Drug User Health Surveyor

Equal Opportunity Employer

The mission of the Health Federation of Philadelphia is to promote community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services. We believe in and are firmly committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.  This commitment applies to all aspects of the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promotion.

JOB SUMMARY

Working within the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR), the Temporary Drug User Health Surveyor supports implementation of the 2026 Philadelphia Drug User Health Survey (DUHS), a mixed-methods public health study examining overdose risk, drug use trends, harm reduction practices, and health outcomes among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Philadelphia. The Temporary Surveyor will conduct community-based outreach and participant engagement, administer eligibility screeners and structured surveys using REDCap, assist with and administer qualitative interviews, and distribute harm reduction resources and referrals. The Drug User Health Surveyor will work closely with the SUPHR Harm Reduction Team to support accurate data collection, participant-centered engagement, and safe field operations at DUHS mobile sites and other community locations throughout Philadelphia.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Conduct field-based outreach and participant recruitment at DUHS mobile sites and community locations throughout Philadelphia.
  • Obtain verbal informed consent and administer eligibility screeners using REDCap on tablets or laptops.
  • Administer structured surveys and qualitative interviews to eligible participants in English and/or Spanish.
  • Provide participants with harm reduction supplies, overdose prevention education, and referrals to social support services as appropriate.
  • Support mobile outreach site setup, operations, and breakdown.
  • Maintain accurate electronic data collection procedures and ensure confidentiality and secure handling of study information.
  • Monitor participant well-being and notify supervisory staff of safety concerns, emotional distress, intoxication, or other situations requiring intervention.
  • Assist with recruitment tracking, appointment follow-up, and participant engagement activities.
  • Other DUHS-related duties as assigned.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, behavioral health, psychology, sociology, or related field preferred; OR
  • High school diploma with commensurate lived or professional experience in harm reduction, outreach, or public health field work.

Skills/Experience:

  • Knowledge of substance use terminology, overdose prevention, and harm reduction principles.
    • Experience engaging with people who use drugs, including individuals experiencing homelessness, in Philadelphia.
    • Experience conducting surveys, interviews, outreach, or field-based public health activities preferred.
    • Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse populations in community settings.
    • Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism while working with sensitive information.
    • Experience with REDCap or other electronic survey/data collection platforms preferred.
    • Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
    • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced field environments.
    • Sensitivity to and experience working with racially, ethnically, culturally, and sexually diverse individuals and communities.
    • Skilled in Microsoft Office and basic computer applications.
    • Bilingual English/Spanish skills strongly preferred.

Work Environment:  Primarily mobile outreach operations and field-based community work throughout Philadelphia. Work may occur outdoors and in non-traditional community settings.

Position Type and Work Schedule:  This is a temporary part-time position to support the completion of the DUHS from July 2026 to January 2026. Typical hours are two days a week, scheduled between Monday and Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, anticipated 5-20 hours a week. Occasional evening or weekend outreach activities may be scheduled.

Travel:  Local travel to DUHS mobile sites, report to field sites across Philadelphia, community outreach locations, and meetings throughout Philadelphia, daily.

Physical Demands:  Ability to transport outreach materials and supplies and routinely move equipment or materials weighing up to 50 lbs.

Salary and Benefits:  $20/hour

DISCLAIMER

The Health Federation reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Company desires. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee assigned to this position. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, responsibilities and/or skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied, or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “at will.” The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified disabled individuals.