Director of Strategic Partnerships - Boston Public Health Commission

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The 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 across the continuum of care, spanning outreach and engagement, drug user health, naloxone distribution, residential treatment, referral services, and more. RSB has over 150 personnel working across more than 10 programs. Within RSB, the Strategic Partnerships Division manages activities interfacing with the public and external partners, such as communications, intergovernmental relations, community affairs, and policy development.

Additionally, the Strategic Partnerships Division oversees a portfolio of programs and initiatives reaching into the community, serving acute populations and extending "upstream" and outwards to youth, families, and neighborhoods. These projects include the Boston Opioid Settlements Project, Overdose Data to Action, Nubian Square Task Force, multiple dayspaces and engagement teams, CopeCode Club prevention campaign, community technical assistance, harm reduction housing/low-threshold shelter oversight, and more. The Division funds and manages multiple contracts with community providers, and actively seeks new grant and funding opportunities and initiatives in response to changing needs, evidence-approaches, and policies. More broadly, the Division establishes and maintains partnerships in furtherance of RSB activities, contributing to ensuring effective coordination across governmental, nonprofit, and private sectors.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships is a senior level role within RSB, responsible for leading and managing the Strategic Partnerships Division. The position will play a key role in facilitating coordination across RSB services as well as internal and external partners to address substance use and related issues, including unsheltered homelessness. They will shape and advance policies rooted in racial equity, reflecting scientific evidence and needs identified in Boston.

We are looking for a dynamic, strategic leader to oversee the Division, forge and foster partnerships within BPHC and other City departments, and ensure programs are delivered with ongoing community input and data-driven approaches. The ideal candidate for Director will be a creative, collaborative, and versatile leader. This position will work closely with BPHC senior leaders and collaborate with the City's Coordinated Response Team on addressing unsheltered homelessness and substance use in the City. Additionally, this role will work closely with other BPHC Bureaus and Offices to collaborate in the development of new initiatives to address substance use disorder and homelessness, including the Homeless Services Bureau, Boston Emergency Medical Services, Center for Public Health Science and Innovation, Office of Racial Equity and Community Engagement, Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness, and more. Additionally, the Director of Strategic Partnerships will regularly represent BPHC in public settings or external meetings with the broader substance use prevention, treatment and harm reduction provider network across both the City and State as we collaborate with community and key partners on planning, strategic initiatives, and funding opportunities.

DUTIES:

Key duties and responsibilities fall under categories outlined below. This position will also carry out other duties as required by the evolving nature of responding to substance use-related needs in the City of Boston.

All positions at BPHC shall work to help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.

Leadership and Management


* Lead the Division's team, actively developing the identity and activities in response to evolving science, local needs, challenges, and opportunities
* Manage the Division, overseeing and supporting the project management done by direct reports
* Serves as a member of the senior RSB leadership team and represents the Bureau as needed
* Provide supervision, professional development, coaching, performance reviews for direct reports, and address personnel needs, approve timesheets, and provide other human resources
* Promote a workplace culture that fosters staff wellness, reflective processes, and trauma-informed support for staff
* Work in a confidential capacity with the Recovery Services Bureau Director, and BPHC Executive Office team to address policy, program operations, and personnel-related matters
* Regularly seek and apply for funding opportunities that proactively expands the Division's capacity

Strategic Partnerships and Coordination


* Build and maintain strong community partnerships, collaborating with City, State, Federal, private, and non-profit organizations to enhance the continuum of care, including acute treatment, residential and housing, and reentry services
* Coordinate with a variety of partners like BPHC's Homeless Services Bureau, the City's Coordinated Response Team and other relevant entities, to address the overlapping issues of substance use disorder and unsheltered homelessness
* Establish new strategic initiatives and partnership in response to program need
* Maintain ongoing communication and planning with partners and funders to meet established program needs and new innovations
* Establish and develop collaborations with health care providers, housing providers, substance use treatment providers, harm reduction providers, volunteer and nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, community and consumer groups, community health centers, hospitals and community-based organizations providing care to people who use drugs and are in recovery

Intergovernmental Relations


* Coordinate with BPHC Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) to collaborate with City, State, Federal public safety entities to advocate for evidence-based policies in areas of substance use, housing, employment, and re-entry
* Work with IGR to promptly respond to requests from governmental and legislative bodies


* Attend and support hearings as needed, including advocating for legislative priorities
* Represent BPHC in working groups, public forums, and committees pertaining to substance use policy
* Participate in coalitions and learning communities, such as the Big Cities Health Coalition

Communications


* Collaborate with BPHC Communications on communications strategy and key messaging related to substance use, including press releases and media requests


* Develop talking points for leadership and public-facing staff


* Contribute to the development of other communications materials such as social media, digital website, advertisements, and flyers
* As assigned, represent BPHC at hearings, speaking engagements, and in other public settings.

Community Programs


* Oversee the portfolio of Strategic Partnership programs, such as the Opioid Settlements Projects, Community Affairs programs, harm reduction housing operations, youth prevention, and Overdose Data to Action, including through direct management and support of other managers
* Lead the Division's team to develop, implement, and evaluate new programs and initiatives targeting substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. This includes addressing disparities in services, enhancing housing, employment, and re-entry opportunities, and improving access to treatment resources
* Oversee budgets for city contracts and grant-funded initiatives. Work with the Bureau Administrator and BPHC Finance Department and program staff to ensure financial integrity and support for innovative responses to substance use
* Collaborate with the RSB Community Affairs Manager in the Division on ongoing community engagement and outreach activities, including monitoring and evaluation of community engagement outcomes
* Support the Community Affairs Manager in conducting outreach to communities, families, and individuals affected by addiction, connecting them to relevant resources
* Serve as a liaison to the community, fielding concerns and responding, and leading and attending community dialogues and events as they relate to recovery services
* Directly address disparities in recovery services at the grassroots level, ensuring all Boston neighborhoods have equitable access to exceptional substance use-related care

Policymaking


* Collaborate with RSB and BPHC Executive Office leadership to develop and iterate strategic priorities, ensuring BPHC provides compassionate and evidence-based substance use services across its continuum
* Provide strategic guidance on coordinated citywide response to addressing unsheltered homelessness and substance use disorder in Boston
* Oversee the team's research, analysis, and production of policy writing and advocacy materials, in collaboration with RSB and BPHC senior leadership; both internal programmatic decisions and external policies

Other Activities


* Engage in efforts to implement BPHC's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
* Oversee data collection and analysis to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of programs and identify areas for improvement
* Contribute to the broader scientific and programmatic literature on substance use and racial equity by developing materials like practice guidance, collaborating with academic partners, and submitting Boston's learnings to Requests for Information and conferences
* Reflect on emerging technologies and innovations and explore how to incorporate into RSB operations




* Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate Degree in Public Health, Social Work or related field plus 7 years' experience in public health or substance use, working in public affairs, policymaking, and/or program management capacities
* Minimum of 4 years of demonstrated leadership experience, preferably in a large government, nonprofit, and private organization setting
* Proven track record of working across multiple agencies/departments to operate public health programming, and conduct strategic planning and policymaking
* Experience in planning, managing, and overseeing budgets, including managing grants and funding form governmental sources
* Demonstrated experience using data to inform public health planning, implementation, evaluation, and quality improvement processes
* Extensive knowledge of Boston's recovery-related resources and familiarity with the city's recovery community
* In-depth understanding of relevant City, State, and Federal government agencies as they relate to recovery services, including housing, workforce, and public safety agencies
* Experience creating and analyzing data to effectively problem-solve and drive meaningful outcomes
* Demonstrated experience working in urban environments and with diverse client and provider populations
* Demonstrated experience promoting health equity, inclusion, and diversity within workplace and community
* Knowledge of 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
* Strong knowledge of evidence-based approaches in addressing substance use disorder, mental illness, and trauma, as well as experience in utilizing harm reduction principles and practices at all levels of care
* Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience facilitating meetings and writing policy and planning documents, and grants applications
* Ability to successfully lead and manage a division of approximately 15 staff, fostering a positive workplace culture that includes staff wellness, trauma-informed care, and reflective practices
* Ability to work and lead from a strength-based perspective; interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and professional backgrounds
* Ability to be creative and flexible in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities
* Bilingual skills are a plus



Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled