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Harm Reduction Specialist I/II

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Harm Reduction Specialist I/II

Salary

$53,934.40 - $62,025.60 Annually

Location

Westminster, CO

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

07193

Department

Public Health Department

Division

Public Health Nursing

Opening Date

10/22/2025

Closing Date

11/19/2025 4:30 PM Mountain

Our Mission

To responsibly serve the Adams County community with integrity and innovation.

EEO

Adams County is an equal opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Position classification

Onsite -- Job duties and expectations require employee to be regularly scheduled onsite.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

What Success Looks Like In This Job

Harm Reduction Specialist I (HRS I)

The Harm Reduction Specialist I is an entry-level position performing routine harm reduction services and provides public health care and treatment within the scope of services in the sexual health and harm reduction programs. As a part of the Harm Reduction program, this role performs HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV) and STI screening, syringe access and safe use outreach, case management, as well as targeted individual and group level education and outreach for HIV/HCV/STI risk reduction, HIV prophylaxis treatment and harm reduction, overdose prevention and Naloxone use. The HRS provides clinical support through delegated bio-sampling, laboratory management, and medication dispensing protocols. The goal of this role is to remove challenges and improve access to high-quality, client-centered, culturally competent care throughout Adams County to reduce infectious disease, decrease overdose risk and improve health and wellbeing of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD). The HRS collaborates with other subject matter experts to establish standards of care for syringe access programs (SAPs) funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Along with the Associate Program Manager, the Harm Reduction Specialist focuses on SAP scope of practice to include overdose education, prevention and Naloxone distribution, linkage or direct provision of physical and mental health care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and a variety of social services. The HRS I understands and meets all compliance requirements for program and testing services. This position may be based throughout Adams County.

Harm Reduction Specialist II (HRS II)

The Harm Reduction Specialist II is a mid-level position that performs basic to intermediate-level administrative and clinical tasks. Must have three years of relevant experience. This role can work independently in clinical or community settings. In addition to the responsibilities identified above, this role requires the HRS to assume limited supervision, engage in project-specific tasks and participate in quality improvement processes. The HRS II ensures compliance measures are followed for all testing and program services offered within the program. This position acts as an outreach coordinator for external events, arranging details and connecting with internal teams and community-based organizations.

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $25.927/hour - $29.816/hour. The full salary range for this position is $25.927/hour - $39.850/hour.

Examples of Duties for Success

Direct Services:

+ Participates in HIV/HCV/STI prevention and outreach program activities and special events, including evenings and weekends as needed.

+ Conducts direct harm reduction counseling, HIV/HCV/STI screening and point of care testing. Includes obtaining and handling biospecimens through strict protocols and laboratory compliance.Provides referrals to services, and connects participants to interim and extended health care, behavioral health care, recovery resources, social services, etc.

+ Offers opioid overdose prevention and education and Naloxone training and distribution.

+ Utilizes appropriate resources to plan and provide services that are safe, effective, and financially responsible.

+ Gathers and organizes supplies for outreach activities. Reconciles inventory and checks expiration dates to ensure all materials are up to date.

+ Maintains program-specific documentation. Uses organizational skills to maintain correct forms and tools necessary for documentation.

+ Offers syringe access and disposal services, including community retrieval and distribution of syringes and access to safe supplies for vein and wound care.

+ Performs other duties as assigned.

Community Health Strategy

+ Fosters community engagement to reach all community members. Develops and maintains interpersonal relationships with community partners, internal and external customers, and resources to create linkages to care and prevention services, including no-cost medications, emergency financial assistance, housing, and/or food.

+ Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the healthcare consumer’s health or situation.

+ Monitors health status to identify community health problems.

+ Improves population health by emphasizing prevention and attending to multiple determinants of health.

+ Participates in community-specific solutions to address health priorities.

+ Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.

+ Maintains temperature control logs for test kits, controls and labs.

+ Utilizes county-vehicle and mobile units to perform outreach services throughout the county.

Additional Duties

+ Provides administrative support as assigned for the program. Handles confidential matters and collects information as requested for the use of the program staff. Filing, typing, and answering phones in support of daily program functions. Maintains files and records.

+ Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.

+ Performs other duties as assigned and required.

Emergency Preparedness Duties

+ Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents and events.

+ Participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness, as required.

+ Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.

Additional Duties

+ Travel may be required to any ACHD clinic or outreach event as needed for efficient program operations. Travel may be determined on the day of work, based on program needs.

+ Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

+ Ability to work community outreach events, including tabling, teaching and mobile services. The HRS I-III series assists in the orientation and training of new employees, students, and interns. Participates in QA/QI project as needed.

+ Perform other duties as assigned.

HIPAA Statement

Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy confidentiality requirements.

Qualifications for Success

+ Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

+ Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of clinical and community representatives.

+ Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.

+ Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire date.

Knowledge of:

+ Maintains knowledge of current practice guidelines and continuing education topics pertinent to the Harm Reduction Specialist role.

Ability to:

+ To perform phlebotomy, collect specimens, and administer Naloxone, CPR and first-aid procedures.

+ Capture health visit information into the electronic health record.

+ Provide helpful, accurate, and direct assistance to internal and external customers via phone, email and in-person. Exhibits excellent office etiquette.

+ Develops and maintains effective working relationships all participants and partners.

Equipment used:

+ Standard office equipment including, but not limited to, personal computer and associated hardware and software, telephone, copier, calculator, and audio-visual equipment.

+ Maintenance of CLIA waived laboratory equipment.

Basic care and ability to drive Adams County vehicles and mobile units for outreach services.

More Qualifications for Success

The HRS I requires a high school diploma or GED with a minimum of 2 years related experience or a combination of comparable clinical education and/or experience/training. Comparable experience with substance use treatment, poverty, homelessness, or behavioral health may count for up to 1 year toward experience requirement.

The HRS II requires 3 years related experience. A bachelor’s degree in a healthcare or human services field is strongly preferred and may substitute for one year of practical Harm Reduction experience.

Comparable experience with substance use treatment, poverty and homelessness, and/or behavioral health may count for up to one (1) year towards combined experience for demonstrated lived experience.

*If you would like your comparable experience to be considered for Qualifications for Success, please respond to the prompts in the Questions section.

Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.

Adams County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees that goes above and beyond what is offered at most organizations.

Clickhere (https://youtu.be/ILAvllPaGb4) to watch our video about why Adams County is an Employer of Choice!

Benefits You Expect:

+ AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance

+ Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance

+ Deferred Compensation Plan

+ Dental/Vision/Medical Plans

+ Generous Vacation/Sick leave

+ Long-Term Disability

+ Retirement Plan

+ Short-Term Disability

Plus some you might not expect:

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ Employee Fitness Center

+ Employee Health Clinics

+ Flexible Work Schedules

+ Recreation Center Discounts

+ Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs

+ Wellness programs

+ Lactation friendly certified workplace

01

Please be aware that your cover letter and resume will not be accessed in the initial screening process, so you must complete your application and supplemental questions with as much detail as possible. Any personally identifiable information (PII) such as name and address will be redacted from applications that meet the minimum screening requirements and are forwarded to the hiring manager. If the hiring manager selects you to advance in the hiring process, your cover letter and resume will then be accessible to the hiring team. Information provided on the application is used to determine if a candidate meets minimum qualifications. Only information provided at the time of the application being completed will be considered and additional information that is not listed on the application will not be considered when deciding if a candidate meets or does not meet the qualifications. Applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to include all information and details on their application. I understand and agree that only information provided at the time of my application will be used to determine if I meet the minimum requirements for this position.

+ Yes, I understand and agree

+ Yes, I understand but disagree.

02

This role requires a High School Diploma or GED equivalent. Do you meet this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Please indicate how you meet the experience requirements for the role.

+ At least two (2) years related experience

+ At least one (1) year of related experience AND one (1) year of comparable experience

+ More than one (1) year of related experience AND less than one (1) year of comparable experience

+ None of the above

04

Would you like your comparable experience to be considered for service credit towards Qualifications for Success?

+ Yes

+ No

+ Not Applicable

05

If yes, please review the comparable experience statement below and complete Prompt 1 below. If no, or it is not applicable to your experience, please select "Not Applicable." By selecting one of the options, I acknowledge that the information I provide will be used solely for service credit towards the Qualifications for Success and will not affect my eligibility for hire.

+ I understand and agree

+ I understand but disagree

+ Not Applicable

06

Please list your comparable experience with justice involvement, poverty and homelessness, and/or behavioral health. Include dates (month, year), and a brief description of what it was. If you are not using comparable experience, please write "Not Applicable." a. (For example: 05/92 - 6/93 incarcerated for possession. 09/19 - 02/20 Treated for behavioral health condition)

Required Question

Employer

Adams County

Address

4430 S. Adams County Parkway, Suite C4000BBrighton, Colorado, 80601-8213

Website

http://www.adcogov.org/current-career-opportunities

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