Coordinator | Harm Reduction - Youth

Position Summary
Interior Health is hiring a permanent part-time Coordinator, Harm Reduction - Youth who is passionate about making a difference in healthcare.

This is a unique and impactful position, working with a great team to build meaningful connections with rural youth serving organizations, co-create responsive programs, advocate for equitable access to services, and lead innovative, community-based harm reduction initiatives that empower and support youth well-being. Working in the EK/KB means you’ll have the chance to make a direct and meaningful difference every day to the region. This is more than just a job - it’s a chance to lead positive change where it’s needed most.

Location: This position is flexible within the Kootenay Boundary/East Kootenay region of the Interior Health Authority.

What we offer:
• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employer paid training/education
• Employer paid vacation
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Work-life balance
• May be eligible to contribute to MPP

Hourly rate for this position is $45.64 to $65.60. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

Come join our team and see why we’re one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers! Explore our extensive benefits, career growth opportunities, and lifestyle in one of the most beautiful and diverse regions of Canada. Ready to love where you live and work? Join our team today!

How will you create an impact:
The Youth Harm Reduction Coordinator supports planning, implementation, and evaluation of harm reduction services specific to youth in the Interior Health (IH) region. They act as a resource to contracted agencies, community organizations, and internal staff by providing expert advice on youth harm reduction strategies; contributes to the development of youth specific program guidelines, standards, and procedures; and participates in committees, task groups, and/or community initiatives related to youth substance use. The Coordinator also works in close collaboration with IH’s Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Network on youth substance use initiatives.

The Coordinator supports ongoing, youth specific harm reduction approaches via collaboration, engagement and education, and will develop educational resources and knowledge translation tools on youth harm reduction strategies.

In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to your manager or supervisor immediately.

What will you work on:
• Plans, coordinates, implements, evaluates youth focused harm reduction strategies, initiatives, and services across IH. Assesses and prioritizes the condition and demand for youth harm reduction services and/or refinements to existing services. Liaises with the Medical Health Officer, program managers, and other internal and external partners on the status of current program planning to meet harm reduction strategies; identifies gaps and makes recommendations to enhance services. Contributes to the development of service plans ensuring effective systems, practices, and policies are in place to support the goals and objectives of the program with a youth focus.

• Ensures accessibility of a wide range of youth harm reduction services and strategies that also align with regional and provincial expectations on youth substance use services. Advocates for the development of a range of support services and strategies to enhance youth harm reduction knowledge, skills, resources, and supports for the population.

• Develops partnerships with a wide variety of health professionals, youth with lived/living experience of substance use, businesses, and community groups to support mutual learning, resource coordination, and sharing in the advancement of youth harm reduction strategies. Assesses regional needs, responds to needs through the collection of data and monitors emerging trends to guide further direction for planning.

• Develops and maintains harmonious working relationships with other IH programs and contracted agencies, people with lived/living experience, professionals, community groups, and individual members of the public. Participates in committees, task groups, and/or community initiatives; provides program/service representation and input from a clinical perspective; presents material; acts as an advocate for the program goals and objectives; and promotes support within the community to improve access, integration, and coordination of services.

• Liaises with appropriate partners to ensure that the coordination of information is maintained; prepares reports and briefing notes; develops communication strategies.

• Monitors initiatives and takes corrective action to ensure that implementation strategies and services continue to operate efficiently and effectively. Identifies, documents, and follows up on risk management and quality issues. Ensures appropriate processes are in place for responding and develops a proactive approach to risk management.

• Participates in evaluative research initiatives, initiative planning, and evaluation activities, taking an interdisciplinary and consultative approach.

• Collaborates with contracted service providers to develop practice guidelines, procedures, and standards to promote evidence-based services as they relate to youth harm reduction. Supports professional competence development in the area of harm reduction through development of educational modules, resources and strategies. Works with partner organizations, community groups and relevant partners to identify harm reduction training/education needs; develops training programs and resources focused on youth harm reduction strategies.

• Identifies and recommends strategies to address barriers and community concerns regarding service delivery to youth. Organizes and/or participates on community advisory committees. Uses best practice, literature review, research, and local information to inform the development of protocols to support the distribution of harm reduction supplies to youth. Creates program materials on related topics to increase public awareness of harm reduction principles, policies, and programs related to youth.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Interior Health strives to create an environment where you enjoy the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. Together, we create great workplaces. Apply today!

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in a health related field such as, nursing, public or population health, social work, or other health and social service related field.
• Five years of related experience working with populations who are disproportionately impacted by substance use, poverty, homelessness or other determinants.
• Experience working in youth mental health & substance use required
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable legislation and government policies related to harm reduction services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social determinants of health, intersectionality, and specific barriers faced by people who use substances.
• Demonstrated skill in the area of educational resource development, knowledge translation, and education
• Ability to provide leadership to others in a team setting.
• Demonstrated program development and evaluation skills.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to facilitate, negotiate, and persuade others both internal and external to the organization. Superior verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to create and achieve results by engaging and influencing individual, group, or departmental goals.
• Ability to inspire and guide individuals toward goal achievement.
• Ability to develop and communicate solutions/responses to diverse problems/requests.
• Ability to effectively explore alternatives in order to make appropriate decisions.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize tasks, and provide timely responses.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.