Program Administrator – Vancouver & Fraser Regions

HSABC is looking for a Program Administrator – Vancouver & Fraser Regions to join our passionate, supportive, and hard-working team. This is an opportunity to implement programs and projects within regions aligning with the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health Authorities.

Permanent, Full-Time (28 - 35 hours per week)
Location: New Westminster
Starting wage (firm): $34.83 per hour

Closing Date: Monday, February 23rd, 2024, 9:00 p.m. PST

About us

Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) is an umbrella organization of shelters, drop-in centres, homeless outreach teams, and other service providers addressing the needs of persons experiencing homelessness with the goal of ending homelessness.

HSABC’s goal to end homelessness is embedded within the right to adequate housing and acknowledges the Indigenous Definition of Homelessness in Canada. Furthermore, HSABC is committed to deliberately and meaningfully include those with lived and living experience of homelessness in decision-making and ensure all actions contribute to decolonization and anti-discrimination.

HSABC is actively committed to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We strive for a diverse team and foster the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented and oppressed. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from communities and groups that have historically been disadvantaged and/or marginalized, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women or gender diverse persons, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and/or persons with lived or living experience of homelessness, poverty or precarity.

The Challenge

Extreme Weather is disproportionately impacting the unhoused population. In support of homelessness service providers across the Greater Vancouver region, HSABC is increasing its capacity to support community-led winter and summer response programming. This will include ongoing considerations around shelter capacity and location, food provision, transportation, communication, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness who may utilize Extreme Weather sheltering sites.

Additionally, HSABC is scaling up program delivery and various projects to help promote an environment of safety within all relevant supports and services, build Member capacity, and expand regional impact as part of our strategic priorities.

The Opportunity

We are looking for someone who can facilitate collaborative approaches to community building. Multitasking, resourcefulness, and critical thinking will play a vital role in managing multiple projects, and ongoing communications with community partners.

Our Team

Join a passionate, supportive, and hard-working team that works directly with our Members and community partners to share best practices and practical resources, engage in meaningful research, and advocate for change. HSABC strives to create a work environment that treats each member of the team with patience, guidance, and care while ensuring we can fulfill our common goals through our collaborative work.

Within the first month in this position, you will

• Meet the team and learn about HSABC through a gradual onboarding orientation process.
• Learn about the Extreme Weather Response (EWR) program operations in Metro Vancouver during the final weeks of the 2023-24 winter season, including HSABC’s sub-region EWR service delivery role in Vancouver, Surrey-White Rock, and Delta.

Within three months, you will

• Learn about heat response activities across the region in Metro Vancouver and HSABC’s role in planning and communications.
• Learn about the Access to Transit program and  support the distribution of Translink tickets to homeless services across the region.

Within six months, you will

• Work with HSABC staff, local coordinators, community partners, and key stakeholders to plan for the 2024-25 winter EWR season. 
• Support EWR activation, extension, and cancellation communications processes with prepared templates through a well-established network.
• Independently administer the Access to Transit Project.
• Support Regional Roundtables in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

To address issues of systemic inequity within Canada and specifically within the Canadian labour market, HSABC is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through inclusive Human Resource practices in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, and promotions.

Therefore, we are prepared and willing to accommodate requests for specific considerations within this recruitment and hiring practice to ensure equitable opportunity to apply. Please contact us with requests, or any inquiries you may have to address unintentional barriers or biases in our practices.

How to apply

Review the Program Administrator job description.

Application will be accepted in a variety of mediums (written, audio or video) to ensure you are able to best express your interest and qualifications. Please clearly indicate why you are interested in joining the HSABC team and the experiences that speak to why you are the right person for this position.

For inquires, requests for specific considerations or to apply, please contact Stephen D’Souza at stephen.dsouza@hsa-bc.ca or call 778-945-7789. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line. 

Your application must be received by Monday, February 23rd, 2024, 9:00 p.m. PST.

Application tips

• Initial screening will consider cumulative life experience—including personal history, paid and unpaid work, formal education and informal training.
• Be as clear and specific as possible in your application as to how these life experiences contribute to your qualifications as the Program Administrator.
• The content and format of your application may be considered as part of your submission.
• If you would like constructive feedback on your application prior to final submission, please email a draft at least 10 days prior to the application deadline clearly indicating that it is a draft for feedback purposes in the subject line of the email. Feedback will be provided within 1 week and you will be given an opportunity to resubmit.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada (i.e., Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or authorized in writing to work in Canada such as via a work permit). Employment is contingent upon continued eligibility to work in Canada.

If your application is shortlisted – Next steps

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the next stage of the hiring process, which may include (a) interviews; (b) requests for a sample of work; (c) reference checks; or (d) a presentation. 

Shortlisted candidates will require a criminal record check. However, existence of a criminal record will not result in immediate disqualification as HSABC acknowledges the systemic racism within policing and the unjust criminalization of poverty and homelessness.

Sincere Appreciation

HSABC would like to thank all applicants for their time and candor in preparing submissions. We will endeavour to respond to all applications and, subject to practicability, provide feedback.