Job Description

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) Recovery Services Bureau (RSB) offers comprehensive programming and resources aimed at reducing the harms associated with substance use, including providing treatment services, recovery supports, and youth prevention. RSB operates its own continuum of care, spanning outreach and engagement, to drug user health, distributing naloxone, residential treatment, referral services, and more. RSB has more than 150 personnel working across more than 10 programs.

This is a senior leadership position within the Recovery Services Bureau. The Associate Bureau Director will report directly to the Bureau Director and provide strategic leadership to support the Bureau’s mission of reducing the harms associated with substance use in Boston. The Associate Bureau Director is responsible for managing RSB programmatic operations and enhancing all RSB programs and services to advance the Bureau’s mission, values, and strategic objectives. The Associate Bureau Director plays a lead role in guiding the B ureau’s program transformation efforts, and creating and embedding a trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment, and harm-reduction model across all RSB programs. An innovative thinker and visionary, the Associate Bureau Director will have experience in workforce development, evidence-based practices, data-driven programming, and building and implementing systems and processes.

The Associate Bureau Director will conduct the following duties and represent the Bureau Director as needed:

• Work to help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
• Lead the implementation of trauma-informed care and harm reduction protocols across all RSB programs, ensuring that services are accessible and responsive to the needs of people affected by substance use, mental health issues, and homelessness.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and guide initiatives that reduce barriers to accessing harm reduction and recovery services. This includes increasing access to housing pathways, medical care, and community-based supports that promote long-term stability, independence, and health.
• Oversee the coordination and integration of all harm reduction and recovery services provided by the RSB, including residential treatment programs, syringe service provider, overdose prevention, outreach and prevention programs. Ensure compliance with all required policies, protocols, and documentation, while fulfilling reporting obligations to funders and licensing agencies.
• Provide strategic guidance on implementing a coordinated city-wide response to address the health and safety needs of individuals facing substance use disorders and homelessness. This includes managing partnerships, technical assistance workplans, and supporting the implementation of harm reduction and recovery-focused initiatives.
• Ensure that staff and program operations comply with administrative policies and procedures. Supervise designated managers and supervisors of RSB’s senior leadership team to set priorities and manage the day-to-day delivery of RSB's programs and services.
• Lead the development and implementation of quality and process improvement initiatives, representing the Bureau in AQI (Administrative Quality Improvement) and Accreditation work groups. This includes planning, implementation, monitoring, and providing recommendations for solutions.
• Write reports and presentations summarizing programmatic outcomes, programmatic strategic priorities, grant updates, and service delivery protocols. Partner with communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office around developing and presenting communications as needed.
• Develop new grant opportunities in partnership with the Grants Development Office.
• Manage Bureau grants and subcontracts with partners, ensuring program compliance, annual reporting, record keeping, site visits, and grant renewals.
• In collaboration with senior managers, identify potential funding sources and apply for grant funding.
• Assist Bureau Director in the development and oversight of the Bureau’s budget; the development and implementation of long-term sustainability plans for current federally, state and city funded services and programs, including grant writing and other revenue generating activities.
• Participate in ongoing budget development and analysis for the Bureau, and City budget planning process.
• Establish and foster new partnerships, collaborations, and linkages with other city agencies, BPHC programs, service providers, healthcare providers, managed care organizations, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, volunteer groups, and consumer groups to expand the Bureau’s impact.
• Supervise direct reports and develop operational procedures and training materials for staff. Make and recommend management and personnel decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions. Work closely with Human Resources and Labor & Employment Office around personnel matters.
• Develop and maintain an organizational system that supports staff professional development. Assess the training needs of RSB’s staff to create and implement a comprehensive staff training program focused on harm reduction and recovery services.
• Meet regularly with the Bureau Director regarding all aspects of Bureau operations, including but not limited to matters pertaining to program staff and other confidential matters.
• Operate independently, using sound judgment and discretion to make decisions impacting program operations, staff, and BPHC policy.
• Provide emergency coverage and support as needed to ensure continuity of services and smooth functioning of the Bureau’s harm reduction and recovery programs.
• Assist Bureau Director in planning and implementing new initiatives and programming to address emerging issues and gaps in the Bureau’s services and programs.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other BPHC Bureaus, Offices, and Centers to support effective staff development, programming outcomes, and BPHC-wide initiatives.
• Promote health equity, inclusion, and diversity within the BPHC, department and community.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Education, Social Work or related field; or a Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of relevant experience may be substituted.
• Minimum of five years of demonstrated leadership experience in managing direct clinical and/or administrative activities in emergency shelter or similar living environments for vulnerable individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in crisis management and trauma-informed response.
• Experience with homelessness, substance use disorder, mental illness, and trauma-informed service provision.
• Knowledge of Housing First, Harm Reduction and Work First philosophies.
• Demonstrated experience working in urban environments and with diverse client and provider populations.
• Prior experience working with local, state and/or federal government.
• Prior experience in grant writing and management of funded programs.
• Ability to interact sensitively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socio-economic, educational and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to develop and manage administrative policies and procedures that maximize effectiveness and efficiency of direct service programs.
• Ability to successfully lead and manage staff greater than 30 employees.
• Strong analytic skills.

Preferred or Plus:

• Demonstrated formal or informal social justice advocacy experience and/or community organizing/mobilization experience.
• Master’s in Business Administration.
• Master’s in Public Health.
• Trained as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Bilingual-bicultural skills.