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 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all. We take a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need. 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
Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.
The AVI South Island Education Team provides education and support relating to: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, STBBIs, substance use, harm reduction, overdose prevention and response, sexual and gender diversity, sexual decision-making, testing, treatment, and prevention strategies as a means of increasing community awareness and wellness, and reducing the further incidence of STBBIs. We provide support to, and work in solidarity with, people who have lived/living experience of HIV or hepatitis C, membership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and using criminalized substances.
The South Island Education Team’s work currently is focused on education for the following groups: older adults living on the Westshore, individuals who use criminalized substances, folks in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, incarcerated individuals at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (VIRCC), and health & social service providers.
The South Island Education Team is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees Nations), and we acknowledge the ways in which colonization is inextricably linked to the topics we discuss. The disproportionate impact of criminalization, the war on people who use drugs, the overdose crisis, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS on Indigenous communities is a direct and intentional result of the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Education Program Coordinator works collaboratively with the Education Team Coordinator and other South Island Education team members to provide educational programming and events relating to: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, STBBIs, substance use, harm reduction, overdose prevention and response, sexual health, and sexual and gender diversity in the southern Vancouver Island region.
Within this collaborative team context, the Education Program Coordinator’s role focuses on leading department planning, writing grant documents and liaising with funders, event coordination, as well as supporting the Education Team Coordinator as needed.
The successful candidate embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, is supportive and empathetic, and 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 the South Island Education Team promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leads the collaborative design and evaluation of programs and services in the Education Department. This includes leading the writing, production and delivery of information and workshop curriculum on issues related to HIV, hepatitis C, harm reduction for safer sex and substance use, overdose response, and community resources.
- Designs and delivers events relating to HIV, hepatitis C, sexual health and STIs, substance use and harm reduction, homophobia and transphobia. This includes coordinating events for World AIDS Day, World Hepatitis Day, International Overdose Awareness Day, and supporting staff with coordination of events for Pride and other community events as appropriate.
- Manage team-wide work plan to meet deliverables, carry out program evaluation and reporting
- Compiles and prepares departmental statistical and program information monthly for Executive Director’s reports to the Board of Directors, PHAC, Island Health and other funders, including working with education team staff to complete reports as needed.
- Assists with writing and submitting grant applications.
- Contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice for staff that is in line with AVI’s principles of social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility.
- Researches and identifies effective community development, health promotion and educational strategies.
- Forms connections and relationships with community groups, Indigenous communities and health care professionals to identify trends, needs, priority health issues and opportunities for collaboration, including participating in relevant committees.
- Supports the Education Team Coordinator in recruitment, hiring and orientation of new staff.
- As needed, supports the Education Team Coordinator with scheduling program staff, ensuring appropriate staffing levels for program operations, and managing payroll approval (Inclusion) and leave management
- Performs financial duties such reviewing and authorizing credit card, petty cash, and monitors expenditures related to program budget.
- Acts as Education Team Coordinator when they are away.
- Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in solidarity with diverse populations including people who are living with HIV or Hepatitis C; people who use criminalized substances; people who are denied housing/precariously housed; Indigenous persons; people who experience racialized oppression; members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community; sex workers; people with disabilities.
- Experience providing support and leadership to a diverse staff team, preferably within a non-profit or community-based organization
- 2 years of experience in program development, implementation and evaluation (preferably education programs)
- 2 years of experience facilitating interactive educational workshops
- Demonstrated experience in curriculum design for educational programming
- Excellent leadership skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, engage in group process work (e.g. goal setting), facilitate conflict resolution and collaboration
- Demonstrated experience planning, promoting and launching activities and events, such as conferences, forums, and workshops.
- Combination of education and experience related to writing grants, managing funding deliverables and reporting on project activities
- 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
- Thorough knowledge and understanding of HIV, hepatitis C, harm reduction, substance use and sexual health, or related facets of wellness that includes an intersectional perspective (i.e. acknowledges such factors as poverty, racialization, gendered oppression, etc.)
- Excellent organization, prioritization and time management skills, including ability to triage urgent demands and complex situations
- Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively across different mediums, including using standard computer programs (e.g. Zoom, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
- Current Valid BC Drivers’ License
- Access to a vehicle, an asset
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay: $31.42/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 38+10%)
- Hours and Schedule: 22.5 hours per week. Specifically, 3 days per week between Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm, with some evenings and occasional weekends. Exact days & times TBD collaboratively.
- Term: Position runs to March 31, 2024 with the possibility of extension, dependent on funding.
- Location: AVI Victoria office and in the community as needed.
- Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2019-2022 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
- Position Type: Regular, Part Time
- Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
- Pension: If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
- Other Perks: This position gets 6% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 4.6% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.
- Proof of Vaccination Required: AVI is under BC's Health Services Order and continues to require proof of vaccination and masking.
- Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
TO APPLY:
To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to jobs@avi.org by 5 pm on February 24, 2023.
AVI is committed to equity and diversity and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, 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/or have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted