Job descriptionAVI 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. At the core of what we do is our ability and commitment to creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organisations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programmes. For more information see www.avi.org. The Victoria Harm Reduction Services Team provides services for people who use drugs and may be impacted by criminalisation, systemic injustice and stigma. The Harm Reduction Services Teams provide support in various locations, including the drop‑in and overdose prevention service at 713 Johnson St and at two housing sites in community. The Victoria Harm Reduction Services are located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Kosapsum and Songhees Nations).
Job Summary With the support of the Director of Community Programs – Victoria, 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 programmes. The Manager of Harm Reduction Teams has a strong relational practice of leadership based in the principles of harm reduction, community care and solidarity. The Manager of Harm Reduction Teams will support staff who hold multiple, intersecting identities, including people who use drugs, people navigating mental wellness, people with lived experience of HIV and HCV, and LGBTQ2S+ people – from a sex-positive, person-centred and harm-reduction‑based approach. The Manager of Harm Reduction Teams will work alongside the leadership team to align program strategic goals and operational requirements.
The successful candidate embodies collaboration, is supportive and empathetic, and upholds AVI’s values of harm reduction, social justice, trauma‑informed care and cultural humility with staff and people accessing our services. They support and ensure that the staff team promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve and the people providing services.
Duties And Responsibilities
Leadership and Team Management:
Provides strong leadership and direction to team members and contributes to mentorship and modelling of practice including conflict resolution.
Engages with staff to establish empathetic supervisory relationships that are grounded in trauma‑informed practice, the principles of harm reduction, and mutually defined boundaries.
Fosters a team culture that values diversity, inclusivity and collaboration.
Manages staff recruitment, interviewing, hiring, work assignments, orientation, training, performance supervision and discipline according to work rules, regulations and collective agreement.
Monitors and responds to performance concerns, gathering information, tracking documentation and making decisions around disciplinary processes when necessary.
Conducts performance evaluations and professional development activities that support the growth and well‑being of team members and the program.
Conducts regular team meetings, 1‑on‑1 check‑ins and facilitates trainings to support collaboration, growth and well‑being of staff.
Provides one week of on‑call manager coverage every five weeks.
Program Oversight and Development
Ensures that programmes are operating in alignment with AVI’s principles of social justice, trauma‑informed care and cultural humility.
Provides direct support to program participants alongside staff and engages with participants to ensure community involvement in service design, implementation, delivery and evaluation.
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 authorises credit card expenses, petty cash and monitors expenditures related to program budget.
Prepares statistical and program information narratives for reporting to funders.
Approves significant leaves and payroll expenditures and provides ComVida oversight and manages the scheduling of those they directly manage.
Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community partners and service providers.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications 3‑5 years demonstrated leadership experience, including the following:
Working in unionised environments and supervising a diverse staff team, including people with lived experience, preferably within a non‑profit or community‑based organisation.
Collaborating with senior leadership and community partners to align leadership strategies with organisational goals, foster cross‑functional coordination and represent the programmes in external engagements.
Delivering and managing programming and services directly with, and informed by, program participants with a harm‑reduction lens.
Working in solidarity with diverse populations including people criminalised for drug use and/or mental health; people denied housing or in precarious housing; racialised identities, Indigenous & Métis persons, LGBTQI2S+ identities, sex workers, people with disabilities.
Education and Training
University degree in Health or Social Services (Public Health, Social Work, etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Relevant training or experience in anti‑racism and a strong analysis of colonialism and how historical and ongoing colonisation impacts Indigenous People.
Experience managing hostile interactions, utilising non‑violent communication and diffusing techniques.
First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents including overdose or toxic drug poisoning.
Knowledge and working relationships with local service care providers, including housing, income and food security supports that may benefit persons served.
Excellent communication skills, including in‑person and via technology (video calls, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams). Ability to quickly grasp fundamentals of new computer programs.
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 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‑violence informed practices in the provision of health and social services.
Demonstrated understanding of the continuing and ongoing impact of colonisation, and anti‑colonial, anti‑racist practices and principles.
Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.
Positive approach, flexible, resourceful and enjoys working in a dynamic, informal, and relational workplace.
Strong project coordination skills, including budget and workload management.
Ability to work in a variety of settings on a regular basis, including at different worksites, occasionally accompanying staff on community outreach, and in shared office spaces.
Position Details
Pay: $86,053.50 annual salary ($41.13 equivalent hourly rate) per the HEABC paygrid for excluded managers.
Hours and Schedule:
Monday to Friday 12 pm to 8 pm (or a modified full‑time schedule to be discussed if desired by the successful candidate).
Provide one week of on‑call manager coverage every five weeks.
Term: This position is a Return of Incumbent temporary position running from June 15, 2026 to August 17, 2026 or upon the return of incumbent, whichever is sooner.
Location: 713 Johnson Street, at the housing locations and in community as needed. Must be able to walk between different downtown locations throughout the shift to provide support, in any weather.
Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2025‑2029 and this role is an Excluded Position.
Other Perks: This position gets 8% vacation (equivalent of 4 weeks), receives a paid day off for eligible Stat Holidays and accrues a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation Days are both available to be used after the first 3 months at AVI.
Hours of work, days off and work area may be subject to change.
To Apply Send your Resume and Cover Letter through the portal you are viewing this posting on by 9 pm on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Equity and Diversity Statement AVI is committed to equity and diversity and strongly encourages applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialised people, persons living with a disability, people who use drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those who apply, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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