Director of Programs

Director of Programs

Job Description

Who We Are:

The SOAR Initiative works to fight the overdose crisis and prevent overdose deaths using innovative technology and a comprehensive harm reduction approach. We are a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Columbus, Ohio with services across the entire state. The SOAR Initiative was founded by a group of students at the Ohio State University, but now serves the wider community and is comprised of professionals.

For us, harm reduction means working to prevent overdoses and other negative impacts associated with drug use, without judgment or stigma. We meet people where they are, center around the voices of people who use drugs and those with lived experience of drug use, and do not push treatment or recovery as necessary for people who use drugs to live safely, happily, and healthily.

Part of our programming includes the widespread distribution of fentanyl test strips directly to people who use drugs, to activists and outreach workers, and by mail to anonymous recipients across the state. We also created the Bad Batch Alert text messaging system, which notifies people who use drugs and their loved ones when overdoses surge or bad batches laced with adulterants are circulating. It also lets users anonymously report overdoses and bad batches themselves. 

SOAR has undergone several significant changes in the past two years and our staffing needs have changed. This is a pre-existing position, but the position description has expanded. The description outlined below is subject to change, both as SOAR needs evolve and as the employee finds their footing in the role. 

Position Description:

We are seeking to hire a part-time (20 hours per week) Director of Programs to lead the Outreach Worker team and to help out with other operational and administrative duties at SOAR. This is one of two director-level positions in the organization. This position is hybrid and reports to the Interim Executive Director. 

Responsibilities will include:

• Travel primarily to the SOAR office in Columbus, OH, and on occasion to local events to distribute supplies or inform people who use drugs about our Deadly Batch Alert system. Additional travel may include traveling to local health departments or harm-reduction entities to do outreach
• Working closely with the Executive Director and Outreach Team to ensure outreach runs smoothly and helping coordinate various events
• State reporting through government portals on the quantities and locations of items SOAR distributes during outreach
• Initiating and leading bi-weekly check-in meetings with each of SOAR’s outreach workers to facilitate the flow of information, help staff meet reporting deadlines, and follow up with grant-related tasks
• Attend weekly virtual meetings with the SOAR team, Tuesdays at 5pm local time
• Working in office and from home to send weekly fulfillments of individual and group
• “Strip Club” requests
• Research about existing harm reduction infrastructure and gaps in the overdose crisis response around Ohio
• Other tasks deemed relevant to community relations by the Executive Director. As mentioned above, this role is subject to change, per the candidate’s own interests and SOAR’s needs

Required Skills:

• Highly flexible, trustworthy, reliable, and communicative individual who can help take on responsibilities from Executive director
• Willingness to learn about drug use, harm reduction, and the overdose crisis
• Ability to speak compassionately and without judgment to people with a variety of backgrounds and experiences
• Ability to work independently or with limited oversight towards a common goal
• Basic technology skills and the ability to demonstrate the use of our app and text system to others
• Willingness to commit to supporting people who use drugs, including using person-first language and avoiding stigmatization of drug use, while working, in private, and on social media

Desired Skills:

• Prior knowledge of the overdose crisis (lived experience of drug use and prior involvement with harm reduction organizations highly valued)
• Experience with harm reduction, overdose prevention, or community health promotion
• Experience with working social media accounts
• Familiarity using Canva for social media and advertising designs

Additional Information:

SOAR will reimburse the employee only for travel outside of Central Ohio, but not for local travel. Candidates may not have a defined schedule and may need to have some weekend and evening availability.

To apply, please apply via LinkedIn or email a resume and cover letter to kim@thesoarinitiative.org