CITY OF LOWELL
Job Description

Health and Human Services Department
Project Director (FR-CARA Grant)

Job Title: Project Director (FR-CARA Grant) (2500-J#1000, 3570)
Department: Health and Human Services – Health Department
Reports To: Substance Abuse Coordinator, Director of Health and Human Services
Union: Ordinance
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Salary: $26.00 (min) to $30.00 (max)/hour Part-time, not to exceed 18hours/week

Grant funded via SAMHSA’s First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support Services Act Grant
Funding for position starts September 30, 2022;
Grant runs for four years, ending September 29, 2026

SUMMARY
The Project Director is a part-time position that will be responsible for coordinating the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery
Support Services Act Grant (FR-CARA), a SAMHSA funded initiative. The FR-CARA will support, expand, and enhance existing programs for first responders and recovery support workers to train, carry, and distribute Naloxone in Lowell. The population of focus for this project is adults 18 years of age and older at risk of substance abuse, which includes the underserved Hispanic/Latinx and Black communities in Lowell. Funding for FR-CARA, along with the Project Director position, has been secured for four years starting September 30, 2022.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Coordinates and facilitates the FR-CARA project advisory committee;
• Leads the FR-CARA partners in strategic planning activities, and monitoring and adherence to a logic model and timeline;
• In collaboration with research partners, gathers aggregate data, reviews data and data collection methods to monitor goals and objectives, and makes recommendations to partner agencies to enhance documentation methods and improve data collection;
• Leads the FR-CARA partners towards making milestones and determines strengths, gaps, and opportunities for capacity development of the Health Department and partner organizations;
• Creates FR-CARA partner MOUs that focus on capacity building with appropriate community partners;
• Identifies relevant harm reduction and recovery “train-the-trainer” opportunities for FR-

CARA partners to attend, and coordinates the attendance of partners;

• Conducts trainings about substance abuse and harm reduction in the community with an emphasis on racial and ethnic minorities and those with socioeconomic vulnerabilities;
• Increases awareness within the substance-using community and their networks about the

Good Samaritan Law to increase bystander use of naloxone and reduce related stigma;

• Coordinates FR-CARA partner agencies and key stakeholders to determine and/or develop evidenced-based policies and procedures within partner organizations that support trauma informed practices with our target populations;
• Works collaboratively with FR-CARA partners to sustain project harm reduction and naloxone distribution activities, and implements and evaluates these activities in the city;
• Attends monthly Community Resources Fairs at Lowell House’s Recovery Café Lowell to offer education on naloxone, harm reduction services, and the Good Samaritan Law;
• Oversees the FR-CARA budget, including monitoring expenditures for appropriateness;
• Works with the assigned FR-CARA contract manager, technical assistance partners, and research team;
• Promotes and communicates FR-CARA goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes;
• Represents the Lowell Health Department as various task forces and coalitions such as the Lowell Mayor’s Opioid Task Force, Greater Lowell Health Alliance’s Substance Use Prevention Task Force, the District Attorney’s Opioid Task Force, and additional task forces and coalitions as assigned by the Substance Abuse Coordinator;
• Other duties may be assigned as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of current and historical harm reduction and replace prevention strategies;
• Familiarity with program design and implementation;
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Suite;
• Strong interpersonal skills.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess strong meeting facilitation and coalition coordinating skills. Understanding of federal and/or state grants; strong writing and public speaking skills are essential; highly proficient in computer skills including all Microsoft
Office suite products. Experience with communication tools and social media a plus, including
Doodle Polls, Survey Monkey, social media, and website management.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Either: (a) a Master’s degree in Public Health, Human Services, Social Work, or Mental Health with one year experience in the planning, implementation and evaluation of substance abuse prevention and coalition coordination; (b) a Bachelor’s degree in one of the above fields of study with two years of experience as outlined above; or (c) Satisfactory equivalent combination of the foregoing education, training, and experience. Bilingual skills are a plus.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and business correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before individuals or employees of an organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and risk of electrical shock (electrical outlets). The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Lowell is a smoke and drug free employer and requires a physical with drug screen and CORI check post offer.

Qualified individuals should apply by the deadline by submitting application/resume with cover letter using the City of Lowell job opportunities online portal: https://selfservice885.tdr.tylerhosting.cloud/ess/employmentopportunities/default.aspx

The City is committed to encouraging diversity and inclusion through equitable opportunities for all community members. The aim is for our workforce, including contractors, to be truly representative of all sections of society and our community, and for each team member to feel respected while fostering belonging.

"The City of Lowell assures that every individual shall have equal access to all City employment opportunities. The City is all-inclusive and no person shall be denied equal access because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military service, or physical/mental disability."

EOE/AA/504 Employer

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $26.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 18 per week

Work Location: In person