Program Director

Southside Harm Reduction Services; Minneapolis, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Robust PTO and Sick & Safe Time

Medical and dental insurance

401k with employer matching

Computer and phone provided

Flexible on site/remote schedule

Job summary

Southside Harm Reduction Services in Minneapolis seeks a Program Director to guide all SHRS programming, translate strategic goals into annual plans, and partner with the Executive Director and Operations & Finance Director. The role oversees multiple programs, supervises staff, and drives quality improvement, grant management, and community partnerships to expand harm reduction services.

Candidates should have deep harm reduction knowledge, strong leadership, and commitment to equity, with

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience doing direct service work in harm reduction or human and social services.
• Minimum of 3 years experience directly supervising staff and managing programs.
• Experience with evaluation, quality improvement, and applying findings to programming is preferred.
• Eligible to work in the United States and valid forms of identification per IRS Form I-9.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual program planning for all SHRS programs with clear goals and measurable outcomes.
• Maintain quality improvement, monitoring, and evaluation systems to reflect best practices.
• Help develop and manage grants with budgets and accurate reporting.
• Manage programmatic partner relationships with medical, housing, treatment, and case management partners.
• Standardize and maintain operations across programs.

Skills

Harm Reduction

Community Engagement

Staff Supervision

Communication & De-escalation

Tools

Apricot

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Office Suite

Gmail

Google Suite

Grasshopper

Job description

Southside Harm Reduction Services Program Director Minneapolis, MN·Full time Company website

The Program Director leads all SHRS programming and partners closely with the Executive Director and the Operations & Finance Director to lead the organization. This role turns SHRS’s strategic goals into annual program plans with clear, measurable targets, and both supports programs and holds them accountable for meeting those targets.

About Southside Harm Reduction Services

Southside Harm Reduction Services (SHRS) is a Minneapolis nonprofit organization servicing people who use drugs and those experiencing houselessness. From our building at 1925 Chicago Avenue, we operate the Community Hub drop‑in center and offer programs including drug checking, infectious disease testing, linkage to care, and mobile services (deliveries and street outreach). We work closely with partner organizations to expand programming and ensure our participants get the care that they need and deserve. SHRS is currently working on getting a first bargaining agreement with SEIU Healthcare MN.

Description

Southside Harm Reduction Services Strategic Goals

• Create Space for People Who Use Drugs
• Address HIV Outbreak
• Promote Understanding of Harm Reduction
• Promote Leadership & Sustainability

Someone who will be successful in this position has a deep understanding of harm reduction, the people we serve, and what makes a meaningful impact in our participants’ lives. We are looking for someone who can hold high‑level goals and work alongside our Program Managers to turn them into day-to‑day practice and measurable results.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Coordination

The Program Director oversees all SHRS programs; the Drop‑in Center, Drug Checking Program, Mobile Services Program, Linkage to Care Program, and Infectious Disease Program. Each of these programs are directly managed by a Program Manager under the Program Director’s supervision.

• Lead annual program planning for all SHRS programs, setting expectations, goals, and measurable outcomes that support our mission and ensure effective implementation.
• With assistance from internal experts, maintain and update systems for quality improvement, monitoring, and evaluation so services reflect evolving best practices and the needs of the communities we serve.
• Work closely with our development and finance staff to help to develop and manage grants. This includes creating work plans and budgets, providing accurate reporting, and ensuring that our service delivery reflects grant requirements.
• Manage programmatic partner relationships on and off site, including medical, housing, treatment, and case management partners, and serve as a point of contact for partner organizations.
• Standardize and maintain operations across programs including data collection, scheduling, communications, service delivery, decision making, and meeting structures.

Supervision and Staff Support

Supervise key staff members and oversee supervision and support systems across the organization in order to maintain a safe, equitable, and collaborative work environment.

• Directly supervise two Program Managers
  • Support their program management by communicating annual program plans, providing consistent expectations and goal‑setting strategies, and by helping to problem solve and support implementation.
  • Support them as supervisors to ensure standardized, consistent, supportive, and accountable supervision practices for all staff.
  • Provide both support and accountability for their personal and professional development, performance, and work plan goals.
• Directly supervise the Harm Reduction Educator and the Volunteer Coordinator, ensuring their work represents SHRS accurately and responsibly. Provide support and accountability for their personal and professional development, performance, and work plan goals.
• Along with HR and other supervisors, participate in hiring, onboarding, orientation, training, work plan development, and annual reviews.
• Work with leadership to develop individual and org‑wide professional development plans, including trauma‑informed training like deescalation and violence prevention, as well as coaching for employees with a wide variety of work experience.
• Foster a safe, equitable, and collaborative work environment by facilitating meetings and events, responding to employee concerns, and regularly seeking employee feedback to mitigate burnout and strengthen workplace culture.

Organization Development

Bridge frontline operations with the organization’s mission and long‑term goals in order to ensure overall organizational stability.

• Work with the Board and other SHRS Directors to understand, influence, and implement the organization’s mission, connecting street‑level realities to long‑term strategic goals.
• Be a responsible steward of the organization, monitoring financials and ensuring compliance with grant, legal, and operational requirements.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with other service organizations and community groups. Position SHRS as a key partner within the local and global landscape of harm reduction and human services work.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE EXPECTED OF CANDIDATES

• Harm Reduction Expertise

Deep understanding of harm reduction principles, overdose prevention strategies, and a commitment to working with people who use drugs in order to support their autonomy, health and safety. A demonstrable understanding of how racial capitalism, colonialism and the carceral state are intertwined with harm reduction work.

• Community & Cultural Fluency

Strong connection to the populations served, high level of competence working within multicultural, multiracial environments, and a commitment to institutional and interpersonal anti‑racism.

Ability to manage complex projects through delegation, clear communication, multi‑directional accountability, compassion and flexibility. Ability to manage decision making and facilitate difficult conversations while building and maintaining trust with staff and other stakeholders.

• Communication, De‑escalation, Conflict Management Skills

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills including the use of person‑first, trauma‑informed language, deescalation and conflict mediation skills.

• Technological and Organizational Skills

Able to build, standardize and maintain systems for information sharing, communication, and task management. Comfortable using standard office software and communication technology, and able to learn new technology with proper instruction.

REQUIREMENTS

• Work Experience
  • Minimum of 5 years experience doing direct service work in harm reduction or in human and social services.
  • Minimum of 3 years experience directly supervising staff and managing programs.
  • Preference toward candidates with work experience in evaluation and quality improvement as well as with the implementation of evaluation results into programming.
• Reliable transportation
• Scheduling flexibility, including being able to work remotely and work some evenings and weekends.
• Familiarity with or ability to learn software and apps such as Apricot, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Suite, Grasshopper, Gmail and Google Suite.
• Eligible to work in the United States and valid forms of identification as required by the IRS Form i9

BENEFITS

• Robust PTO and Sick & Safe Time
• 11 standard paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and a full week off each year in early August
• Medical and dental insurance with 80-100% employer coverage of premiums depending on the plan and 80% coverage of any dependents
• 401k with employer matching contributions; 100% of 3% and 50% up to 5%
• Computer and phone provided for SHRS business use
• Scheduling flexibility between on site/remote work as well as regular schedule timing

Other Information

This position reports to the Executive Director.

The priority deadline for applications is October 19, 2026. We will continue accepting applications on a rolling basis after that date, but we will prioritize applications submitted before the 19th.

We strongly encourage and prioritize applications from people with lived experience of drug use, people living with HIV or hepatitis, people with histories of sex work or incarceration, and people of color.