Job Title
Outreach Specialist (Multiple Positions)
Reports To
Harm Reduction Program Manager
Position Type
Part-Time | Temporary | Contract (Grant Funded)
Hourly Rate
Starting at $17.00 per hour
Organization Overview
The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition (KyHRC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the health, social, and economic harms associated with substance use through evidence-based harm reduction practices. KyHRC works to prevent overdose deaths, reduce the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases, increase access to healthcare and recovery resources, and improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities throughout Kentucky.
KyHRC provides outreach, syringe service programming, overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, testing supplies, health education, referrals, and community partnerships to underserved populations.
Position Summary
The Outreach Specialist serves as a frontline representative of KyHRC by providing community-based harm reduction outreach, participant engagement, overdose prevention education, naloxone distribution, safer use education, and linkage to healthcare and social services throughout Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties.
This position is primarily field-based and requires employees to work in community settings, including neighborhoods, parks, encampments, public events, mobile outreach locations, and Syringe Service Program (SSP) sites. Employees must be flexible, dependable, safety-conscious, and able to work independently while maintaining communication with supervisors and team members.
Essential Job Duties
The duties listed below are representative of the work performed and are not intended to be all-inclusive.
Community Outreach
- Conduct outreach activities in assigned communities utilizing evidence-based harm reduction practices.
- Build trusting relationships with individuals who use drugs and other vulnerable populations.
- Provide overdose prevention education and distribute naloxone.
- Distribute fentanyl, xylazine, nitazene, methamphetamine, benzodiazepine, and other approved drug checking supplies.
- Provide safer use education and harm reduction counseling.
- Conduct outreach at SSP locations, mobile outreach sites, health fairs, community events, shelters, recovery organizations, and other approved outreach locations.
- Conduct participant surveys and collect demographic and program data.
- Link participants to healthcare, behavioral health, housing, recovery services, transportation, and other community resources.
- Assist with participant follow-up when appropriate.
Program Operations
- Prepare, assemble, and distribute harm reduction supplies and kits.
- Maintain outreach inventories and report supply needs.
- Ensure accurate documentation of participant interactions and services provided.
- Complete all required documentation and data entry according to grant requirements and agency policies.
- Submit required reports within established deadlines.
- Participate in quality improvement and quality assurance activities.
Community Engagement
- Build and maintain positive relationships with community partners.
- Represent KyHRC professionally at meetings, outreach events, trainings, and community functions.
- Assist with outreach campaigns, educational initiatives, and special projects.
- Promote culturally responsive, participant-centered services.
Training and Professional Development
- Successfully complete all required onboarding and orientation.
- Complete required CPR, harm reduction, naloxone, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and safety trainings.
- Attend required staff meetings, supervision meetings, and continuing education opportunities.
- Maintain current knowledge regarding:
- Harm reduction
- Substance use disorders
- HIV
- Viral hepatitis
- STIs
- Overdose prevention
- Community resources
- Public health best practices
Safety Responsibilities
- Follow all KyHRC safety policies and field protocols.
- Maintain regular communication with supervisors while conducting outreach.
- Report incidents, injuries, unsafe conditions, or participant concerns immediately.
- Utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Follow all infection control procedures.
Other Duties
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support organizational and grant objectives.
Qualifications
Required
- High school diploma or GED.
- Valid driver's license.
- Reliable personal transportation with proof of insurance.
- Ability to travel throughout Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble Counties.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
- Basic computer skills, including email and electronic documentation.
Preferred
- Lived experience with substance use or recovery.
- Experience working with underserved populations.
- Community outreach experience.
- Harm reduction experience.
- Commonwealth of Kentucky Harm Reduction Navigator certification.
- Peer Support Specialist certification.
- CPR/First Aid certification.
- Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish strongly preferred).
- Knowledge of HIV, viral hepatitis, STI prevention, overdose prevention, and harm reduction principles.
Work Schedule
- Flexible schedule based on operational and community outreach needs.
- Typical workload ranges between 20–40 hours per week, depending on grant funding and program assignments.
- Daytime, evening, and occasional weekend availability is required.
- Employees are expected to report to assigned outreach locations on time and remain available for their scheduled shifts.
- Work schedules may be adjusted based on community needs, outreach events, staffing, public health emergencies, or grant requirements.
Physical Requirements
Employees must be able to:
- Stand and walk for extended periods.
- Frequently bend, squat, kneel, and reach.
- Lift and carry outreach supplies weighing up to 30 pounds.
- Load and unload outreach materials from vehicles.
- Enter and exit vehicles multiple times throughout the workday.
- Drive throughout assigned counties.
- Utilize tablets, laptops, and mobile technology while in the field.
Environmental Conditions
This position is performed primarily in community settings rather than a traditional office environment.
Employees must be able and willing to work outdoors in varying environmental conditions, including:
- High temperatures
- Cold weather
- Rain
- Humidity
- Wind
- Uneven terrain
- Direct sunlight
- Seasonal weather conditions
Employees are expected to dress appropriately for outdoor work and utilize agency-provided safety equipment.
KyHRC prioritizes employee safety. Outreach activities may be modified, relocated, delayed, shortened, or canceled when weather conditions create an unreasonable safety risk, including but not limited to:
- Extreme heat
- Lightning
- Severe storms
- Flooding
- Ice or snow
- Excessive wind
- Other hazardous environmental conditions
Employees are expected to comply with all agency weather-related safety procedures and supervisor instructions.
Core Competencies
Successful Outreach Workers demonstrate:
- Compassion
- Professionalism
- Reliability
- Accountability
- Cultural humility
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Teamwork
- Sound judgment
- Problem-solving abilities
- Excellent communication skills
- Commitment to participant dignity and harm reduction principles
Travel
Regular travel throughout KyHRC's service area is required.
Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with organizational policy when personal vehicles are used for approved agency business.
Work Environment
The Outreach Worker position is highly interactive and community-facing. Employees should be comfortable working with individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, mental illness, poverty, trauma, and other complex social and health conditions. The ability to remain calm, respectful, nonjudgmental, and professional in challenging situations is essential.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KyHRC is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, lived experience, and perspectives. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.
Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
