LEAD Project Manager

Job Description

Job Description

PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION.

Seattle-King County LEAD Project Manager

LEAD : Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion / Let Everyone Advance with Dignity)

PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. (PDA)

PDA strives to build robust support for non-punitive, community-based solutions to many public safety issues.With neighborhood and public partners and in partnership with community members actively seeking to move past experiences of harm and injury, we design and deliver widely supported initiatives that promote safety, restoration, and racial equity.

Who We Are

Formed in 1969 as The Defender Association to provide high-quality legal defense for civil rights activists in Seattle, in 2013, we began to concentrate exclusively on alternative public safety models when King County created an in-house public defense program. PDA remained independent to carry on the work of our Racial Disparity Project, which had helped to design LEAD, the nation’s first pre-booking diversion model for drug-related offenses. In 2021, we adopted a Co-Executive Director structure, recognizing the value of power-sharing, multiple voices, and perspectives at the leadership level. Our multicultural team of lawyers, organizers, project managers, social workers, direct service providers, and administrative staff blends professional and technical skills with lived experience of the systems we’re working to change.

Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion / Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD) Background

LEAD enhances public safety, health, and equity by building new systems to divert people with unmet needs related to behavioral health or extreme poverty into non-punitive, collaborative, community-based systems of response and care. Individuals approved for LEAD receive access to harm reduction-based intensive case management. Working with their case managers, participants develop an individualized plan identifying the types of services most relevant for them, including, but not limited to, Housing, Employment, Legal Issues, Family Reconnection, Reducing Drug Use / Access to Medication Assisted Treatment, Mental Healthcare, and other Physical Healthcare needs. Law enforcement or the community can refer individuals to LEAD. PDA is the project manager for the flagship LEAD program in Seattle-King County and provides technical support for jurisdictions nationally and internationally that want to replicate LEAD through our LEAD Support Bureau.

Position Description :

The LEAD Project Manager is engaged in the program management of PDA’s local LEAD work, which entails collaboration with law enforcement, case managers, prosecutors, and neighborhood and community leaders.

The LEAD Project Manager manages day-to-day maintenance and troubleshooting of LEAD operations in a designated area; this position functions as a part of the LEAD Project Management Team under the direction of a LEAD Program Director, Deputy Director and the Co-Executive Directors focused on developing LEAD program evolution to match current community needs, drives the evolution of LEAD service provision to best support participant needs, while also addressing public health and safety concerns. In addition, the team builds community stakeholder relationships to help ensure a broad, multigenerational public safety and public health support system that is community-based and identifies points of advocacy within LEAD. The LEAD Project Manager may also work closely with the LEAD Support Bureau to provide technical assistance to communities across the United States and internationally that are exploring, developing, operating, or evaluating LEAD.

Essential Job Functions :

Project Management : Day-to-day maintenance and troubleshooting of LEAD in existing areas of operation, as assigned by the LEAD Program Director, Deputy Director, and the Co-Executive Directors;

Management of Regular Case Conferencing Meetings and Processes : Facilitating coordination meetings with key operational partners in LEAD. LEAD partners use these meetings to share information about program participants’ situation and progress and discuss referral criteria, program capacity, and compliance with the LEAD protocol.

Community Education and Engagement : Educate community members (including individuals, businesses, community groups, and social service providers) on how LEAD works and potential ways to engage with the program in their community. Work with community groups to understand current public health and public safety needs within their community;

Support other projects in the LEAD family of programs, including CoLEAD.

From time to time, there will be involvement in other work of PDA, including but not limited to developing other diversion and justice system reform initiatives.

Other duties as assigned.

Essential Job Qualifications :

Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience)

Education :

Both formal and informal education are attributes for this position.

Experience :

Experience and knowledge of local services for unhoused people and housing systems is preferred

Experience working within or adjust to the criminal legal system is preferred

Demonstrated interest in criminal justice, homelessness, and / or drug policy reform and a willingness to approach these issues with a racial justice analysis

Experience coordinating meetings

Experience or familiarity with community and human services dynamics and public safety / order issues in Seattle communities is valuable in this position

Knowledge and Skills :

Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to LEAD’s core values

Knowledge of Seattle communities city-wide

Ability to proactively identify and engage new potential partnerships and important community members

Willingness to collaborate with the criminal legal system

Ability to clearly communicate core principles and support and advise others with less experience in harm reduction-based social work

Understanding of behavioral health conditions, substance use disorder, client-centered care, and harm reduction strategies

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking, and problem-solving skills; interest in working as a member of a team and in a fast-paced, dynamic environment is essential

Commitment to the mission and approach of the PDA

Basic computer skills, including the ability to use the internet, email (Google platforms that are used at PDA), word processing (e.g., Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (e.g., Excel), and video conferencing platforms including Zoom

Location

The PDA Office is in Seattle, WA.

Benefits include :

• 401k match of up to 4% of salary, beginning after six months of employment
• Annual, 2% of salary, profit sharing contribution to 401k, provided in most years
• Generous medical and dental benefits for employees and family members
• Flexible Spending Agreement for both medical and dependent care needs
• 15 days vacation per year, increasing annually up to 20 days vacation per year, after 5 years
• 12 personal / sick days annually;
• Monthly $50 employer cell phone contribution if required by position

This is a Fair Labor Standards Act exempt, at-will position; continuation in the position depends on both performance and funding.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PDA is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. PDA actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity. PDA is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board, and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, those directly impacted by the criminal justice system, people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact hr@WeArePDA.org.

How to Apply

Submit your cover letter and resume. Please Note : Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Salary : $50