Job Title: Program Manager/Lead
Program: Women's Mobile Primary Care Clinic
Status: Maternity Leave coverage (to April 30, 2024), non-Union
Wages: $70,000 annual salary
Location: 449 East Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1P5

Schedule: 32 hours/week, Monday to Thursday, 8:30–4:30 (subject to change based on operational needs)

Closing Date: Open until filled

Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society (VAHS) is a not-for-profit organization located in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community for over 30 years. Our services are designed by and for urban Aboriginal people to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. VAHS programs include a cultural team of Elders, Traditional Healers, and Knowledge Keepers; a comprehensive Primary Care Clinic; a Dental Clinic with by-donation services; and Indigenous Early Years programs for children and families.

POSITION SCOPE

VAHS has been afforded the opportunity to implement a new Women’s Mobile Primary Care program to improve access to healthcare women facing multiple barriers in Vancouver. Many resilient women face various structural factors, and visiting a fixed location can cause challenges; it is therefore essential to offer a Mobile primary care program that offers the flexibility that stationary sites do not. It is an opportunity to transform the way in which we operate and bring services to women, therefore removing significant access barriers. To implement this program, VAHS requires a strong and confident Program Lead who is passionate about improving Women’s health and wellbeing.

This is a four days per week (32 hours), non-Union, temporary maternity leave coverage position until April 30, 2024, with a Salary of $70,000 per annum. 

This position will lead the planning and implementation of the new Women’s Mobile Primary Care Clinic program, which aims to:  

  • Improve health and wellbeing of Indigenous and non-Indigenous homeless women in the DTES. 
  • Provide comprehensive and culturally safe long-term and full-spectrum primary care, to improve access to healthcare by bringing Mobile services to homeless women in the DTES.
  • Operate a unique women-centered model of care that is a blend of Traditional and Western paradigms, approaches, and service delivery methods (ways of communicating, information sharing, health and wellness frameworks, prevention, and early intervention).
  • Coordinate care between primary care providers and other services in the community, including reconnections to homelands, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) maternal care programs, and supports related to mental health, substance use, and housing (including temporary shelter/accommodations, or transitioning from homelessness to new shelter and housing).


DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Overall responsibility for the Implementation of the Women’s Mobile Primary Care Clinic program to maintain and grow the goals, objectives, and strategic plan of the program and VAHS. 
  • Provide leadership and technical advice on the program, from inception through implementation.     
  • Manage the overall day-to-day operations and logistics of the program.
  • Manage and oversee delegation of tasks and staff responsibilities.
  • Responsible for creating/managing monthly schedule and ensuring mobile site visit days are staffed accordingly.
  • Ensure that all relevant certifications and trainings for all program staff are ongoing and up to date.
  • Facilitate hiring process for program, ensuring program is staffed at all times.
  • Schedule and lead monthly case management/case planning meetings with program staff.
  • Manage relationships and communicate with key community partners and patients to support effective collaboration.
  • Budget and manage program resources, ensure implementation goals are achieved, monitor deliverables, and report regularly on progress to ensure effective delivery and accountability. 
  • Identify, manage, and report on risks to mitigate negative impacts on program delivery.
  • Produce reports, briefing notes, presentations, and other formats to communicate information and support continuous improvement to a variety of audiences, including the Board of Directors.
  • Promote community-centered care by translating the knowledge, needs, and aspirations of homeless women and community members into program direction. 
  • Collect, interpret, and apply information from VAHS program data and other relevant sources to develop clear recommendations for this program.
  • Work in partnership with existing and new community partners, who primarily serve homeless women, to identify outreach sites and support the implementation of the program.
  • Work in partnership with the VCH Indigenous Health’s Women’s Health team, the Mental Health and Substance Use team, and community shelters to support the integration of other services.
  • Implement a strategy that focuses on reconnecting willing homeless women to their respective hereditary homes through Sovereign Nation guidance.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

  • Knowledge of project management tools and processes. 
  • Strategic thinking and planning for complex projects. 
  • High-level organizational skills and able to manage time effectively, prioritize complex tasks, and manage diverse workloads.
  • Ability to use initiative to plan, organize, and make sound decisions on program requirements. 
  • Clear and effective oral and written communication. 
  • Understanding of policy development and processes. 
  • Strong leadership to drive partnerships and collaborations.  
  • Ability to work independently – often self-directed – as well be able to collaborate with other teams to achieve coordination and maximise outcomes.  
  • Knowledge of diverse Indigenous cultures, histories, issues, and traditional practices.
  • Knowledge of local health, social, and community resources. 
  • Knowledge of not-for-profit and health care/social service structures.
  • Clinical expertise (preferred but not essential). 
  • Valid BC driver’s license (preferred by not essential).


VAHS encourages all people with relevant professional, grassroots, education, and/or lived experience to apply, even if they do not meet all of the points listed. We look for people who are committed to achieving better health outcomes for homeless, Indigenous, and/or vulnerable women.

Due to this program serving a diverse community of women, this position is open to women (trans-inclusive) only, in alignment with Section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code. We strongly encourage people from under-represented communities to apply, including but not limited to: Indigenous, Black, and people of colour; disabled people; and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) applicants are preferred. In your cover letter, please self-identify at your comfort level.


HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application or questions about this posting to: [email protected]
ATTN: Carrie Humchitt, Executive Director
Subject Line: Program Manager/Lead Application

All VAHS job applications require a resume and a cover letter; please submit both in PDF format. This posting will remain open until filled. VAHS thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.