Application Guide
How to Apply for Syringe Exchange Supply Hub Program Coordinator
at Perfectly Flawed Foundation
🏢 About Perfectly Flawed Foundation
Perfectly Flawed Foundation is a harm reduction organization that operates the Illinois Syringe Service Program (SSP) Supply Hub under a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health. This role offers a rare chance to build a statewide public health supply chain from the ground up, directly impacting the health and safety of people who use drugs across Illinois. Working here means joining a small, mission-driven team where your logistical and relationship-building skills will have immediate, tangible impact on community health.
About This Role
As the SSP Supply Hub Program Coordinator, you will be the operational backbone of Illinois' syringe exchange supply network, managing procurement, distribution, and compliance for IDPH-authorized SSPs statewide. You'll design and launch a needs assessment within 90 days, maintain relationships with SSPs and waste haulers, and ensure equitable allocation of supplies using IDPH's funding formula. This role is critical to expanding access to sterile syringes and safe disposal, directly reducing infectious disease transmission and saving lives.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve checking in with SSPs on supply orders, updating inventory spreadsheets, coordinating with waste haulers for sharps collection, and analyzing data for an upcoming IDPH report. You might also have a virtual meeting with IDPH to discuss funding formula adjustments or travel to an SSP site to assess their needs firsthand. The work is dynamic, balancing urgent supply requests with long-term planning and compliance.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Perfectly Flawed Foundation Is Looking For
- Experience in harm reduction, public health, or syringe service programs, with a deep understanding of the principles and challenges of SSP operations.
- Proven logistics and supply chain management skills, including procurement, inventory management, and distribution to multiple sites, preferably in a nonprofit or public health context.
- Strong data and compliance aptitude: able to apply funding formulas, track metrics, and prepare reports for government funders like IDPH.
- Excellent relationship management: skilled at coordinating with diverse stakeholders, including SSP staff, IDPH officials, and waste haulers, and comfortable working remotely across Illinois.
📝 Tips for Applying to Perfectly Flawed Foundation
Highlight any direct experience with syringe service programs (SSPs) or harm reduction—this is a niche field, and they will prioritize candidates who understand the culture and challenges of SSPs.
Show your ability to build systems from scratch: describe a time you designed a distribution or procurement process, especially if it involved multiple locations or stakeholders.
Demonstrate familiarity with Illinois or the Midwest: if you have worked in Illinois or with IDPH, emphasize that. If not, research IDPH's SSP program and mention specific insights in your application.
Quantify your logistics impact: use numbers to show how you improved supply chain efficiency, reduced costs, or increased order fulfillment accuracy in past roles.
Address the remote nature head-on: explain how you successfully manage remote coordination and travel, and express willingness to travel within Illinois for SSP site visits and waste hauler meetings.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your specific experience with harm reduction or SSPs and why you're passionate about this work; (2) a concrete example of designing or managing a supply distribution system, highlighting equity and efficiency; (3) your ability to handle grant compliance and data reporting for government funders; and (4) your approach to building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including SSPs, IDPH, and vendors.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Learn about Perfectly Flawed Foundation's mission, history, and other programs—visit their website and social media to understand their harm reduction philosophy.
- → Research the Illinois Department of Public Health's syringe service program: who are the authorized SSPs, what are the IDPH requirements, and what recent policies affect SSPs in Illinois?
- → Understand the basics of sharps waste disposal regulations in Illinois and the role of licensed waste haulers in SSP operations.
- → Look into the current landscape of harm reduction funding and supply distribution models in other states to bring innovative ideas to the interview.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid generic language about 'helping people' without demonstrating specific knowledge of harm reduction and SSPs—this field requires cultural competency and a non-judgmental approach.
- Don't overlook the logistics and compliance aspects: this role is heavily operational, so failing to highlight supply chain, data, or grant management experience will weaken your candidacy.
- Avoid implying you can't work remotely or travel—the role is remote but requires in-state travel, so any reluctance to travel or lack of remote work discipline could be a red flag.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Perfectly Flawed Foundation!