Harm Reduction Specialist - Lab Technician

Job Title: Harm Reduction Specialist – Lab Technician

Accountable to: Director of Programs

Summary of Position: Wellness Services Inc. is seeking a compassionate and skilled individual to join our Harm Reduction & HIV Prevention team. Our participants are members of vulnerable populations who have been historically excluded from and actively hindered by systems that were not designed for them. We serve individuals and communities facing intersecting barriers related to housing, healthcare access, criminalization, racism, transphobia, homophobia, underinvestment, under resourced communities and other forms of systemic oppression that directly impact their health and upward mobility.

Our approach rejects punitive models of care. Instead, meeting people where they are, providing low-barrier, trauma-informed services that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and agency. In this role, you will provide direct outreach, HIV/STI/CV testing and counselling, and education to a wide range of community members, with a specific focus on reducing overdose, HIV transmission, and Hepatitis C transmission across all populations we serve.

This role features a unique clinical-public health component: You will be trained to operate an FTIR spectrometer and immunoassay test strips to support real-time substance analysis and individualized health education. The information gathered will help participants better understand potential health risks, make informed decisions, and reduce their risk of overdose or exposure to unexpected substances. Training on the FTIR equipment and all related procedures will be provided.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Outreach & Direct Participant Engagement

Conduct street-level and community-based outreach to engage individuals and communities facing systemic exclusion, with a focus on populations disproportionately impacted by HIV, HCV, overdose, and health inequities, including Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, LGBTQ+, and unhoused communities.

Build trusting, collaborative relationships with participants across all identities, recognizing their autonomy, self-determination, and right to make their own health decisions.

Distribute harm reduction supplies (syringes, safer smoking kits, safer sex supplies, wound care, etc.) and provide education on safer drug use, safer sex, and overall health promotion.

Facilitate individual and group sessions focused on harm reduction strategies, health literacy, community connection, and wellness.

Provide overdose prevention education and distribute Naloxone to participants and their networks across all communities served.

Ensure all outreach and engagement efforts are culturally responsive, affirming of all gender identities and sexual orientations, and actively anti-racist.

HIV, STI & HCV Testing, Counseling, and Linkage to Care

Administer STI and rapid HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) testing to participants in outreach and site-based settings.

For participants who receive preliminary and confirmed reactive results, provide immediate emotional support, education on next steps, and active linkage to confirmatory testing and medical care.

Link participants to case management, medical care, PrEP, PEP, and HCV curative treatment, assisting with appointment scheduling, transportation, and health insurance enrollment as needed.

Actively prioritize outreach and testing efforts in communities that have been historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by HIV and HCV, including Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, and LGBTQ+ populations.

Maintain accurate records of all tests administered, results provided, and referrals made, ensuring compliance with all confidentiality laws and agency policies.

Substance Analysis & Risk Reduction Services

Operate FTIR equipment and immunoassay test strips to conduct point-of-care analysis of samples voluntarily submitted by participants.

Accurately interpret spectral data and test-strip results and explain findings using clear, accessible, and nonjudgmental language.

Provide evidence-informed education about identified and potentially unidentified components, including unexpected substances and emerging health risks.

Help participants understand their results, consider practical risk-reduction strategies, and make informed decisions about their health and safety.

Follow established safety protocols for the handling, storage, documentation, and packaging of samples submitted for confirmatory laboratory analysis.

Maintain chain-of-custody records and compare point-of-care findings with confirmatory laboratory results to support quality assurance and improve testing accuracy.

Systems Navigation, Referrals, & Advocacy

Assist participants in navigating complex social and medical systems by providing warm referrals to substance use treatment (on demand), housing programs, primary care, dental care, mental health services, gender-affirming care, HIV/HCV treatment, and benefits enrollment (health insurance, etc.).

Develop and maintain strong partnerships with community-based organizations, clinics, and service providers that specifically serve Disabled, Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, and LGBTQ+ communities to ensure participants have access to culturally affirming, comprehensive wrap-around support.

Actively advocate for the needs of historically excluded populations within systems of care, working to dismantle barriers and improve access to services.

Represent Wellness Services Inc. at community events, coalition meetings, and public health initiatives, ensuring that the voices of historically excluded communities are centered in all programming.

Data, Compliance, & Program Improvement

Accurately document all participant interactions, service deliveries, and program data in accordance with Wellness policy and funder requirements.

Maintain rigorous data collection protocols for drug checking services and HIV/HCV testing, including logging sample types, test results, and participant demographics to identify emerging drug trends and health disparities.

Stay current on national and local drug trends, emerging adulterants, and innovations in harm reduction, HIV/HCV treatment, and drug checking technology to keep our services responsive and evidence-based.

Regularly assess program outreach and engagement strategies to ensure they are reaching and effectively serving Disabled, Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, and LGBTQ+ communities; recommend adjustments as needed to address gaps in access.

Attend all required trainings (including FTIR operation, HIV/HCV testing certification, and cultural responsiveness) and participate in team meetings to align services with agency goals.

Perform additional duties as needed to support the mission and objectives of Wellness Services Inc.

Qualifications

Understanding of, or lived experience with, the communities we serve, including people who use drugs, people with or at risk for HIV/HCV, Disabled, Black, Brown, Indigenous, Transgender, and LGBTQ+ communities, and individuals facing systemic exclusion. Lived experience is valued but not required.

Ability to work effectively with humans of diverse gender identities, races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, and drug use patterns, in a multicultural environment. This is a critical component to the agency and the work that is done in the community.

Willingness to work non-traditional hours (nights and weekends) to meet participants where they are. Notification of non-traditional hours will always happen.

Must be able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.

Must demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, and discretionary abilities, particularly when handling sensitive participant information and drug samples.

HIV and HCV testing certification must be obtained within 6 months of hire (training and certification provided by the agency).

Willingness to complete all required ongoing training. All training will be provided at no cost to program staff.

Must possess reliable transportation, a valid Michigan driver's license, and maintain the minimum Michigan vehicle insurance requirements.

Comfort with, or willingness to learn, basic laboratory and data collection procedures, including operating analytical equipment (FTIR spectrometer), handling biological samples (HIV/STI/HCV tests), and maintaining accurate records.

Commitment to racial justice, gender justice, and intersectional harm reduction as core principles guiding all aspects of this work.

Critical Qualities

Confidentiality – Capable of maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to client and organizational information, including HIV/STI/HCV test results, drug checking data, and participant identifying information.

Person-Centered – Capable of working with individuals to identify needs and priorities and facilitate any positive change as a client defines that for themselves. Committed to meeting participants where they are without judgment or coercion.

Motivated – Capable of taking the initiative and following a project through to completion, whether that involves outreach efforts, data collection, or program improvement recommendations.

Organized – Capable of prioritizing needs, goals, and objectives. Capable of maintaining all required information to achieve goals and priorities, including accurate documentation of participant interactions, testing results, and drug checking data.

Problem Solver – Capable of thinking on the spot to resolve problem situations as they arise. Able to assess relevant information, identify a range of options, and make recommendations for resolution of problem situations, whether in the field, during testing, or while operating equipment.

How Wellness Services Inc. Supports Work-Life Balance

We believe that the work we do in the community starts with how we care for our team. At Wellness Services Inc., your well-being matters—and we're committed to creating a workplace where you can show up fully, grow your skills, and feel supported every step of the way.

We offer

• 208 hours of paid time off annually
• 11 national holidays off, including Juneteenth
• Shortened workdays on Fridays to start your weekend early
• A competitive 401(k) with up to 3% matching contribution
• Up to 100% employer-covered health insurance
• Abundant learning opportunities, including conferences, workshops, and professional development

Grant-Funded Position Notice

This position is made possible through grant funding. The listed salary is set according to the approved grant budget and is not negotiable. Like many nonprofit positions, its continuation is connected to future funding and program needs.

Pay: $42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Travel reimbursement

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person