We're Hiring: Harm Reduction Project Coordinator - Victoria

Summary Position

Grid Level:  38, $27.84/hour

Work Locations: 713 Johnson Street

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours/week  

Schedule: Monday through Friday – some evening or weekend work will be required

Start Date: ASAP

End Date: March 31, 2021

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on November 12, 2020.

 

Job Summary:

The Harm Reduction Project Coordinator produces events, develops and facilitates educational programming, and coordinates educational initiatives based on the philosophy and practices of harm reduction, for health and social service providers and AVI’s service users.

This role includes the management of special education projects (including the South Island Community Overdose Response Network (SICORN)), curriculum and workshop development, and facilitating education with and for people who use criminalized drugs as well as service providers.

The Coordinator will regularly consult with clients and team members to determine areas of educational need and, where possible, create meaningful opportunities for education and engagement through producing said programs.

The Coordinator will manage the development and delivery of professional development workshops to AVI staff and community partners. Through developing and maintaining key partnerships with stakeholders and relevant organizations, the coordinator will work to enhance the scope and type of educational programming.

In collaboration with the Education and Positive Wellness departments, the Coordinator also provides supervision and coordination of relevant volunteers, practicum students and the special focus educators.   

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Designs, implements, and facilitates a range of educational harm reduction programming in collaboration with clients and other agency staff
  2. Delivers the harm reduction workforce development project and other service provider trainings, and participates in the ongoing development of harm reduction curriculum
  3. Produces and coordinates Street College courses and events
  4. Maintains up-to-date and accurate knowledge of HIV, HCV and STIs including prevention, transmission, treatment, and emerging trends in relation to risk groups such as GBMSM/LGBTQ2S+ people, people who use drugs, women, Indigenous people, and people who have been incarcerated
  5. Manages a range of special projects as directed, that currently includes the South Island Community Overdose Response Network (SICORN) and the Wound Care project
  6. Regularly consults with clients, staff, and community partners regarding type and effectiveness of programming
  7. Supervises special focus educator staff, practicum students and volunteers by performing duties such as assigning work, providing feedback, support and evaluation, and determining training requirements
  8. Engages in capacity building, stakeholder engagement and community development initiatives with clients, staff, and community partners
  9. Provides project management and coordination support to ensure timely meeting of department goals for members of the education team
  10. Distributes harm reduction supplies and provides education and support regarding safer substance use and safer sex
  11. Assists with the design, production, and distribution of promotional materials outlining and advocating AVI’s educational services to the community
  12. Monitors progress towards program goals and deliverables, including project spending and the preparation of statistical and program information
  13. Maintains files, stats and records related to all areas of the program, electronic and paper, and reports on program work
  14. Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education, Training, and Experience:

  • University degree related to health, social services, or education (Social Work, Adult Education, Psychology, Mental Health Support Worker, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License

3-5 years of demonstrated experience in the following areas:

  • Program coordination and supervision of staff or volunteers in the community social services sector
  • Development and delivery of educational programming, preferably related to harm reduction, overdose response, hepatitis C and/or HIV, including curriculum development, facilitation and evaluation
  • Planning, promoting, launching, and delivering public education and development activities and events, such as conferences, forums, and workshops
  • Working with and providing education to diverse populations including people experiencing homelessness; Indigenous people; LGBTQ2S+ and GB2SMSM communities; people who use criminalized substances; sex workers; people from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and people living with disabilities
  • Working with and between multiple communities for the promotion of health or progressive social change, through collaboration and community building
  • Relevant or applicable training in the provision of culturally safe care and a demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial practice
  • Using multiple platforms for educational programming, including on-line
  • Curriculum development, creating client-centred programming and  delivering content within a range of methodologies including adult learning

 

Skills and Abilities:

  • Demonstrated skills and knowledge in the areas of mental health, substance use, harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, poverty and other social justice issues
  • Understanding of progressive social change principles, including but not limited to direct democracy, consciousness-raising, anti-oppressive practice, and cultural humility as platforms for facilitating progressive social change
  • Knowledge of the impact of Canadian drug policy, colonization, structural violence, and oppression, and how these forces impact people who use drugs
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate in an empathetic manner using clear, simple and sensitive language; presentation, public speaking and group facilitation skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers; the ability to develop and manage complex and sensitive community- based partnerships
  • Excellent project management skills including: project planning, resource and financial management, communication, risk management and problem solving and the ability to manage multiple projectsAbility to plan, organise and evaluate a range of events including workshops, rallies, forums and conferences
  • Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people with lived experience in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them including best practices in peer employment
  • Experience working with Indigenous populations within a culturally safe and anti-oppressive framework
  • Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency
  • Strong organization skills including the ability to set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities
  • Skills in using Microsoft Office programs and a range of other software and technology

We encourage applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous persons, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, persons who use/d illicit drugs, persons with experience of sex work, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.