AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community based organisation providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients. We take evidence-based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all. At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. For more info see www.avi.org
Victoria Harm Reduction Services Team provides services for people who use drugs and may be impacted by criminalization, systemic injustice and stigma. Relational care is foundational to the team in providing appropriate and accurate services. Folks accessing supplies for safer drug use, safer sex supplies, overdose prevention, response and the training are met with care and intention. Harm Reduction services provides supports in various locations as we continue to look for a home for publicly accessible harm reduction services for all. Victoria Harm Reduction Services is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Harm Reduction Services Systems and Staffing Manager provides support and supervision of staff and the daily administration and operations of Harm Reduction Services. The Harm Reduction Services Systems and Staffing Manager has a strong relational practice of leadership in harm reduction to support and supervise staff in their roles providing psychosocial support to program participants. The Harm Reduction Services Systems and Staffing Manager supports staff who hold multiple, intersecting identities including (but not limited to) people who use/d drugs, people with lived/living experience of HIV and hepatitis C, and LGBTQ2S+ people - from a sex positive, person centered and harm reduction-based approach. The Harm Reduction Services Systems and Staffing Manager will work alongside the Harm Reduction Services Program Manager, to align the program’s strategic goals and operational requirements.
The successful candidate embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, is supportive and empathetic, upholds AVI’s harm reduction, social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility values with staff and people accessing our services. They support and ensure that Harm Reduction Services promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve and the people providing services.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manages the daily operations of the Harm Reduction Services Team, including planning, organizing, staffing, ordering supplies, monitoring program activities and workplace safety and facilities.
- Engages with staff to establish empathic supervisory relationships with clear and mutually-defined boundaries. Supervision will be grounded in harm reduction, understandings of the impacts of trauma, and include mentoring, feedback and skills development.
- Supports staff through regular one-on-one and team meetings, and problem-solves challenging situations that arise.
- Contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice for staff that is in line with principles of social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility.
- Schedules program staff, to ensure appropriate staffing levels to ensure program operations, and manages payroll approval (Inclusion) and leave management
- Provides direct support and services to program participants alongside Harm Reduction staff members
- Collaborates with Harm Reduction Services Program Manager to schedule, coordinate and facilitate staff meetings and trainings
- Leads recruitment, hiring and orientation of staff, in collaboration with Harm Reduction Services Program Manager
- Follows up on performance concerns and acts on disciplinary process when necessary.
- Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents
- Develops, implements and maintains administrative and operational policies and procedures.
- Develops and maintains relationships with community partners, including participating in relevant internal and external committees. Acts as representative for Harm Reduction Services Victoria
- Provides overdose prevention education and first aid response, including education on the administration of Naloxone
- Prepares statistical and program information and funding proposals in collaboration with the Harm Reduction Services Program Manager
- Tracks and responds to issues raised by the Occupational Health and Safety committee and implement recommendations.
- Reviews and authorizes credit card, petty cash, and monitors expenditures related to program budgets in collaboration with Harm Reduction Services Program Manager
- Oversees the planning, evaluation, and program development of the Harm Reduction Services Program in the AVI Victoria office in collaboration with the Harm Reduction Services Program Manager
- Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services within AVI and the Island Health Authority
- Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
The Harm Reduction Services Systems and Staffing Manager has the following qualifications:
- University degree at bachelor’s level in relevant field i.e. Education, Social Work, Social Sciences, or equivalent combination of related experience and education
- 3 - 5 years senior experience and demonstrated leadership with program management and supervision of diverse staff team, preferably within a non-profit or community-based organization
- Experience delivering harm reduction programming and services directly with program clients/participants
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and practices, including harm reduction, anti-racism, decolonization, combating stigma related to drug use, HIV, hepatitis C, and challenging gendered oppression, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia
- Experience working in solidarity with diverse populations including people who are criminalized for their drug use; people who are denied housing/precariously housed/warehoused; racialized identities; Indigenous & Metis persons; LGBTQI2S+ identities; sex workers; people with disabilities.
- Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and a demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial learning/unlearning
- Strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonial violence impacts Indigenous People intergenerationally
- Knowledge of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous social services including housing, income and food security supports that may benefit persons served
- Demonstrated experience in managing human resources in a union environment
- First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents including overdose/toxic drug poisoning
- Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations
- To comply with current BC Public Health Orders, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an approved medical exemption. Proof of vaccination status will be required for successful applicants for positions covered by the order.
- Current Valid BC Drivers’ License
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrated leadership skills in program management and supervision of diverse staff teams
- In-depth understanding of current systemic barriers and violence faced by people who use drugs and a working knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of anti-oppressive practice
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution, foster empathic communication and demonstrate clear boundaries
- Demonstrated commitment to the policy and practice of harm reduction, cultural safety and trauma and violence informed practices in the provision of health and social services
- Demonstrated understanding of the continuing and on-going impact of colonization, and anti-colonial, anti-racist practices and principles
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them
- Positive approach, flexible, resourceful, and enjoys working in a dynamic, informal, and relational workplace.
- Excellent communications skills including in-person and also via technology (ie video calls, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams). Ability to quickly grasp fundamentals of new computer programs such as electronic medical record software.
- Excellent organizational, prioritization and time management skills
- Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people impacted by poverty, substance use, criminalization, people who use drugs, service providers, funders and other community members
- Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques
- Strong project coordination skills, including time, budget, and workload management
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency
- Ability to work in a variety of settings on a regular basis, including at different worksites, occasionally accompany staff on community outreach, and work off-site either from a home office or co-working space
POSITION DETAILS:
- Schedule of Work: 30 hours per week, days of the week to be negotiated, some weekend availability required
- Salary: Excluded position with a salary range set by Health Employees Association BC
- Start Date: ASAP
- End Date: March 31, 2023
- Benefits: Blue Cross Extended health, life and AD&D coverage. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
- Pension: This position is eligible to participate in the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP). At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.
- Other Perks: This position receives vacation and sick time and receives a paid day off for every Stat Holiday and Easter Monday.
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To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@avi.org by March 13, 2022
We strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.
It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.