Ftir Spectrometer Technician and Education

**FTIR Spectrometer Technician and Education Coordinator**

Lift Community Services is working with all levels of government to eliminate poverty in the qathet Regional District and coordinate an end to the toxic drug health emergency. We are seeking 1-2 individuals who are passionate about supporting from a harm-reduction approach while serving program participants. Our vision is a welcoming, inclusive, and diversity-affirming community that is free of poverty and full of heart. At Lift, we believe a thriving, sustainable community comes from a collaborative, equitable, future-focused approach.

Our programs and services include employment services, supportive housing and homeless outreach, temporary shelter services, literacy programs and outreach, immigrant services, adult and family on-demand support. We also provide community leadership and development in overdose response planning, poverty reduction planning, and other projects that develop a more connected and resilient community. Lift operates many resource centres in our community, including the local WorkBC Centre, the Community Resource Centre, the Family Place, and the Dr. Elsie Paul Literacy Centre and the Nook Social Enterprise Cafe both located at the Powell River Public Library.

Lift Community Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

**The Position**

The Spectrometer Technician is responsible for performing point-of-care drug checking in designated areas within qathet Region using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and immunoassay strips. The technician communicates back the results of point-of-care drug checks to service users in a meaningful and respectful way and positively interacts with service users and site staff and shares harm reduction information as needed. The technician meticulously tracks data in an electronic data capture system and facilitates the proper storage and transportation of samples to laboratories for additional analysis.

The Spectrometer Technician is also responsible for planning and implementing day-to-day operations for the drug checking program in collaboration with stakeholders, including Tla’amin Nation, Vancouver Coastal Health, the BC Centre on Substance Use, people with lived experience of substance use, among others. This role works in collaboration with the wider team at the Overdose Prevention Site, Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic and Lift Community Services.

Additionally, the Technician will work to develop regional pathways for drug checking, and facilitate educational modules about substance use, drug checking, naloxone and other mandates of the qathet Community Action Team. See here for full FTIR Spectrometer Technician and Education Coordinator job description.

**Overview**
- Hours: 35 hrs/wk
- Hourly Wage: $ 26.60/hr
- Job Type: Regular full-time
- Reports to: Community Development Manager
- Start Date: As soon as possible
- Closing Date: Open until filled

**Key Tasks and Competencies**
- Knowledge and awareness of harm reduction issues and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to remain neutral, non-judgmental and professional when interacting with and supporting marginalized client populations.
- Demonstrated understanding of the confidentiality and sensitivity of the role.
- Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment and the ability to learn new technologies.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent ability to work and learn independently with mínimal supervision and collaborate in a larger team.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and stakeholders, including strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems.

**Qualifications and Lived Experience**
- A bachelors degree and one (1) to three (3) years’ recent, related experience in harm reduction working with people who use drugs and/or other marginalized populations or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Valid BC Driver's License and access to personal vehicle for local area travel may be required.
- Knowledge of substance use and concurrent disorders
- Demonstrated ability to work alongside community stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to work alongside people with lived experience of substance use
- Ability to facilitate educational modules to people who use drugs
- Knowledge of evidence-based best practices
- Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership, supervision, work direction and consultation.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate (orally and in writing) and collaborate effectively inter-organizat