AVI is looking for a Manager of Harm Reduction Teams! We are looking for a leader who has strong roots and skills in frontline harm reduction work. This person will provide leadership while working alongside our dynamic teams, to encourage growth, provide mentorship and assist team stability.
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 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. 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 Director of Harm Reduction Services, the Manager of Harm Reduction Teams (HRT) provides support and supervision of staff and the daily administration and operations of the Resident Responder/HOPPS team and the Drop in team and programs associated. Manager of HRT has a strong relational practice of leadership based in the principles of harm reduction, community care and solidarity.
The Manager of HRT will support the staff who hold multiple, intersecting identities including (but not limited to) people who use/d drugs, people who navigate their own mental wellness daily, people with lived/living experience of HIV and HCV, and LGBTQ2S+ people - from a sex positive, person centered and harm reduction-based approach. The Manager of HRT will work alongside the Manager of our Community-Led Crisis Response Team (CLCR Team) to align programs strategic goals and operational requirements.
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 Harm Reduction Teams all promote the dignity and respect of the people we serve and the people providing services.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manages the daily operations of the Teams, including planning, organizing, staffing, ordering supplies, monitoring program activities and workplace safety and facilities.
- Engages with Team Leads and staff to establish empathic supervisory relationships with clear and mutually defined boundaries. Supervision and support will be grounded in understandings of the impacts of trauma, and include mentoring, feedback and skills development, all from a lens of harm reduction.
- Supports the Team Leads with regular one-on-one meets and regular team meetings with staff, to problem-solves challenging situations that arise.
- Contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice for staff by articulating the connections of stigma, systemic injustice, criminalization and harms associated with the war on drugs/people who use drugs.
- Supports the Team Leads with scheduling program staff, to ensure appropriate staffing levels and manages payroll approval (Inclusion) and leave management.
- Provides direct support and services to program participants alongside staff members
- Collaborates with CLCR Manger and HRS Director to coordinate collaborative staff meetings, and trainings with all of Harm Reduction Services teams.
- Leads recruitment and hiring while supporting Team Leads in the orientation of new staff and collaborating with other Managers to ensure consistency.
- Follows up on performance concerns and acts on disciplinary process when necessary.
- Develops, implements and maintains administrative and operational policies and procedures.
- Develops and maintains relationships with community partners
- Provides overdose prevention education and response.
- Prepares statistical and program information and funding proposals in collaboration with the CLCR Manager, Director of Harm reduction Services and sometimes the Senior Director.
- Reviews and authorizes credit card, petty cash, and monitors expenditures related to program budget.
- Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- University degree in Health or Social Services, (Public Health, Social Work etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3-5 years demonstrated leadership with program management and supervision of diverse staff team, preferably within a non-profit or community-based organization
- Experience delivering/managing programming and services directly with program clients/participants with a harm reduction lens.
- Demonstrated knowledge and working relationships with local service care providers
- Extensive experience supporting staff working in high stress environments
- Experience working in solidarity with diverse populations including people who are criminalized for their drug use and/or mental health; 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, possessing a strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
- 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.
- Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques.
- 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. Ability to quickly grasp fundamentals of new computer programs.
- 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.
- 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
- Current Valid BC Drivers’ License
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay: $81,490.50 per annum ($41.79/hour)
- Hours and Schedule: Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm
- Note: Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
- Location: 713 Johnson Street, Victoria BC and will work 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 an Excluded Position.
- Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D on the 1st of the month after this position begins. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
- Pension: This position is immediately eligible to join the Municipal Pension Plan. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.
- Other Perks: This position gets 8% vacation (equivalent of 4 weeks), receives a paid day off for every Stat Holiday and Easter Monday and accrues a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation Days are both available to be used after your first 3 months at AVI.
- Proof of Vaccination Required: AVI is under BC's Health Services Order and continues to require proof of vaccination and masking.
TO APPLY:
To apply please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on April 10, 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.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.