Director, Community Outreach and Education

Samaritans, Inc. is the leading suicide prevention organization in Massachusetts, providing lifesaving services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Samaritans’ purpose is to alleviate despair, isolation, distress, and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to support those impacted by a suicide loss.  For nearly 50 years, Samaritans volunteers – selected, trained and supported by a dedicated professional staff – have provided compassionate and non-judgmental support, free of charge, to callers through its Helpline, and now to texters as well.

This growing organization provides prevention, intervention, and postvention services that make our communities healthier and happier, and reduces the stigma associated with suicide and mental health concerns. We provide a working environment that celebrates the positive lifesaving work that occurs here each and every day.

Chief Clinical Officer

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR
Community Education and Outreach team

One of Samaritans’ core programs is Community Education and Outreach (CEO). This branch of the organization serves to educate the public about suicide prevention and awareness through workshops, trainings, and community events. These are provided for any group, including, but not limited to youth, adults, and older adults. Workshops occur in a variety of settings, such as schools, corporations, non-profit organizations, and many others. Workshops are tailored to the individual groups, and generally provide the following information related to suicide prevention and awareness:

·       Tools on how to best support someone that may be in a crisis, focusing on active listening, asking questions, asking about suicide, and getting them help

·       Facts, figures, and myths of suicide

·       Risk factors, warning signs, protective factors, and self-care

·       Providing Samaritans’ resources and information on how to access them
 

The Director’s role is to oversee this department, ensuring programmatic leadership to its staff, as well as develop new training and curriculums that reflect best practices in suicide prevention and help Samaritans reach new audiences. 
 

Key responsibilities of this role, in collaboration with the Samaritans Chief Clinical Officer, are:

 

·       Participate as a senior member of the agency’s program management team

·       Develop and implement plans and objectives for the department in an effective and innovative fashion

·       Oversee daily operations

·       Maintain compliance with external regulations and internal policies

·       Assess and report progress to leadership team and Board of Directors in meeting department objectives

·       Manage department staffing needs (e.g. interviewing, hiring, new hire and ongoing training, annual evaluations, etc.)

·       Participate in budget development and monitoring of expenses

 

·       Plans and designs curricula for educational programs; researches and defines educational goals, objectives, and methodologies to meet program goals and best practices in mental health and suicide prevention

·       Develop and implement initiatives to target specialized populations, geographic communities, and the adaptation of curriculum for different groups

·       Develop, maintain, review and analyze program evaluation documents

·       Stay up to date on current trends and information as it relates to suicide prevention

·       Enhance virtual programs and seek out adequate technology to support all aspects of programming

·       Deliver workshops, trainings, and participate in community events as needed

·       Regularly attend training, conferences, and workshops related to suicide prevention, and other related topics

·       Leads efforts to have Samaritans training materials approved by the Best Practices Registry at the Suicide Prevention Resource Center 

 

·       Serve as a representative for Samaritans in the community

·       Establish, maintain and foster partnerships with relevant agencies and organizations

·       Facilitate communication and maintain relationships with stakeholders, promote awareness of community education programs and services 

·       Establish Samaritans as a thought leader in the field of suicide prevention through participation in conferences, papers, presentations etc.

 

·       Some travel for workshops, trainings, and industry related conferences

·       Lifting/ moving of supplies and being outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather, for events

·       Flexibility in working hours appropriate to meet responsibilities is required

·       Successfully completes Samaritans’ staff Befriending Training

·       Minimum of five years of professional experience in a social service agency

·       Minimum of three years of management/supervisory experience

·       Master's degree in education, public health, human services or a related field

·       Maintain up to date certification in evidence-based practices and programs

·       Knowledge of the field of suicide and suicide prevention

·       Knowledge of curriculum development and theory

·       Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality

·       Strong communication skills, including the ability to make effective and persuasive presentations to communities, volunteers, staff, industry peers, board members, donors and others as required

·       Adept at interacting with others in person, over the phone, on zoom, or via email

·       Resolves conflicts and internal issues appropriately, ability to provide difficult feedback

·       Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required

·       Experience with Salesforce preferred

·       Strong analytical thinking and organizational skills

·       Detail oriented and able to accomplish tasks within prescribed time frames

·       $75,000 – $90,000

·       Employer matched 401(k) Plan

·       Short and Long-Term Disability coverage as well as Life Insurance

·       Health (Samaritans covers 85% of premium), Dental (Samaritans covers 90% of premium) and Vision insurance

·       Healthcare and Childcare FSA, Commuter Benefits and Employee Assistance Program

·       Generous Vacation (New hires start with 10 days), Sick (8 days) and Personal Time Off (5 days)

·       Paid Family Medical Leave benefits

·       14 paid holidays

·       Direct deposit payroll

 

Please send your resume (saved as Lastname_resume) and brief cover letter* (saved as Lastname_coverletter) explaining your interest in the position, and how you learned about this opportunity. Email to jobs-outreach@samaritanshope.org with “Director, Community Outreach and Education” in the subject line.

 

*Applications that are missing a resume or cover letter may not be considered.

 

To learn more about Samaritans, please visit:  samaritanshope.org

 

Samaritans is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Candidates of color, bilingual, and bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.