Outreach Specialist

Pay

Compensation Range: $20/hr – $23/hr (commensurate with experience)

Benefits

• Three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from; Housing Works covers most of the cost, with employee contribution based on salary.
• Staff begin accruing paid time off immediately, up to 30 days earned in the first year.
• Educational benefit available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and textbooks.

About the role

The Outreach Specialist is responsible for engaging community members, identifying individuals at risk for HIV, and connecting them to prevention services. This role conducts field outreach, digital outreach, and partnership‑building with community organizations to promote awareness and access to care in Manhattan. The specialist provides education, brief interventions, and linkage support, while maintaining accurate documentation and contributing to program goals. Serving as a frontline representative of the prevention program, the specialist plays a key role in reducing barriers to care and improving health outcomes in the community.

Responsibilities

• Screen, recruit, and enroll individuals within the target population to prevention services.
• Provide rapid HIV and Hep C testing at mobile, venue‑based, and site‑based events as needed.
• Deliver pre‑ and post‑test counseling and partner notification services in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Link clients to clinical services, including HIV primary care, PrEP/PEP care, and other clinical services.
• Perform sexual history assessments utilizing the GOALS framework.
• Provide comprehensive prevention health education.
• Participate in community events such as health fairs, LGBT events, testing events, etc.
• Present for internal and external programs to promote program services.
• Assist with planning and implementing events to increase client engagement.
• Participate in weekly supervisory sessions with the Program Manager.
• Complete documentation of client assessments, consent forms, and demographic information.
• Re‑engage clients for care, case management, and supportive services by identifying barriers and sharing insights during supervision and team debriefs.
• Coordinate with Navigation and Clinic teams to ensure smooth appointment scheduling and client follow‑through.
• Provide accurate and affirming information about PrEP, including oral and injectable options.
• Use motivational interviewing and culturally responsive communication to assess client interest and readiness.
• Maintain a professional, supportive tone that encourages client engagement and builds trust.
• Participate in ongoing training and coaching to strengthen outreach and communication skills.
• Conduct all programmatic outreach activities (e.g., street outreach, shelters, piers, day centers, parks, health fairs, soup kitchens, house balls, and other venues where LGBTQ youth gather).

Requirements

Education: High School Diploma or GED with relevant work experience required.

• Minimum 1 year of relevant non‑profit employment experience (e.g., outreach, testing, group facilitation, case management).
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance use and mental illness, and LGBT youth issues.
• Good problem‑solving skills and ability to work autonomously.
• Strong documentation/computer skills (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Good verbal and written communication skills.