Organization Overview: VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, direct services, policy advocacy and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and be led by those most directly impacted.
This role is part of VOCAL-NY’s service team — which provides onsite and peer-based syringe exchange, overdose prevention, hepatitis C testing & treatment, care coordination, drop-in center, support groups, and other services for people who use drugs. Services are provided in a low-threshold, nonjudgmental and culturally relevant manner.
Position Description: The Drop-In Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of VOCAL-NY’s drop-in center and syringe exchange program (SEP) desk. This includes developing, implementing, and monitoring services including but not limited to drop-in community programming, overdose prevention, mail services, and on-site laundry and shower access.
Specific Responsibilities include (but not limited to):
- Responsible for the coordination of the office-based syringe exchange and drop-in center. This includes identifying scheduling needs for the syringe exchange and drop-in center, ensuring adequate coverage of both, and maintaining organized inventory of harm reduction and documentation supplies.
- Responsible for the recruitment, training, and ongoing support of volunteers and interns (limited to community members and non-Masters-level interns).
- Trains and supervises part-time peer educators working in VOCAL-NY’s drop-in.
- Routinely assesses and implements policies and procedures around safe use of on-site participant facilities such as bathrooms, laundry, and shower. Supervises and supports full-time Syringe Exchange Worker and part-time peer educators to implement these policies and procedures.
- Supervise and support full-time Drop-in Associate to coordinate educational workshops and other community programming in the drop-in center. Responsible for overall coordination of a safe, friendly, and liberatory environment in the drop-in center. Solicits feedback from participants on an ongoing basis regarding preferences for community programming.
- Coordinates with the Data Associate to ensure that direct services provided at the SEP desk and drop-in center are appropriately documented and observe trends related to drop-in center services or patterns of drug use to help guide future service provision.
- Coordinates with the Director of Harm Reduction Services regarding office supply inventory, information technology (e.g. internet, computer, and/or telephone issues), and activities related to repairs or renovations.
- Attend trainings as needed to improve skills and knowledge. Identify training and professional development opportunities for direct reports.
- This role supervises two full-time staff members (Syringe Exchange Worker & Drop-In Coordinator) and at least two part-time staff members.
- Reports to the Director of Harm Reduction Services
Requirements / Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal and problem solving skills. This is a public facing role, where everyday you are in direct contact with people experiencing chaotic drug use, street-homelessness, and mental health challenges. This role requires patience, compassion, and a mindset that every person deserves dignity and respect. People directly impacted by drug use are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will have:
- A deep commitment to harm reduction.
- At least 2 years of experience as a frontline staff member in a direct services setting, ideally working with people who use drugs.
- Experience managing and supervising staff is strongly preferred.
- A willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, with changing assignments.
- An ability to lead their own projects, and take initiative.
- De-escalation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS W
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail).
Equal Opportunity Statement: VOCAL-NY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in hiring those who have been adversely affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration, and/or homelessness.
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