RIZE Massachusetts Receives $2 Million in 2022 State Budget

RIZE News

July 22, 2021

Appropriation Builds on Previous Investments That Fund Critical Programs to Fight Opioid Epidemic

BOSTON (July 22, 2021) – RIZE Massachusetts, an independent nonprofit foundation working to end the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, received a $2 million appropriation to support its programs in the state’s fiscal 2022 budget signed into law on July 16 by Gov. Charlie Baker.

Funds will be utilized for operations and certain grant-making initiatives, including the organization’s $800,000 Innovations in Anti-Racism to Address the Opioid Overdose Crisis grant program.  The funding follows a $2 million appropriation in the fiscal 2021 budget passed earlier this year, which supported a number of RIZE programs, including the Harm Reduction Training (HaRT) Scholars initiative, which enables internships and specialized training for 32 HaRT Scholars at three Massachusetts schools of social work.

“The Massachusetts House is proud to support the work of RIZE Massachusetts in their fight against the opioid epidemic,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy).  “It is critically important to support their mission at a time when overdose deaths are rising, particularly among people of color.  Paired with hundreds of millions of dollars to address the opioid epidemic through the FY22 state budget, the funds appropriated for RIZE will make a big difference in the lives of those suffering from substance use disorder.”

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have lost ground in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” said Julie Burns, president and CEO of RIZE Massachusetts.  “This funding will help us act quickly to stem the tide and save lives through innovative, meaningful and evidence-based interventions.  I’d like to thank the Legislature and the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued support of our efforts and those of providers across the Commonwealth as we partner to reach the goal of zero stigma and zero deaths.”

“With the COVID-19 pandemic creating further barriers for those in need to seek treatment, substance use disorder has been a growing area of concern for the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.  “These critical funds secured through the budget process will be essential to combating these increases and will help us get a better handle on this epidemic.  I want to applaud RIZE for their tireless work in this area and for their commitment to equity as we work toward recovery and better treatment outcomes for everyone.” 

“Supporting the most vulnerable among us is a necessary and vital part of ensuring the Commonwealth’s equitable recovery, and that certainly includes support for those struggling with substance use disorder,” said Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  “RIZE’s work has only become more crucial during the pandemic, and I thank them for all they do to improve treatment outcomes, combat stigma, and increase access to care across the Commonwealth.”

The budget amendment was introduced by Rep. Jon Santiago (D-Boston) and championed by several members of the Legislature who recognize the severity of the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts and how the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered efforts to reduce overdoses.  In May, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported that overdose deaths in Commonwealth increased by 5 percent in 2020.

“The $2 million appropriation secured for RIZE is a key step forward in the fight to end the opioid epidemic,” said Rep. Santiago.  “While the COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed down efforts to prevent overdoses, this funding is critical in helping us reduce harm and save lives.  Thank you to Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for your support and to RIZE for your dedicated commitment toward the goal of zero stigma and zero deaths.”

Position Summary

Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership (Mosaic), funded by the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE), is a partnership like no other. It is a unique, public-private collaboration designed to support initiatives that are addressing the opioid overdose crisis in communities that have been historically underserved and have experienced a high rate of opioid-related overdose deaths.

The funding for Mosaic comes from the Massachusetts Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund (ORRF), which resulted from the historic legal effort to demand justice from several private companies for the harms caused by the opioid epidemic. This is one of the first public-private partnerships of this magnitude using settlement funds for community-led initiatives.

In partnership with BSAS and municipalities receiving opioid abatement funds, RIZE manages the Municipal Training and Technical Assistance (Muni TTA) Program. This program aligns with Mosaic’s mission to ensure that opioid abatement funds are invested and remain in the communities most deeply impacted by the crisis while also fueling transformative change through grassroots, community-led efforts.

The Muni TTA project manager provides project management, data, and operational support, ensuring the Muni TTA Program runs smoothly, is well documented, and is grounded in data. This role translates program strategy into concrete workplans, tracking systems, and reporting products, and provides day-to-day task direction to the program coordinator on project deliverables.

RIZE seeks someone for this position who is passionate about ending the overdose crisis and unafraid of new ideas. Success will require a positive, can-do, learning mindset and a collaborative, team-oriented approach. We are looking for candidates who understand how complex and interconnected issues, such as funding, data systems, and municipal government structures, intersect with addressing the overdose crisis.

The project manager supports the implementation of the Muni TTA workplan and Salesforce data infrastructure, coordinates monthly and quarterly reporting, provides project management support to four regional community advisory boards (CABs), and manages the logistics and content pipeline for the program's webinar series and newsletter. This position reports to the chief program officer (CPO) and works closely with the senior program officer (SPO).

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Workplan & Data Management

  • Oversee the Muni TTA workplan and Asana project management structure across six program goals: Proactive Outreach; Communications and Engagement; Quality Assurance and Team Development; Evaluation and Reporting; Intermunicipal Collaboration and Partnerships; and Community Advisory Boards. Monitor and keep progress, and identify risks or adjustments needed to keep deliverables on track
  • Set and monitor Salesforce data quality standards, oversee the Mosaic Muni TTA dashboard in coordination with the program coordinator, and produce reports; identify data quality issues and recommend adjustments to tracked metrics as the program evolves.
  • Monitor case documentation and tracking; compile monthly quality-review summaries for senior management review.
  • Support municipal capacity assessments by synthesizing results, identifying gaps, and helping the SPO draft action plans that reflect program priorities and municipal needs.

2. Reporting & Leadership Support

  • Compile regular qualitative reports, drafting the consolidated narrative of outcomes, barriers, and strategic adjustments for the SPO to finalize.
  • Develop regular progress updates, data summaries, and briefing materials for senior leadership, translating program activity and outcomes into clear talking points for internal review and external stakeholder discussions.
  • Coordinate senior leadership meeting preparation by identifying needed inputs, shaping agendas around key decisions, and ensuring materials are ready for review and follow-up. Coordinate post meeting follow-up.
  • Participate in cross-sector coordination meetings as needed to support data, reporting, or project management needs.

3. Community Advisory Board & Event Support

  • Provide project management for CAB implementation tracking progress and outcome metrics.
  • Direct administrative support for CABs, including materials preparation and outreach coordination.
  • Coordinate logistics, timelines, materials, follow-up, and slide preparation for regional and statewide presentations, meetings, and events.

4. Communications & Content Pipeline

  • Project-manage Mosaic TTA webinars: in coordination with the program coordinator maintain the topic and speaker pipeline, coordinate scheduling and logistics, and track post-session evaluations.
  • Project-manage Muni TTA bulletin and newsletter production, coordinating content collection, drafting, and oversee program coordinator with distribution timelines, and tracking engagement analytics.
  • Direct the program coordinator's development of training materials and slide decks; review for quality and program alignment before routing to senior leadership for approval.

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and virtual meeting platforms
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

  • Experience in public health, behavioral health, or harm reduction
  • Familiarity with workforce development initiatives
  • Experience supporting coalitions or multi-partner collaborations
  • Experience working with communities disproportionately impacted by substance use and overdose

Core Competencies

  • Commitment to harm reduction philosophy and health equity
  • Cultural humility and trauma-informed approach
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative mindset
  • High level of discretion and professionalism
  • Bachelor's degree in public health, public administration, business, or a related field and a minimum of five years of relevant experience; or a master's degree and a minimum of two years of experience.
  • Demonstrated project management experience, ideally within a public health, government, or nonprofit setting.
  • Strong data and systems management skills; experience with Salesforce, or a comparable CRM/database strongly preferred.
  • Experience managing workplans, timelines, and reporting cycles.
  • Experience with supervision preferred.
  • Excellent written communication skills, including experience drafting reports and briefing materials for review by senior staff.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce, Asana, Microsoft Office 365, and virtual conferencing platforms; familiarity with Canva, WordPress, and Constant Contact a plus.
  • Knowledge of the Massachusetts opioid settlement funding landscape and municipal government structures preferred.

Skills, Abilities, Attributes

  • Strong organizational skills and sound judgment in a fast-paced, small-team, collegial environment.
  • Comfortable managing competing priorities and shifting timelines with minimal oversight.
  • Demonstrated track record of sustained high-quality, independent work in fast-paced environments.
  • Effective relationship-builder able to coordinate across internal teams and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential or sensitive information.
  • Motivated by a keen sense of mission and values with a willingness to embrace and actively support RIZE's agenda.

Work Environment

The Municipal TTA project manager is a full-time, hybrid role. RIZE is in downtown Boston; travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. This role may require evening and occasional weekend work.

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