Operations Manager - ORCA POD

DESC•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The ORCA POD Operations Manager is a key operations-focused leadership role ensuring that staff, supplies, data systems, workflows, and partnerships are in place to support high-quality, low-barrier outreach services. This position works closely with ORCA leadership, the Medical Department, and other internal DESC teams. Over time, the position may assume responsibilities supporting additional DESC OUD initiatives.

Requirements

At least two years working in a low-barrier buprenorphine program or a Federal Opioid Treatment Program in a clinical or administrative capacity.
Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
Demonstrated ability to support clinical programs through problem-solving, system-building, and client-centered design.
Strong skills in organization, documentation, scheduling, and administrative systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, data entry, and EHR documentation (or the ability to learn quickly).
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including technical writing.
Ability to manage sensitive information professionally and maintain confidentiality.
Desire to serve people with complex needs who are or have been experiencing homelessness and are living with serious and persistent mental illness, substance use disorder, and other complex medical conditions.
Able to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of challenging behaviors .
Adaptable to changing priorities, processes, or workflows as the program grows and evolves.
Able to give and receive constructive feedback.
Familiar with trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and equity and social justice principles.
Possess cultural humility and able to work effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities.
Willing to travel across the greater Seattle area.

Nice To Haves

Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.
Experience working in a low-barrier buprenorphine program or a federally regulated Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) in a clinical, outreach, or administrative role.
Experience supporting quality improvement initiatives.
Experience with program budgeting and monitoring.
Ability to prioritize and shift focus to meet operational needs in a fast-paced environment.
Experience with implementation science, healthcare research, or evaluation.
Leadership or supervisory experience.
Experience in Medicaid and non-Medicaid funding structures.
Master’s degree in public health, data science, health informatics, epidemiology, or a related field.
Bilingual in Spanish/English.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business, which requires a current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record.

Responsibilities

Support planning, implementation, and ongoing improvement of ORCA POD services.
Oversee day-to-day operations of POD, including field-based follow-up care and outreach workflows.
Guide budgeting, financial sustainability, and regulatory compliance activities.
Ensure timely procurement, stocking, and tracking of medical supplies, medications, equipment, client supplies, and food.
Create and manage staff schedules, particularly triaging new intakes, assigning follow-up injections, and coordinating outreach in distinct geographic zones.
Support crisis drill planning, safety protocol development, and operational readiness.
Provide administrative support for recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, and staff development.
Work with ORCA leadership to create training materials and tools for workflow changes and quality assurance.
Participate in managerial-level meetings, supervise the POD data collection coordinator, and assist with hiring, performance improvement, and investigation activities as assigned.
Incorporate an equity framework in all staffing, training, and operational activities.
Partner with DESC’s Quality & Information Management team to ensure accurate data collection, reporting, and analysis.
Develop and maintain tracking systems, resource lists, manuals, schedules, and operational dashboards.
Provide oversight of program evaluation for workflow changes, contract deliverables, and service performance.
Assist in implementing documentation improvements and EHR-related updates with clinical and CHASERS staff.
Support continuous quality improvement initiatives, including medication inventory management.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with partner agencies, funders, research partners, and healthcare/public health entities.
Represent DESC in policy and systems discussions related to opioid use disorder treatment and overdose response.
Perform limited clinical services as appropriate to credentials.
Other duties as assigned.