balancing direct participant services with responsibility for the day-to-day logistical, administrative, and operational work that keeps the program running smoothly.

Working under the direction of the Director of Harm Reduction Services and in support of the Harm Reduction Program Lead, this position spends the majority of each day providing direct services alongside participants while also ensuring that recurring operational tasks—including inventory management, supply preparation, data entry, event logistics, and donation management—are completed consistently.

This position does not supervise staff but plays a key role in supporting program quality, operational reliability, and continuity of services.

Essential Responsibilities:

Direct Participant Services

The Harm Reduction Operations Associate performs all responsibilities expected of a Harm Reduction Associate while serving as an experienced member of the Drop-In Center team.

Responsibilities include:

• Build trusting relationships with participants through consistency, compassion, and respect.
• Create a welcoming, low-barrier environment that promotes dignity and belonging.
• Staff the Drop-In Center floor and engage participants throughout the day.
• Complete participant check-in and provide basic resource navigation.
• Distribute food, beverages, hygiene supplies, harm reduction supplies, and other basic needs items.
• Provide harm reduction education and safer use information.
• Make referrals to community partners and internal services.
• Monitor restrooms and common areas to promote participant safety.
• Conduct wellness checks and respond appropriately to medical or behavioral health concerns.
• Assist with crisis intervention and de-escalation using trauma-informed practices.
• Assist with opening, closing, and daily facility operations.
• Complete service documentation and incident reports as required.

Operations & Logistics

This position will ensure the Drop-In Center remains organized, well-stocked, and prepared to serve participants.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct routine inventory counts.
• Restock participant supplies and staff workstations.
• Organize and maintain storage areas.
• Receive, organize, and process in-kind donations.
• Assemble hygiene kits, harm reduction kits, and participant resource bags.
• Prepare weekly snack bags and other participant supplies.
• Support restroom supply management and facility readiness.
• Prepare materials and supplies for outreach activities and special events.
• Assist with setup and breakdown for community events, trainings, and partner activities.
• Identify operational needs and communicate them to supervisors.

Administrative Support

This position will maintain accurate documentation and organizational systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Enter participant service data into tracking systems.
• Maintain inventory, service, and program spreadsheets.
• Organize participant files and documentation.
• Assist with quality assurance of service documentation.
• Answer phones and assist with general office operations.
• Maintain organized records and filing systems.

Organizational Support

This position will support the continued growth and effectiveness of the Drop-In Center by assisting with projects beyond daily operations.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist with volunteer projects and volunteer engagement.
• Assist with implementation of new operational systems and procedures.
• Provide operational support during staff absences and high-volume service days.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

The ideal candidate is organized, adaptable, compassionate, and enjoys balancing direct service with behind-the-scenes operational work. They are energetic and self-motivated, and they are comfortable shifting priorities throughout the day while maintaining a welcoming and respectful environment for participants.

This is a public-facing position involving direct contact with unhoused community members who could be struggling with mental health and/or substance use challenges.

This candidate will have:

Requirements/Qualifications

• One year of experience in customer service, human services, outreach, healthcare, community-based services, or a related field.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, de-escalation, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work collaboratively, give and receive feedback, build trusting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and respond effectively to challenging situations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple competing priorities, organize supplies and materials, maintain schedules, attend meetings and events on time, and support day-to-day program operations.
• Experience maintaining accurate documentation, administrative records, participant records, and program data, with the ability to complete audit-ready documentation in a timely manner.
• Basic computer and internet proficiency, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, spreadsheets, databases, and data entry systems.
• Commitment to harm reduction principles and a deep respect for people who use drugs, including the ability to provide services rooted in dignity, compassion, participant autonomy, and meeting people where they are.
• Ability to work effectively in a public-facing, low-barrier environment involving direct contact with unhoused community members and individuals who may be experiencing mental health, substance use, or other challenges.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and professionalism while building supportive relationships with participants.
• Willingness to attend required trainings, professional development opportunities, and complete additional certifications as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing prevention education, safer substance use education, safer sex strategies, or other health education.
• Experience working with people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, or communities impacted by HIV, incarceration, housing instability, or healthcare access barriers.
• Experience with inventory management, supply coordination, donation management, or supporting daily program operations.
• Experience using databases, case management systems, or other systems for tracking services and maintaining records.
• Completion of CPR/BLS and Naloxone training (or ability to complete within 90 days of hire).
• Bilingual English-Spanish proficiency strongly preferred.

VOCAL-KY is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are especially interested in hiring those who have been adversely affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration and/or homelessness.

VOCAL-KY offers a generous benefits package, which includes

• 100% employer-covered health, dental, and vision insurance plan
• 401(k) retirement plan with 5% match
• 20 Vacation Days per year
• 15 wellness days per year
• Paid Holidays & Two-week end-of-year break
• Summer Fridays
• Commuter benefits
• $30 monthly cell phone reimbursement or company phone
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities including $1,000 in annual professional development funding after one year of employment.