Harm Reduction Specialist

Harm Reduction Specialist

The Job

New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) operates a Middlesex County Harm Reduction Center (HRC) located in New Brunswick, NJ. The Middlesex County HRC is a full-service syringe access program with three service lines: a drop-in center, mobile outreach and delivery, and healthcare kiosks. The Harm Reduction Specialist is a key member of the team and will provide support across service lines.

What You'll Do

The Harm Reduction Specialist will support all service lines of the Middlesex County HRC while having either a primary focus on mobile outreach (including delivery and kiosks) or on-site services. The primary focus will be determined by the HR Specialist's skills, strengths, and team composition; but the HR Specialist will be required to flex into other service lines, as needed.

The Harm Reduction Specialist will support mobile outreach and delivery through several activities, including but not limited to:

• Attending and contributing to program meetings
• Facilitating mobile syringe exchanges and harm reduction counseling with community members
• Organizing outreach supplies
• Stocking and driving the mobile van
• Conducting crowd engagement
• Facilitating syringe sweeps
• Delivering harm reduction supplies to members' households
• Delivering harm reduction supplies to Middlesex County kiosks
• Responding to overdoses and other critical incidents in the community if they occur during outreach shifts
• Collecting and entering data

The Harm Reduction Specialist will support on-site syringe access services through several activities, including but not limited to:

• Attending and contributing to program meetings
• Facilitating syringe exchange and harm reduction counseling with community members within our offices at 18 Abeel Street
• Facilitating syringe sweeps
• Conducting participant engagement
• Facilitating group participant activities and/or workshops
• Organizing and stocking on-site supplies
• Play a key role in responding to overdoses and critical incidents if they occur within our building
• Collecting and entering data

Who You Are and Keys to Success ("Must-Haves")

Job-Specific Must-Haves:

• Driver license:
  You hold a valid driver license, the ability to drive NJHRC's two outreach vehicles (Ram Promaster and minivan), and meet the guidelines for drivers of agency-owned vehicles.
• Lived/Living experience:
  Personal experience with drug use or harm reduction is required. The ability to connect with clients through shared experience is critical to this role.
• Relationship-building:
  You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, including people seeking Harm Reduction Center services, staff, neighbors, and organizational partners.
• Comfort responding to overdoses:
  You have experience and demonstrated ability in responding to overdoses in a community setting
• Commitment & experience with Harm Reduction best practices:
  You have a demonstrated commitment to harm reduction, racial justice, health equity, and the dignity and autonomy of people who use drugs. You have prior experience and training in harm reduction and implementing harm reduction best practices within an organization.

Must-Haves for all NJHRC staff:

• Problem-solving skills:
  You demonstrate initiative when approached with a problem and have experience successfully leading others through problem-solving.
• Self-awareness & emotional intelligence:
  You engage in self-reflection of your own behavior and demonstrate emotional intelligence.
• Comfort in a changing environment:
  You have the ability to navigate change externally with participants and with internal operations. You have the ability to lead change management projects internally.
• Embody teamwork:
  You have a demonstrated ability to work well with others toward shared goals, have difficult conversations, and help others master their professional responsibilities.
• Time management & prioritization skills:
  You have the ability to manage your time effectively, while supporting others to prioritize appropriately.

A 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…