Director of Capacity Building and Community Mobilization (California)

Job Title: Director of Capacity Building and Community Mobilization (California)

FLSA Classification: Full-Time

Location: California (Hybrid/ San Francisco Office)

Salary Range: $80,000 – $105,000

Reports to: Chief Program & Business Strategy Officer

Company Overview

Founded in 1993, the National Harm Reduction Coalition (NHRC) is a leading advocacy and capacity-building organization dedicated to promoting the health and dignity of individuals and communities affected by drug use and structural violence. Our national organization is committed to advancing harm reduction policy and practice through our comprehensive programs. As a national organization we advance harm reduction policy and practice through six core programs:

1. Harm reduction policy, community mobilization, and advocacy.
2. Harm Reduction Capacity Building services include in-person and virtual training, self-paced online learning modules, publications, and maps to locate syringe service and naloxone programs.
3. National and regional convenings.
4. Fiscal sponsorship.
5. Technical assistance on overdose prevention education, HIV and hepatitis C prevention and treatment, syringe access expansion, linkages to MOUD treatment, and the US opioid crisis.

Our programs center racial equity as guided by our North Star: the National Harm Reduction Coalition creates spaces, dialogue, and action that help heal the harms of racialized drug policies.

Position Summary

The Director of Capacity Building and Community Mobilization will lead the expansion of harm reduction services in the San Francisco region and COPHRI and other initiatives are California-wide. In this pivotal role, you will oversee a team dedicated to delivering training, technical assistance, and developing community action plans aimed at overdose prevention and other harm reduction efforts. Your leadership will be crucial in refining best practices and ensuring they are effectively implemented to support vulnerable populations.

With a strong background in leadership, supervision, and fiscal management, you will foster an inclusive and healthy work environment. This position requires collaboration with stakeholders to create programs that address the needs of individuals affected by drug use, HIV, hepatitis C, overdose, homelessness, incarceration, and sex work. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to manage teams and drive initiatives in complex settings, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges in harm reduction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the expansion of capacity building, overdose prevention, and community mobilization activities.
• Develop and implement initiatives that support harm reduction services and people who use drugs.
• Build relationships with funders and contribute to grant writing.
• Oversee special projects like the California Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative (COPHRI).
• Supervise San Francisco-based programs, including naloxone education and distribution.
• Drive local and state-level advocacy and policy initiatives.
• Foster leadership within the California Syringe Exchange Program (CASEP) coalition, with a focus on BIPOC leadership.
• Manage contracts, monitor project budgets, and ensure timely reporting.
• Provide training and technical assistance to address the needs of underserved populations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, or equivalent experience; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role, with a strong track record in program development and implementation.
• Experience with capacity building, harm reduction, and managing government contracts.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams, foster a healthy work environment, and promote inclusive leadership.

Work Environment:

• Office-based with significant travel required (21+ days per year).

Preferred Experience:

• Non-profit and harm reduction settings.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish.

This role is ideal for a leader with a passion for harm reduction, community mobilization, and advocacy. Join us to make a lasting impact on public health and social justice in California and beyond.

People with lived or ongoing experience of substance use, incarceration, homelessness, and/or sex work; people of color, women, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and people living with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis C are strongly encouraged to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, the National Harm Reduction Coalition views the experiences associated with these identities as assets in this role and within our organization.

The National Harm Reduction Coalition promotes a culture of inclusion and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.