Director of the Office of Violence Prevention

The Director of the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) leads the overall implementation of OVP programs and the strategic direction of violence prevention initiatives for the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The Director works in collaboration with the BPHC Executive Office and the Mayor's Office to ensure Boston's approach to violence prevention is guided by public health principles. The Director ensures that the BPHC violence prevention programs and other programs align with the City of Boston's overall violence prevention strategy.

The Office has over 25 staff working in six distinct programs, and an annual budget of approximately $7 million including city, state, federal and private sector funds. A significant portion of these funds are contracted to community agencies that work in close partnership with Office programs and staff to accomplish violence prevention goals.

OVP partners with Boston communities to address and prevent multiple forms of violence and trauma by supporting strengths and assets so all residents and neighborhoods thrive. It uses a public health framework to develop and implement initiatives for the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of community, domestic, and gender-based violence. Its programs include direct services; training and capacity building for community organizations; community organizing; social marketing; and youth development.

 

Responsibilities

 

• Provide overall leadership, management, and ongoing development of Office strategy and programs. Set strategic direction in concert with other BPHC programs, leadership, and program staff, and in collaboration with the Mayor's Office, and City of Boston departments, state agencies, and community partners. Assure alignment of Office programs with BPHC and City priorities.
• Build and maintain a cohesive team of staff that are knowledgeable, skilled, and motivated to lead services in their areas of expertise. Directly supervise 6 - 8 senior-level managers.
• Assure appropriate systems for recruitment, hiring, professional development, and performance management of all Office staff.
• Work with BPHC epidemiology and evaluation staff members, and academic researchers, to use data, research, and best/emerging practices across multiple dimensions of violence prevention to guide ongoing development and evaluation of impactful programs. Ensure systems for and monitor program process and outcome data. Implement process improvement measures on continuous basis.
• Provide fiscal oversight to a complex budget that includes city, state, and federal grant funds to implement program objectives. Develop budget and monitors expenses with assistance of fiscal staff.
• Ensure equitable approach to violence prevention that incorporates BPHC racial justice principles and strives to dismantle systems of racial, sexual, and gender oppression.
• Provide external leadership and communication, collaborating with residents, community-based organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, educators, and others.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including public and private grant funds.
• Represent the Office and BPHC on internal and external workgroups and committees.
• Respond to emergency situations as needed on evenings and weekends.
• Exercise independent judgement. Work in a confidential capacity with senior leadership.
• Take on other duties as assigned.

 

 

Qualifications

• Master's in public health, social work or related field and 8 years' experience of increasingly responsible leadership in a relevant field required; OR Bachelor's degree and 12 years of increasingly responsible leadership in a relevant field may be substituted; OR 16 years of increasingly responsible leadership in a relevant field.
• 5 years supervisory experience, including with professional and management-level staff.
• Strong preference for candidates who are representative of communities most impacted by violence. Bi-lingual skills a plus.
• Experience leading in a visible role that includes interests of multiple stakeholders. Ability to represent and advocate for program goals in a complex, public sector context.
• Commitment to and experience in supporting racial justice. Understanding of the role of systemic racism in violence and inequitable health outcomes.
• Understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, and of public health approaches to violence prevention, including community, domestic, sexual, and gende