Program Director

Who We Are

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) is on a mission to create a New Jersey that values the safety and dignity of all people who use drugs—and we're making it happen. Since incorporating in 2020, we've built two Harm Reduction Centers, launched a community drug checking program, and changed laws to expand syringe services and naloxone access.

NJHRC accomplishes this through direct harm reduction services (Middlesex Harm Reduction Center and Statewide Harm Reduction Center), training and technical assistance, and policy advocacy. Your work as Program Director will directly reach thousands of New Jerseyans while establishing new standards for excellence in harm reduction.

Join NJHRC's Growing Director Team

NJHRC is at a pivotal moment as we expand our director team with four new positions: Program Director, Operations Director, Development Director, and Policy & Communications Director. We're looking for "swiss army knife" candidates with a track record of getting sht done with care, leading through change with grace, and building programs, systems, and teams from the ground up.

The Opportunity: Program Director

As Program Director, you'll lead the operational heart of NJHRC by shaping how we deliver services, developing emerging leaders on our team, and designing systems and workflows to achieve our goals. You'll build and manage a team of up to 15 staff, consultants, and interns and be a key external face of NJHRC in our communities. You'll lead excellence, growth, and teamwork across:

• Middlesex Harm Reduction Center (drop-in center, mobile outreach, healthcare kiosks)
• Statewide Harm Reduction Center (24/7 phone line, mail-based services, tabling events)
• Community Drug Checking

You will also coordinate closely our emerging Training Center (includes training/technical assistance and pilot Peer Navigation program).

What You'll Do

The below represents today's job. With the Executive Director's help, these responsibilities will change to be not only different but better. Competitive candidates will bring keen insight into, enthusiasm for, and experience with evolving programmatic and organizational design.

Build & lead effective teams (35%)

• Deliver personalized support, mentorship, and supervision for program staff
• Create a culture focused on effectiveness, learning from mistakes, holding each other accountable, and getting sh*t done
• Manage your team’s emotional well-being and work with a clinical lens that balances authentic responses to lived / living experience with clear support and boundaries
• Manage human resources processes for program team including leaves, professional development, coaching opportunities, grievances, and performance plans

Deliver excellent services (30%)

• Lead and oversee all aspects of program planning, operations, quality improvement, reporting, compliance, and delivery across all program lines
• Manage the program financials and program grant reporting
• Establish and maintain high-quality program data systems

Drive organizational strategy & culture (20%)

• Serve on the director team to set organization-wide vision and strategy
• Collaborate with Development, Operations, and Policy teams to align programmatic work with strategic priorities
• Lead change management initiatives and champion equity, respect, and harm reduction values across the organization
• Flex into cross-organization roles and responsibilities as needed

Strengthen partnerships & systems (15%)

• Build and maintain authentic partnerships with other service providers to drive access to comprehensive, coordinated care
• Strengthen funder relationships, ensure compliance, and help identify new funding opportunities that align with our values
• Lead harm reduction and clinical trainings for both internal and external audiences
• Represent NJHRC to community leaders, media, and lawmakers

Who You Are

You are a harm reduction leader with excellent judgment and a track record of creating systems that are both equitable and effective. You get energized by building something meaningful.

Program Director Must-Haves

• Senior program leadership experience. You've built something meaningful from very little and led programs in harm reduction, syringe services, or intersecting work (e.g. reentry, housing first, drop-ins, etc.). You've supervised program managers and frontline staff with many years of experience and expanding responsibilities and accomplishments. You have a working vision of how you lead people and continuously refine your approach. You're a stellar project manager who juggles competing priorities.
• Relationship-building. You connect authentically across contexts with members, supervisees, colleagues, and stakeholders. You take a teaching approach even in tough conversations and make difficult calls when needed. You have a demonstrated history of creating partnerships
• Working knowledge of syringe services. You have experience with both the history and practices of syringe services and multiple service delivery models (e.g. fixed site, mobile outreach via vehicle or backpack, delivery, secondary exchange) or demonstrate motivation and ability to develop this knowledge.
• Experience implementing harm reduction philosophies & practices. You intuitively "meet people where they are" and recognize that each member is an expert of their own health. You have hands-on experience implementing harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing in programs you've led. You can connect with people who use drugs and coach others around drug user cultural competency.
• Exceptional communication skills. Your communication across all mediums (written, verbal, training, facilitating, public speaking) is clear, effective, and strategic. You "make the implicit explicit" and craft messages that land with the intended audience. You've managed crisis communications. You use your communication skills to manage up effectively with the Executive Director.
• Other: You are highly proficient with computers, project management tools, and data software. You have a valid driver's license and ability to drive cargo vans and minivans.

Must-Haves for all NJHRC staff

• Creative problem-solving skills
• Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Comfort in a changing environment
• Effective teamwork
• Strong time management and prioritization skills

Equal Opportunity Employment

NJHRC is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. NJHRC encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction. NJHRC is particularly interested in hiring people who have been directly harmed by the War on Drugs.

Note to potential candidates: Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary people, and BIPOC candidates are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every qualification. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a less traditional background, and we welcome the opportunity for new insight into our work. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every qualification described.

Health benefits: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees. For employees with eligible dependents, NJHRC pays 100% of total benefit costs (employee + dependents) up to $1,200/month.

Additional benefits: 20 paid vacation days, 15 paid holidays, half-day "Summer Fridays" in July and August; retirement plan with up to 5% employer match; Employee Assistance Program; $500 professional development fund plus organization-wide professional development opportunities.

Bilingual English/Spanish written & verbal language skills are a "nice-to-have" for this job and not required.