Why Join the Vermont CARES Team?
- Make a Tangible Impact: At Vermont CARES, every team member plays a crucial role in making a difference in the lives of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and people who use drugs. Your work directly contributes to improving health outcomes and is life saving for countless Vermonters.
- Passionate Community: Join a group of dedicated professionals and people with lived and living experience who share a common mission. The camaraderie and mutual support within the Vermont CARES team are unparalleled, fostering a positive and compassionate work environment.
- Continuous Learning: Vermont CARES is committed to the professional growth of its team members. Benefit from regular training sessions, workshops, and opportunities to attend conferences, ensuring you stay at the forefront of HIV care and Harm Reduction knowledge.
- Innovative Approach: Be a part of an organization that is always looking for better ways to serve the community. Vermont CARES is known for its innovative programs and approaches, ensuring that the services provided are effective and relevant.
- Diverse Roles: Whether you have experience in this work or not there is opportunity here. We welcome lived and living experience to our team. Maybe your background is in healthcare, community engagement, advocacy, or administration, Vermont CARES offers a range of roles that cater to various skills and passions.
- Work-Life Balance: Vermont CARES understands the importance of a balanced life. Enjoy comprehensive benefits, generous paid time off and the satisfaction of knowing your work directly contributes to a greater cause.
- Beautiful Vermont Setting: Experience the beauty and serenity of Vermont. Working in such a picturesque environment can be a daily source of inspiration and rejuvenation.
- Be a Voice for Change: Vermont CARES is not just about direct services; it’s also about advocacy. Play a role in shaping policies and public perceptions related to HIV/AIDS and Drug Use ensuring a more inclusive and informed society free of discrimination and harmful stigma.
- Growth Opportunities: As a dynamic organization, Vermont CARES frequently presents opportunities for career advancement. As the organization grows and evolves, so can your role within it.
- Fulfilling Work: At the end of the day, the work at Vermont CARES is deeply fulfilling. Knowing that you are part of an organization that directly improves lives offers a sense of purpose that few other jobs can match.
Executive Director Search
Interested in this leadership role? See job posting for Executive Director
Dear friends of CARES,
As many of you know I made the decision in the spring of this year to step down as the Executive Director at CARES. I have learned, grown, and been endlessly inspired—our dedicated team, our compassionate partners, our supportive lawmakers, our generous donors, and the resilient communities we serve are what made this work possible.
The groundwork we’ve laid together—whether in systems change, fund development, organizational capacity, or strategic planning—has positioned the organization for continued growth and success. Vermont CARES is in capable hands.
To usher the organization through this pivotal time, we have contracted Think Again Consulting to bring on Interim Executive Director, Chelsey Branham. It is with excitement that we welcome Chelsey to the Vermont CARES team. She will be overseeing the agency’s high level administrative and financial operations, as well as supporting us with our permanent ED Search.
Chelsey comes to this work with the kind of experience and passion that aligns with the mission and vision of CARES, and we couldn’t be happier to work with her. Chelsey can be contacted at interimed@vtcares.org
With love and gratitude,
Theresa
A message from Chelsey
I am excited to join VT CARES in this transitional period as the new interim Executive Director. It is with great enthusiasm that I step into this role, ready to collaborate with our dedicated team, partners, and community to advance our mission of harm reduction and support for those with lived and living experience.
My commitment to making systems and spaces more equitable is driven by the belief that when we center the leadership of those most impacted by the issues we seek to impact, our efforts are more fruitful. I have worked within and outside of public, private, and tribal systems to help create the building blocks to step us closer to that reality, and at Vermont CARES I am eager to collaboratively build on successes, explore new opportunities, and strengthen our programs to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve. Together, we can further our mission and drive lasting change in the community.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am excited about the journey ahead and am grateful for your support as we move forward.
~Chelsey
Community-based Drug Checking Providers
Full time in St Johnsbury & Rutland
What is drug checking?
Drug checking services (DCS) provide ways for people who use drugs to analyze the chemical contents of a drug sample so they can make safer, more informed choices about if or how they may use that drug. The primary goal of drug checking services is to help people who use drugs make better-informed decisions about their drug use and reduce risks of overdose and other health consequences. Vermont has established community-based drug checking in state law, funded by opioid settlement money, with full support from the Vermont Department of Health.Vermont CARES is launching drug checking services in early 2025, beginning with our Syringe Service Programs in St. Johnsbury and Rutland with longer term planning to expand to all four of our locations, mobile service areas and community-based pop ups.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking someone who can comfortably and openly discuss drug use, share drug checking results, and talk through practical safer use strategies. Success in this role requires comfort with technology, strong computer skills, and a willingness to learn new systems. The ideal candidate will provide compassionate, nonjudgmental, and culturally competent harm reduction services, primarily focusing on community-based drug checking.
We strongly encourage individuals with lived or living experience of drug use to apply. This perspective is vital to our work. We are looking for folks who are passionate about expanding access to lifesaving services and supplies to help prevent fatal overdoses in our communities.
Key Responsibilities
- Staff on-site program consistently.
- Safely perform drug checking for participants, clearly communicate test results, and provide nonjudgmental guidance on safer use practices.
- Safely handle small drug samples submitted by participants to perform drug checking using Ramen Spectrometry.
- Support daily operations of the SSP. Assemble safer use kits, update inventory, do mobile deliveries, support staff coverage and maintain a clean office environment.
- Distribute essential supplies like syringes, naloxone, and safer use kits, while offering compassionate guidance on overdose prevention, safer use strategies, and connecting participants to additional health and social services.
- Collaborate with Syringe service Program Provider to build and maintain a supportive environment for people who use drugs.
- Work with the SSP Manager to support ongoing program growth, while collecting and submitting accurate data on drug checking services and SSP transactions.
Reliable transportation required. Full time position (37.5 hours) based in Saint Johnsbury & Rutland with great benefits (health, dental, vision, generous CTO, mileage reimbursement). Salary $37,000-$40,000.
Send a letter of interest and resume to Rachel Bolton by email at jobs@vtcares.org Positions open until filled.
We believe that diversity in experiences, perspectives, knowledge and ideas fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and strive to treat all employees with respect, dignity and sensitivity. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of criminal justice history, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression or identity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status or any other legally protected class. We encourage those with lived experience with drug use to apply.