Harm Reduction Environmental Specialist
City of Brockton, Brockton, MA, United States
The Harm Reduction Environmental Specialist (HRES) plays a vital role in enhancing the city’s image by keeping public areas welcoming, safe, and clean for everyone — residents, businesses, and visitors.
A core function of the HRES is to build trust with community members, especially people who actively use drugs, to encourage engagement with supportive services. This involves providing nonjudgmental, trauma‑informed information and referrals to harm‑reduction services.
The HRES will also focus on promoting public health and safety by identifying root causes and implementing creative, community‑informed strategies. This includes participating in brainstorming and implementing innovative solutions specifically aimed at reducing syringe litter. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the remediation of biohazards, clothing, litter, and other biological hazards.
These positions will be working in various departments: Building Department, Department of Public Works, and the Police Department. This is a grant‑funded position. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of ongoing funding, with the current grant scheduled to end in 2036. The position’s funding will be reviewed annually from the date of hire.
Salary: $49,140–$58,240 annually, commensurate with experience. Full‑time, 35 hours per week, benefited, non‑union position.
Essential Functions
Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness, appearance, and safety of assigned exterior areas within the city. This includes sidewalks, city‑owned parking lots, building entrances, and surrounding public spaces.
Serve as a liaison between the city, outreach teams, and individuals experiencing homelessness or substance use disorder.
Sharps disposal: Primary responsibility for the safe collection and disposal of discarded syringes, needles, and drug‑related paraphernalia in parks, walkways, and encampments.
Biohazard remediation: Cleaning and disinfecting public areas affected by public drug use to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
Strategic harm‑reduction partnership: Collaboration with BAMSI COPE Center and the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center to expand ongoing coordination and partnership.
Environmental triage: Identifying and remediating environmental “concealment” factors (e.g. overgrown brush or poor lighting) that specifically enable unsafe drug use in public corridors.
Other duties as assigned or required.
Brockton residency is required.
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A core function of the HRES is to build trust with community members, especially people who actively use drugs, to encourage engagement with supportive services. This involves providing nonjudgmental, trauma‑informed information and referrals to harm‑reduction services.
The HRES will also focus on promoting public health and safety by identifying root causes and implementing creative, community‑informed strategies. This includes participating in brainstorming and implementing innovative solutions specifically aimed at reducing syringe litter. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the remediation of biohazards, clothing, litter, and other biological hazards.
These positions will be working in various departments: Building Department, Department of Public Works, and the Police Department. This is a grant‑funded position. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of ongoing funding, with the current grant scheduled to end in 2036. The position’s funding will be reviewed annually from the date of hire.
Salary: $49,140–$58,240 annually, commensurate with experience. Full‑time, 35 hours per week, benefited, non‑union position.
Essential Functions
Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness, appearance, and safety of assigned exterior areas within the city. This includes sidewalks, city‑owned parking lots, building entrances, and surrounding public spaces.
Serve as a liaison between the city, outreach teams, and individuals experiencing homelessness or substance use disorder.
Sharps disposal: Primary responsibility for the safe collection and disposal of discarded syringes, needles, and drug‑related paraphernalia in parks, walkways, and encampments.
Biohazard remediation: Cleaning and disinfecting public areas affected by public drug use to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
Strategic harm‑reduction partnership: Collaboration with BAMSI COPE Center and the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center to expand ongoing coordination and partnership.
Environmental triage: Identifying and remediating environmental “concealment” factors (e.g. overgrown brush or poor lighting) that specifically enable unsafe drug use in public corridors.
Other duties as assigned or required.
Brockton residency is required.
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