Manager- Harm Reduction

**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.

**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 **provides support and supervision of staff and the daily administration and operations of harm reduction services in Victoria, including the Housing Overdose Prevention and Support Team, the Drop-In Team, and associated programs. The **Manager of Harm Reduction Teams **has a strong relational practice of leadership based in the principles of harm reduction, community care and solidarity.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**1. Leadership and Team Management**:

- Provides strong leadership and direction to team members and contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice including conflict resolution.
- Engages with staff to establish empathetic supervisory relationships that are grounded in trauma informed practice and the principles of harm reduction
- Fosters a team culture that values diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
- Manages staff recruitment, interviewing and hiring, work assignments, orientation, training, performance supervision, and discipline according to work rules, regulations, and collective agreement.
- Conducts regular team meetings, 1-on-1 check ins, and facilitates trainings to support collaboration, growth, and the wellbeing of staff.
- Provide one week of on-call manager coverage every 5 weeks

**2. Program Oversight and Development**
- Ensures that programs are operating in alignment with AVI’s principles of social justice, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility, and provides direct support to program participants alongside staff members.
- Works with leadership team members to identify and respond to staff needs, participant concerns, and issues related to programming and occupational health and safety.
- Develops, implements, and maintains administrative and operational policies and procedures.
- Reviews and authorizes credit card expenses, petty cash, and monitors expenditures related to program budget.
- Prepares statistical and program information narratives for reporting to funders
- Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community partners and stakeholders
- Other duties as assigned.
- University degree in Health or Social Services, (Public Health, Social Work etc.) **or **equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3-5 years management experience and 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 including housing, income and food security supports that may benefit persons served.
- Experience and capacity for debriefing critical incidents with the team.
- Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
- Relevant training/experience in anti-racism and a strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
- Demonstrated understanding of union dynamics in the workplace.
- First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents including overdose/toxic drug poisoning.
- 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.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**
- In-depth understanding of current systemic barriers and violence faced by people who use drugs and/or experience mental health distress, 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