Project Director (VSP)

Position Summary:

The Project Director serves as a member of the Prevention team of WestCare Tennessee and works to ensure the delivery of quality services to their staff and to the individuals served in the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant (SSPGF). The Project Director will provide direction and oversight to their staff regarding the community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of Veterans and their families through outreach, suicide prevention services, and connection to Veteran Affairs (VA) and community resources. The Project Director is responsible for program coordination in ten counties: Greene, Hamblen, Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Loudon, and Cumberland counties.

Essential Job Functions:

• Ensure the program aligns with the VA's National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide (2018)
• Ensure the program assists in further implementing a public health approach that blends community-based prevention with evidence-based clinical strategies through community efforts.
• Promote and provide health and wellness of eligible veterans and their families.
• Supervises SSPGF staff in planning, implementation, and delivery of prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction services to eligible veterans and their families.
• Work directly with federal, state, and local VA representatives and other veteran service agencies building lasting relationships to increase referrals and support for sustainability of services.
• Serve as community contact person to conduct program presentations and updates to grant partners who have submitted letters of commitment as well as building new relationships with additional businesses, government officials, agency leaders and other influential individuals that will support the SSPGF grant activities and services.
• Conduct monthly meetings with invited community leaders including grant partners to serve as your suicide prevention council to maintain connections and receive recommendations in continuing to serve eligible veterans and their families.
• Prepare and submit monthly SSPGF activity reports to both the VA and to the Regional Administrator of Tennessee using required data tracking systems or reporting forms.
• Monitor program expenditures to maintain proper inventory of supplies and equipment to ensure supply orders and program activities remain within budgetary limits.
• Review weekly workplans and weekly reports for scheduled activities/meetings from each staff confirming staff workplans align with grant performance measures and data collection requirements.
• Schedule weekly staff team meetings either virtually or in-person to discuss updates, successes, barriers or challenges to meeting grant requirements and plan service activities.
• Attend necessary monthly integrated staff team meetings in coordinating the care and services for each enrolled veteran and their families.
• Work closely with SSPGF grant's Research Assistant and WestCare Foundation Evaluation team regarding the collection of data and reporting of program outcomes.
• Attend in-person and virtual program conferences and meetings, community meetings, and events as deemed necessary.

Track all staff training and share with program Research Assistant completed trainings

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Valid driver's license is required.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited two-year Community College or a four-year College/University with a degree in Communication, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, or related human services field to the position is preferred.
• Current and/or previous experience in a veteran service-related field of at least 3-5 years will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Basic knowledge of veteran services, behavioral health, social services, judicial system, law enforcement or related industry.
• Excellent communication skills including public speaking and group facilitation/training.
• Some experience with performing outreach and marketing.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct and confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served.
• Research and evaluate data.
• Experience with using data tracking systems.
• Ability to work in different program systems in providing day to day operations.
• Ability to stay highly organized and maintain time management.
• Ability to utilize a computer and software that includes Microsoft 365.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or indoor setting.
• Some outdoor activities and travel will be required.
• Some travel will be required to trainings and conferences.
• Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and proper utilization by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or promptly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision including proper eyewear at 20 inches or less and at distance.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with co-workers, managers, and the public at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.