Harm Reduction Strategic Specialist

MPHI is a Michigan-based and nationally engaged, non-profit public health institute. We are a team of teams, process and content experts, dedicated to building A world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

Title: Harm Reduction Strategic Specialist

$66,539.20 – $99,320 / Posted Thru: 9-10-26

Location: Remote/Virtual – Must Live and Work in Michigan

Purpose: This position will serve as a senior level specialist that will be responsible for supporting the coordination, alignment, and implementation of the Section’s opioid response initiatives. The position will sit in the Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis Section and will report to the Section Manager. The position will work across multiple units and program areas including harm reduction, naloxone distribution and access, drug checking, drug diversion and deflection and law enforcement training to support a coordinated and comprehensive approach to improving health outcomes and reducing barriers to care for Michiganders impacted by substance use. This work involves complex and highly visible initiatives that require coordination across multiple program areas, levels of leadership, and internal and external partners.

The position serves as a key extension to the Section Manager by providing situational awareness, supporting accountability for projects and initiatives, and proactively identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for coordination. Through collaboration with unit managers, staff, leadership, and internal and external partners, the position helps facilitate communication, integration, and effective implementation across the Section’s opioid response efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide program and administrative support for the Section’s opioid funded projects.
• Manage timelines associated with opioid funded projects – presentations, reports, manuscripts, OPM reporting.
• Maintain proactive and timely communication with staff by monitoring deadlines, providing reminders and follow-ups, and delivering regular status updates to ensure tasks and deliverables remain on track.
• Analyze ongoing opioid response program operations and initiatives and recommend modifications of policies and procedures to meet commitments more effectively.
• Establish, administer, and evaluate opioid response programs and recommend program policies and procedures.
• Ensure opioid response programs are collecting data necessary to meet program reporting, evaluation requirements, and timelines.
• Interpret existing and proposed laws, policies, and procedures as they relate to Michigan’s opioid response.
• Act as a liaison with internal opioid response programs and leadership as well as other agencies, organizations, and employees related to Michigan’s opioid response.
• Represent the best interests of MPHI and MDHHS at all times.
• Other duties assigned by the Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis Section Manager.

Qualifications/Requirements:

education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major.

experience: Four years of professional experience is required. Experience working in substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support, or other areas of opioid and substance use response is preferred.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Excellentoraland written communications.
• Commitmentto health equity and serving the underserved populations in Michigan.
• Collaborationand partnerships with internal and external partners.
• High levelof initiative, accountability, and accuracy.
• Knowledge of Michigan’s harm reduction, law enforcement, and/or diversion landscape.
• Experience working in opioid response-related work.
• Knowledge of the operational and technical problems involved in Michigan’s opioid response.
• Knowledge of methods of planning, developing, and administering programs, particularly related to substance use or substance use disorder.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and legislative processes related to substance use and substance use disorder.
• Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate programs and administrative activities.
• Ability to formulate policies and procedures relevant to Michigan’s opioid response.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and expedite work projects.
• Ability to interpret complex rules and regulations.
• Ability to communicate with others verbally and in writing.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements: This position will work remotely but is subject to change according to departmental policy.Local,state and out-of- state travel may be required for in-person

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS: No assigned responsibility.

IMPACT ON PROJECTS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: Performsasa critical member of a team of professionals working to decrease fatal overdoses and eliminate demographic and geographic disparities in fatal overdose rates.

REQUIRED COMMUNICATION

Contact Person/Group	Frequency	Purpose
Section Manager	Daily	Direction/Supervision
Unit Manager	Daily	Collaboration
Internal/External Partners	As Needed	Communication/Collaboration/TA
BIDP Leadership	As Needed	Communication/Collaboration

For purposes of employment standards, this classification is “Exempt” from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act.

MPHI works with you to promote health for everyone. Together, we will build a world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

MPHI is an EEO employer that participates with e-verify.