Director of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), with 1,500 staff and a budget of $350 million, promotes and protects the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable. The agency leads programs to prevent communicable diseases; prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy behaviors; prevent environmental health risks and injuries; investigate outbreaks of disease; respond to public health emergencies; and promote the health of women, children, and families. In addition, the department operates eight primary care clinics. PDPH has been on the vanguard of public health, proposing policy solutions to problems like smoking and obesity, and intends to continue that tradition with creative solutions to both long-standing urban health problems and new crises. Many cities have been impacted by the overdose crisis, but Philadelphia has been hit especially hard. The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health has responded by creating the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR), a team focused on improving the health and well-being of people who use drugs in Philadelphia.  SUPHR has 10 teams: Bereavement (Philly HEALs), Communications, Community Engagement, Environmental Services, Epidemiology, Harm Reduction, Medical, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Philly LIFTS), Operations, and Overdose Fatality Review (OD Stat). The team's mission is to prevent overdoses and other health issues by offering services and shaping policies to promote the dignity, autonomy, and health of people who use drugs. To name just a few things, SUPHR offers overdose prevention trainings, support to families with babies born with NAS, and same day pay program focused on creating job opportunities while cleaning communities. Since so many Philadelphians have been touched by the overdose crisis, SUPHR also provides counseling to children and adults who have lost someone in their life to an overdose. Behind the scenes, SUPHR works with other City agencies, hospitals, and community groups to ensure that everyone is working together to combat stigma and encourage harm reduction efforts. SUPHR recognizes that many communities have been dealing with substance use for a long time, and SUPHR is invested in giving communities the tools they need to keep people who use drugs, their loved ones, and the larger community healthy and safe.

Job Description

This position is responsible for managing the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The mission of SUPHR is to reduce the number of people initiating use of illicit opioids and other drugs while ensuring that individuals in active addiction are receiving the harm reduction and treatment resources they need. The Division manages and analyzes data on local drug use and its consequences, including overdoses, hospitalizations, and drug treatment utilization, and prepares summary reports and statistics that are used to inform City policy and initiatives. The Director oversees the overall day-to-day operations and personnel responsible for managing the following SUPHR program areas: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Surveillance and Outreach, Overdose Death Review (OD Stat), Surveillance and Epidemiology, Communications, Prescriber Training and Education, and Treatment Linkage.  This individual assures that the Division is effectively working towards its mission by coordinating programs and strategies, identifying critical issues, and helping to manage the Division’s budgets and contracts.  The Director works closely with other Health Department Divisions,