Cultural Lead Counsellor

Employment Opportunity

Young Bears Lodge Cultural Lead Counsellor

Monday – Friday 8am-4pm

On-call duties

Who we are?

UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.

At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth's needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:

• Trauma-Informed Practice

• Two-Eyed Seeing

• Harm Reduction Practice

• Youth/Person Centered Practice

• Culture as Therapy

Highlights of this opportunity:

Are you passionate about empowering Indigenous youth? Do you have a knack for building positive relationships? Are you strategic, creative, and dynamic in your approach to youth work? Does working within a fast-paced environment energize you? If you said yes, then this is the opportunity for you

• Contribute to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging, and empowerment for youth.

• Be a positive role model for youth, working in cooperation with others, and positively leading and implementing the cultural components to programming.

• Work in a variety of trauma-informed healing modalities.

• Provide individual case management and cultural care to youth and their families.

• Play the leadership role in cultural care, youth ceremonies, responding to critical incidents, and care needs for the youth accessing our service.

• Support and co-facilitate workshops.

• Assist in the development and implementation of outcome-oriented and culturally relevant treatment and transition plans.

• Share responsibility for the daily operations of Young Bears Lodge, including meal planning and preparation, maintaining timely, accurate logs, case files, and reports.

• Be the representative of Young Bears Lodge in the community; building diverse partnerships to maximized programming opportunities.

• This role does require on-call duties

Qualifications and Conditions:

1. Post-secondary education in Child & Youth Care, preferably a Degree/Diploma/Certificate in a related field. Preference for experience working with Indigenous youth. We recognize that formal education is not the only relevant qualification for this role, and will also consider an equivalent combination of lived and work experience, alongside training in cultural healing practices, coaching, or education.

2. Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.

3. Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and traditions.

4. Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.

5. Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.

6. Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.

7. Proof of Covid19 vaccination will be required

8. Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.

9. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, coupled with strong crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills. A strong spirit of collaboration, dependability, positivity, and a love of what you do.

10. Class 5 BC Drivers License

What we offer:

· $36.16/hour

· 40 hours a week

· Comprehensive Benefits package

· Vacation, Sick, and Wellness days

· Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff

· Support from UNYA's Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings

· Monthly Staff development

· Onsite wellness resources

How to apply:

If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send a cover letter and resume indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the Hiring Manager at Posting will close when position is filled.Only those shortlisted will be contacted.

***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous - First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

UNYA acknowledges that we are gathered on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured and grateful to be able to do our work on this land.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $36.16 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• On-site gym
• On-site parking
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person