Behavioral Health System Baltimore (BHSB) is seeking candidates for the position of Director, Harm Reduction, for a full time position in a hybrid work environment, in Baltimore, Maryland. This position reports to the Vice President of Operations/COO.

The Director, Harm Reduction position is responsible for collaboratively leading and managing programmatic activities of BHSB’s harm reduction services. A key priority for this role is to strategically plan and increase capacity within Baltimore City and across the state to utilize harm reduction approaches. The Director, Harm Reduction is part of the organization’s leadership team and will focus on strategic management and oversight of the harm reduction team’s programmatic work, coordination of that work within the organization and externally, and ensuring progressive development of the knowledge and skills of the staff members. One key priority of the harm reduction team is to grow the capacity of Bmore POWER, which is a team of people with experience related to drug use that provides harm reduction outreach, education, and advocacy. Another priority is to advance statewide capacity to incorporate harm reduction principles and approaches by providing training and other resources to providers and other stakeholders.

This position works within the Operations Department that aims to increase BHSB’s capacity to be nimble, efficient, and adaptive to change. Specifically, the goal of the department is to ensure that BHSB is effectively meeting its mission by strategically implementing, supporting, and maintaining processes that align resources and decision making across departments to maximize BHSB’s capacity to advance the behavioral health and wellness of individuals, families and communities. The Operations Department achieves this by developing and maintaining a robust and secure electronic network, providing operational support to cross-organizational processes and functions, advancing a harm reduction philosophy and practices, and providing medical consultation to support the clinical work of various teams. In addition, the Operations Department oversees the organization-wide implementation of the strategic plan.

Essential Functions

• Process Leadership
  • Strategically work to ensure that people who use drugs in Baltimore City have access to behavioral health services and supports without requiring abstinence or engagement in treatment services.
  • Oversee and guide the work of the Harm Reduction team, which includes Bmore POWER and the Maryland Harm Reduction Training Institute, and other assigned programmatic work.
  • Ensure effective collaborative partnerships among the Harm Reduction team members and with key stakeholders.
  • In collaboration with other BHSB leaders, actively engage, cultivate, and manage relationships with funders, city and state agencies, city residents and other stakeholders to plan and implement strategies and activities to increase capacity across the state and within Baltimore City to utilize harm reduction approaches and other assigned public health initiatives.
  • Represent BHSB through participation in collaborative planning and implementation processes with local and state stakeholders and other city and/or state-wide coalitions and workgroups.
  • Actively and strategically grow and expand the organization’s harm reduction work utilizing a systemic approach.
  • Facilitate ongoing processes to connect the work of the harm reduction team to other areas of BHSB’s work.
• Contract Management
  • Oversee programmatic aspects of contracts assigned to the team, including leading staff involvement as appropriate to:
    • Develop new contracts;
    • Develop and approve budgets and budget modifications;
    • Develop deliverables that are in line with the conditions of award;
    • Oversee contract performance and quality improvement;
    • Renew contracts in a timely manner;
    • Lead programmatic role in procurement processes including need identification, project planning and design, identification of funding, procurement documents development, proposal consideration and selection of funded partners, and service implementation/contract development;
    • Ensure adherence to funding source deliverables;
    • Work collaboratively with other BHSB leaders to problem-solve issues concerning funded partners’ payments, Contract Management System (CMS), contract amendments, contract renewal process, service delivery and performance, review and modification of deliverables, and other issues as they arise.
  • Organizational Management
    • Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performing team members, empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance.
    • Oversee day-to-day activities of team members, including budgeting, planning, staff recruitment and development, and staff performance.
    • Serve as a member of the leadership team working collaboratively to oversee and manage the daily operations of the organization.
    • Implement and manage a system of continuous strategic planning and project management for all areas of the team’s work, resulting in achievement of organizational programmatic goals through effective management of timelines and resources, internal project coordination, and tracking of major project milestones.
    • Coordinate inter-team and cross-department communication and cohesiveness.
    • Participate in and oversee staff participation in internal working groups to ensure cross-collaboration amongst programmatic and other organization teams.
    • Implement relevant areas of the organization’s strategic plan.
    • Implement team operations aligned with the organization’s vision, mission, values, and strategic plan.
  • Other
    • Work effectively and collaboratively with others, both internally and externally.
    • Uphold and operationalize the values of BHSB, which are Integrity, Equity, Innovation, Collaboration and Quality.
    • Consistently work to apply a lens of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
    • Serve as part of BHSB’s disaster response team as needed, in any capacity that is needed.
    • Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Master’s degree in public health, social work, counseling/psychology, human services, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory and administrative experience in a nonprofit, private sector, governmental system, or behavioral healthcare provider.
• Experience in system oversight capacity and managing contracts and budgets.
• Experience implementing and managing culturally-responsive programming.
• Deep commitment to the infusion of inclusive, anti-racist and other social justice principles into all areas of work.
• Proven track record of demonstrating sound independent judgment to determine appropriate course of action in resolving problems and implementing project goals.
• Ability to work effectively with behavioral health stakeholders, community leaders, service providers and consumers.
• Must be able to express self effectively in written and oral communication and to communicate effectively in an interdisciplinary, culturally diverse setting with staff, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to analyze and interpret public policies.
• Ability to analyze and interpret programmatic data and assess the deliverables to evaluate areas of need and strategic allocation of resources.
• Ability to develop and lead collaborative teams and their critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Experience recruiting, managing, and developing a strong team of staff and program/project professionals. This individual will serve as a coach to motivate and mentor team members.
• Proactive, hands-on experience in managing a variety of initiatives.
• Ability to write grant applications.
• Ability to interact in a virtual environment
• Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint (delete/add programs as needed)

Supervisory Requirements: This position supervises 5+ positions.

This role may require travel to other locations for meetings and other business-related needs. Ability to travel locally 50% of the time is required. It is important to have access to some form of transportation to travel to off-site meetings, conferences, and site visits.

COVID-19 considerations: BHSB receives federal funding for services and is therefore subject to Executive Order 14042. We require all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to a verifiable medical and religious exemptions which does not cause undue hardship in protecting those we serve and fellow employees.

Benefits

BHSB offers its employees a competitive benefits plan which includes comprehensive Medical and HRA, Dental and Vision coverage, as well as a choice of 4 FSA plans and an employee paid Legal benefit. BHSB offers employer paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability as well as a 403(b) plan with employer contribution, generous PTO and 13 days paid holiday. Medical plan participants receive a $4,000/$8,000 debit card to cover eligible deductible and copay expenses, depending on chosen coverage.

Culture

BHSB is a nonprofit organization that provides leadership in advancing behavioral health and wellness. We advocate for and help guide innovative approaches to prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery to help build healthier individuals, stronger families and safer communities. We work to demonstrate cultural competence and a commitment to the infusion of equity and inclusion principles into all areas of our work.

BHSB respects and values diversity and is committed to creating a culture that is inclusive. BHSB is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. BHSB strives to embody Integrity, Equity, Innovation, Collaboration and Quality in all of our work. We work to demonstrate cultural competence and a commitment to the infusion of equity and inclusion principles into all areas of our work.

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