Program Director

Description

The Program Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Boston Living Center. This includes all aspects of its congregate meals and pantry programs, non-medical case management, psycho social support services, testing services, harm reduction supply distribution and prevention navigation. The Program Director ensures services are grounded in trauma responsive and harm reduction practices. 

Location: The Boston Living Center is a non-residential community center/resource program in Boston's Back Bay for individuals living with chronic health conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS), substance use disorder, those experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and/or those at risk of experiencing street-based trauma.

Essential Functions:

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs, Inc.’s Standards of Excellence & Philosophy Care at all times including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality and working from a strength based perspective using evidence base practices (MI, CBT, Harm Reduction etc.)
• Work collaboratively with the leadership teams within the Division of Prevention to coordinate service delivery and maintain staffing patterns at the BLC.
• Ensure that the program follows all statutory and contractual requirements and that policies are being observed and administered by the staff to provide proper delivery of services of the highest quality.
• Provide onsite program coverage for evenings when necessary.
• Develop content for and facilitate bi-monthly BLC staff and Leadership meetings. Facilitate staff meetings, document meeting minutes, monitor participation and attendance. 
• Support the development, recruitment, and outcomes of appropriate harm reduction and psychoeducational group interventions.
• Serve as an onsite support for de-escalation training for direct care staff, including planning and coordination of incident response drills.
• Foster and maintain positive provider relationships within the community that our populations access or are in contact with including, but not limited to police and fire departments, emergency medical services, health centers, and addiction treatment clinics. 
• Hire, promote and terminate all employees as required with the support of leadership in the agency.
• Supervise, direct, train, and evaluate assigned program staff, ensure all staff receive weekly supervision and periodic performance reviews.
• Ensure outreach, testing, and safety protocols are upheld and report incidents appropriately.  
• Assist in the leadership development of all staff through opportunities for program creation, in-service training, outreach and presentation.
• Maintain and train staff on assigned data collection platforms. 
• Participate as a member of the VPI management team to deliver the highest quality services in keeping with the mission, vision and values of VPI. 
• Prepare annual budgets, required funder reports, approve accounts payable and monitor monthly financial statements to operate within budget.
• Participate in the Leadership Team meetings, assigned work group activities and other staff meetings as required.
• Represent Victory Programs in meetings and/or conference calls organized by the Department of Public Health, City of Boston, or local task forces as needed.
• Attend training courses to supplement knowledge on topics related to infectious disease, substance use, and homelessness.
• Represent the program(s) to designated funders, as requested by the supervisor.
• Participate and support the agency in program holiday events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, HIV/AIDS rally and walk, and any additional functions.
• Attend weekly supervision.
• Work collaboratively with the Impact and Evaluation Team to ensure accurate, complete and timely data collection and submission.
• Remain in good standing with the agency and funder required training.
• Perform any other duties determined necessary by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree in the social services field and a minimum of three years of management experience or five plus years of experience working with priority populations, including a minimum of three years of management experience. 
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Counseling, Social Work, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, STIs, and sex work as well as health-related social issues faced by persons who use drugs.
• Competency working with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations about sex and substance use risk. 
• Ability to work in an environment that involves potentially hazardous materials (blood borne pathogens, discarded syringes, etc.) and situations that require safety precautions and/or the use of protective equipment.
• Prior experience in a milieu or drop-in environment serving homeless and/or people who use drugs required. 
• Strong leadership skills including professionalism; active listening, critical thinking and effective delegation. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work in a fast-paced environment and remain flexible in stressful conditions including frequent interruptions, and occasional crisis situations. 
• Must have strong meeting, training, facilitating and project management skills.
• Demonstrated competence in service coordination and networking with other human service and health care providers. 
• Must be independent and self-directed but able to work collaboratively and lead or manage a team. 
• Must have a strong understanding of non-profit organizations and the ability to implement/establish best practices.
• Must be able to work creatively within a budget and find ways of more effective management resources. 
• Ability to act with integrity and compassion and foster a culture of mission, trust, respect and accountability for outcomes.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and competency, including the ability to understand, respond and work effectively and with sensitivity with staff and members from diverse cultures and backgrounds. 
• Must be CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Completed TB screening (may be obtained upon hire)
• Three work related professional references; at least 2 from manager or supervisor.

Position Type: Full Time (40 hours); Monday – Friday (40 hours), 8AM-4PM (flexible, some weekends and evenings required). This position is classified exempt

Rate: $82,490 Annually

At Victory Programs, we value a diverse workforce and strive to create welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environments for our employees and the individuals’ accessing services. We are committed to sustaining healthy and functioning communities that respect and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, cultures, and ideas.

For 50 years, Victory Programs has assisted individuals and families in crisis. Each year, thousands turn to us for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and compassionate professional support. Many of our clients struggle with homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues, and a significant number live with HIV/AIDS. Our dedicated team of over 350 staff members work across more than 25 programs to help people to develop and implement creative and safe solutions to the challenges they face.

Our benefits program includes a 75% employer contribution to health insurance and a 25% employer contribution to dental insurance, as well as 100% employer-paid disability and life insurance and a 401K match. Victory Programs offers a generous paid time-off package to all employees, which includes vacation, sick leave, personal time, and holidays. Upon hiring, all staff members are entitled to up to 4 personal days, 160 hours of sick leave, 10 holidays, and 3.5 weeks of vacation. These figures may vary based on full-time or part-time status, and vacation time increases with length of employment.