Overview

For 47 years, Samaritans has provided lifesaving suicide prevention services in Massachusetts. Samaritans’ mission is to prevent suicide and offer hope and support to those affected. Established in Boston by Monica Dickens, Samaritans follows the principles of befriending, created by Samaritans in the United Kingdom. While Samaritans offices all over the world share a common suicide prevention mission and philosophy, all Samaritans offices operate independently from one another. Samaritan’s volunteers have answered over 3 million calls, chats, and texts from people who are struggling. Samaritans has trained more than 6,000 volunteers, provided suicide prevention workshops to over 150,000 people, and have supported 15,000 suicide loss survivors in their grief journeys.

Samaritans is seeking a Director of Grief Support Services (DGSS) to serve as a senior member of the agency’s program management team. Reporting to the Chief Clinical Officer, the DGSS role requires a dedicated and experienced leader to provide oversight to all Grief Support Services (GSS) programs and staff, while fostering a positive and supportive environment for staff, volunteers, and loss survivors. The DGSS will work closely with clinical leadership to develop best practices, create departmental plans, and measure program results while maintaining compliance with external regulations and internal policies. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in a social service agency and a 3+ years of management and supervisory experience.

Samaritans is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Candidates of color, bilingual, and bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

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Compensation Range

Starting at $75k + generous benefits

To apply

To apply, please submit a resume & cover letter to Jamie Perry, jamieperry@evolvegg.com

Download Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement plans and objectives for the Grief Support Services department

• Work closely with people seeking grief support services in a non-judgmental manner to facilitate anticipatory grief; provide education to these individuals

• Participate in the development of the departmental budget and monitor department expenses

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships and collaborations to advance agency goals

• Manage departmental staffing needs to include interviewing, hiring, training, evaluations, and more

• Supervise the Coordinator of Grief Support Services and coordinate with the Clinical Advisor

• Oversee events, programs, and conferences as needed

• Develop communication and public awareness campaigns to support the Grief Support Services department

• Resolve conflict and internal issues as needed; provide difficult feedback to volunteers as necessary

• In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Communications, develop and engage in communication and public awareness campaigns

• Research similar programs being offered across the country; provide recommendations to expand grief support services into new areas

• Establish Samaritans as a thought leader in the suicide prevention and postvention field through participation in conferences, papers, and more

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Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or Health Related Field

• LCSW, LICSW, LMHC or other license in mental health field

• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma informed service delivery

• Strong ability to facilitate group discussions

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to make effective presentations to volunteers, staff, industry peers, board members and donors

• Effective, motivational supervisory skills with the ability to lead in a team- oriented setting

• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information

• Flexibility in working hours appropriate to meet responsibilities

• Some local travel for contact with survivors, conferences, and visits to partner agencies, board members, donors and event sites

• Comfort with ambiguity and ever- changing demands

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; Salesforce experience preferred

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OPEN

FILLED

Director of Grief Support Services

Overview

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications & Skills

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications & Skills