Job description

POSITION: LEAD Project Manager

LOCATION: Hybrid, Allegheny County, PA

TYPE: Salaried, Non-exempt, Full time (Some Nights and Weekends Required)

About the Organization

The Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) is an organization that engages Pittsburgh and neighboring municipalities on a broad range of issues, including public safety and public health. By bringing together the City of Pittsburgh and 44 surrounding municipalities, CONNECT promotes cooperation and collaboration to build relationships, committees, and infrastructure for a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program. CONNECT works to provide technical assistance to Allegheny County municipalities who want to implement LEAD.

LEAD is an innovative, widely replicated alternative to jail and prosecution for people who commit low- level law violations or engage in problematic behavior related to behavioral health conditions and/or extreme poverty. Pre-arrest diversion services offer intervention at a critical moment – interactions with public safety and first responders – and connect Allegheny County residents who have mental health or substance use issues to harm reduction-based case management services rather than arrest or incarceration. LEAD seeks to reduce racial disparities in the criminal legal system and access to services. LEAD started in Seattle and has been implemented in 60 sites all over the world.

About the Role

CONNECT seeks a LEAD Project Manager to coordinate all aspects of its innovative Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD) program in Allegheny County municipalities and support expansion of the LEAD pilot to new communities. Through community organizing and collaboration, the Project Manager will directly support the efforts of senior governmental and non-governmental officials in creating and implementing systemic change. This position reports to CONNECT’s LEAD Program Director and is funded by a federal grant that is administered by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

Responsibilities of the LEAD Project Manager include:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of LEAD in over 10 municipalities in Allegheny County, and coordinate efforts with case management, law enforcement, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh LEAD, and other key stakeholders.
• Conduct outreach to additional Allegheny County municipalities to prepare for LEAD expansion, with a focus on communities that have been historically underserved and communities that experience the greatest racial disparities in overdoses, arrests, and other justice system outcomes; provide hands-on technical assistance to support municipalities with fewer resources and limited operational capacity in launching LEAD.
• Develop and sustain relationships with various levels within and including high-level officials from government, law enforcement, the courts system, activist organizations, local community groups, and public health agencies. Interactions with stakeholders will include interpreting and explaining ideas and concepts, developing multi-year strategic plans, solving problems and coordinating change across multiple systems.
• Responsible for working both independently and collaboratively to create, analyze, revise, plan and communicate policy and procedure documents for an innovative public program within a complex social and political environment. Implements highly sophisticated, data-driven methods for reducing harm and transforming communities through partnerships between public safety and public health.
• Support CONNECT’s LEAD Program Director and Pittsburgh’s Senior Project Manager of Diversion to plan and facilitate the activities of the county-wide LEAD Policy Coordinating Group (PCG) — including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, ensuring minutes are kept, and troubleshooting any emerging issues with stakeholders.
• Coordinate evaluation efforts, communicate results, and help stakeholders identify strategies for improving community outcomes. The results of these actions have a significant impact on the quality, efficacy, and efficiency of public safety/public health innovation in Allegheny County.
• Additional CONNECT public safety, health and human administrative responsibilities as needed by CONNECT LEAD Program Director

Required qualifications:

• At least 3 - 5 years demonstrated success in community organizing, harm reduction, criminal justice, behavioral health, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the Project Manager responsibilities, including collaborating and maintaining strong relationships with a wide range of partners including people with lived experience with substance use disorder/mental health issues, returning citizens, law enforcement, community organizations, service providers, business groups, and government agencies.
• Experience with cross-cultural communication and building relationships in BIPOC communities (professional and/or lived experience preferred).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Expert communication and organizational skills; cultural competency across all demographics in Allegheny County; ability to train and engage others on sensitive topics (racial equity, disability justice, drug user rights, LGBTQ, etc.).

Works with a high degree of confidentiality and independence.

• Excellent meeting facilitation skills.
• A strong familiarity with, and ability to explain, principles and practice of harm reduction.
• A strong understanding of racial and social justice frameworks as they relate to substance use policy and the criminal legal system.
• The ability to travel to communities across Allegheny County.
• Familiarity with software necessary to perform specified duties (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent).
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Desired skills:

• Ability to work independently in an area of innovation without local precedent.
• Fundraising experience, including experience writing grant proposals.
• Experience working with local governments in Allegheny County.
• Graduate degree or equivalent experience.

Mentorship and training will be provided. If interested, please apply even if you don’t meet all the qualifications.

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of Individual differences (e.g., personality, prior knowledge, and life experiences) and group/social differences (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, and ability as well as cultural, political, religious, disability status, criminal background, substance use history, education level, or other affiliations).

Salary:

Commensurate with experience. $55-70k. Benefits included.

How to Apply:

An application package is required, including:

• Resume
• Cover letter (no more than 1 page) explaining the nature of your interest and how you have demonstrated the ability to perform the responsibilities of the LEAD Project Manager

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kelley Kelley, LEAD Community Engagement Manager at kelleykelley@pitt.edu

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 3 years

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Pittsburgh, PA 15201

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