University District Program Coordinator

JOB TITLE: University District Program Coordinator

POSITION TYPE: Full-time, non-exempt (35-40 hours/week)

HOURS: Includes Tuesdays & Thursdays 12-8:30pm; Sundays & Fridays 12-7pm

LOCATION: Seattle, WA

Organization Description

The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance (PHRA) is a peer-centered community-based 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 University District Program Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of our fixed-site harm reduction service provision and community health support for individuals in Seattle’s University District.

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.).
• Provide information about PHRA’s services to participants, outreach contacts, peer educators, and members of the public, as well as providing participants with referrals to other programs and services
• Maintain and develop service-appropriate confidential relationships with participants
• Provide ongoing training, guidance, and supervision to volunteers
• Manage exchange supplies & inventory; includes maintaining consistent supply levels, determining supply limits, facilitating kit-making & restocking, reporting distribution data
• Assist in coordinating Hepatitis C testing and treatment services
• Ensure proper disposal of biohazardous waste
• Attend and participate in staff and community partner meetings
• Contribute to an environment that fosters open communication, teamwork, commitment to quality service; fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Required 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
• Intersectional understanding of and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion that is explicitly anti-ablest, anti-ageist, anti-classist, anti-homophobic, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-transphobic, and anti-xenophobic
• Demonstrated current knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STIs, viral hepatitis and other blood-borne infections, particularly in relation to injection drug use; street life; slang vocabularies; drug use practices; harm reduction concepts and principles; local drug treatment and other healthcare resources; and criminal justice systems and resources
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information in a culturally appropriate, consistently respectful, and non-judgmental manner to a wide variety of audiences including people who may be drug impaired, mentally ill, and/or angry
• Experience resolving conflicts and de-escalating aggressive and/or violent individuals and situations
• Demonstrated ability to clearly and effectively communicate orally and in writing with supervisor, coworkers, health care providers, and the general public
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team following established protocols/policies while carrying out assignments and responsibilities in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner
• Experience with inventory management and data collection.
• Mentoring and coaching volunteers with diverse levels of expertise
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Google Workspace
• Full COVID-19 vaccination & current boosters

Desired Qualifications, Experience, & Skills

• Lived &/or living experience and/or education that demonstrates an understanding of substance use
• 2+ years of experience working in fields such as harm reduction, syringe exchange, public health, social services, street outreach, and/or case management
• Valid WA driver's license, clean driving record, and ability to drive large organizational vans
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills, especially Spanish

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

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