Overdose Prevention Specialist

Organization Description

The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance (PHRA) is a community-based, peer-centered nonprofit that has provided harm reduction and other health services to people who use drugs since 2007. Our programs and services throughout King and Kitsap Counties, as well as the mail-order naloxone program serving all of Washington State, focus on protecting the health of people who use drugs, stopping the spread of bloodborne infections, and preventing overdose. We provide a wide variety of harm reduction supplies, health services, and supportive referrals within a respectful, nonjudgmental context to help people who use drugs lead safer and healthier lives. We also serve our larger communities by providing safe syringe disposal, overdose prevention and response education, and through our advocacy work.

Position Description

The Overdose Prevention Specialist provides harm reduction service provision, community health support and overdose prevention education, including FTIR drug checking services. This position serves as the lead drug checking technician by analyzing submitted samples, ensuring results and education are accurate, and maintaining relationships with other drug checking programs in a collaborative network across Washington State.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide harm reduction supplies, services, and education on safer drug use to program participants (e.g. substance-specific information on safer injection techniques, use of injection alternatives, overdose prevention including how to administer naloxone, preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens, etc.).
• Facilitate engagement of participants from all of PHRA’s direct service programming.
• Perform drug checking services utilizing FTIR spectroscopy and substance-specific immunoassay strips.
• Interpret findings from multiple sources and communicate results to service participants.
• Prepare and ship samples for confirmatory laboratory testing.
• Setup, calibration, breakdown, transportation, storage, and maintenance of sensitive technical equipment.
• Timely and accurate data entry and other reporting.
• Contribute to the development of written policies, procedures, and training materials regarding drug checking.
• Collaborate with other team members to ensure seamless and effective service delivery.
• Assist in communicating program updates to volunteers, staff, and external partners through presentations, written documents, and/or infographics.
• Maintain close relationships with other drug checking organizations in the collaborative statewide drug checking network.
• Engage in trainings and actively seek out new information related to drug checking and drug supply trends in order to serve as a resource for drug checking expertise.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Essential Qualifications, Experience, & Skills

• Two or more years related experience, which can include any combination of: lived experience, volunteer experience, professional experience, &/or formal education
• Commitment to conveying PHRA’s philosophy of harm reduction and demonstrating harm reduction strategies to anyone they interact with, including: participants, volunteers, staff, and the general public
• Experience delivering harm reduction education and interventions directly to people who use drugs.
• Intersectional understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, grounded in an explicitly anti-oppressive approach that challenges and rejects ableism, ageism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, xenophobia, and other forms of oppression.
• High integrity and commitment to transparency.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information in a culturally appropriate, consistently respectful, and nonjudgmental manner to a wide variety of audiences, including people who may be drug impaired, mentally ill, and/or agitated.
• Current knowledge of: HIV/AIDS, STIs, viral hepatitis, and other blood-borne infections, particularly in relation to injection drug use; drug use practices, harm reduction concepts and principles; local drug treatment options; healthcare resources; street life; and criminal justice systems.
• Self-starter who is able to multitask under multiple deadlines with demonstrated ability to carry out assignments and responsibilities reliably in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner.
• Ability to work independently following established protocols and policies, as well as work effectively as a member of both internal and external teams.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Google Workspace, and ability to quickly learn new software and technologies.
• Commitment to continuing education, including the ability and willingness to watch, read, or otherwise engage in educational materials and trainings for up to several hours per week.
• Full COVID-19 vaccination & booster(s).

Desired Qualifications, Experience, & Skills

• Lived &/or living experience and/or education that demonstrates an understanding of substance use.
• Experience performing drug checking utilizing FTIR spectroscopy or other technology. (While knowledge of chemical analysis and/or drug checking is a plus, it is not required as related education and training will be provided. Candidates will be evaluated based on the full breadth of their relevant lived, educational, &/or professional experiences.)
• Extensive knowledge of drug supply trends at the local, regional, and national level.
• Experience working in fields such as harm reduction, syringe exchange, public health, social services, street outreach, and/or case management
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills
• Valid WA driver's license, clean driving record, and ability to drive large organizational vans.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and environment here are representative of those that an employee may encounter while successfully performing the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work takes place in a social services environment where long periods of standing, sitting, working on a computer, going up and down stairs, and walking to various work areas are required.
• Ability to converse with and listen to people in many different settings.
• Ability to use a computer and phone, as well as other standard office equipment.
• Ability to regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry equipment and supplies up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to work in an environment where there may be animals such as dogs and cats present.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties and responsibilities may change as organizational needs evolve and may be modified at the discretion of the organization.

100% employer-paid medical/vision/dental insurance, PTO, ORCA card

Required: proficiency in speaking, reading, & writing English

Desired: Bilingual or multilingual communication skills