Program Manager (Peer Assisted Care Team)

Overview

Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) was established in 1972 and is a non-profit organization with a status free open-door policy. KAFS is dedicated to empowering the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Kamloops and surrounding areas. KAFS provides culturally appropriate programs and inclusive services that meet the needs of urban Indigenous people to become healthier, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Reporting to the Executive Director or designate, the Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) Manager provides support and supervision of staff and the daily administration and operations of PACT. The PACT Manager has a strong relational practice of leadership based in the principles of harm reduction and crisis management, while managing and upholding the communities’ expectations of KAFS’s newly formed community-based crisis team. The PACT Manager will support the staff who hold multiple, intersecting identities including (but not limited to) people who use/d drugs, people who navigate their own mental wellness daily, people with a person trauma informed and harm reduction-based approach. The PACT Manager will work alongside the management team to align the program’s strategic goals and operational requirements.

The successful candidate embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, is supportive and empathetic, and upholds KAFS’s value of delivering services in trauma-informed care and demonstrating cultural humility values with staff and people accessing our services.

A DAY IN THE LIFE – ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages daily operations of the PACT program, including scheduling, staffing, ordering supplies, and ensuring workplace safety and effective program activities.
• Oversees program planning, evaluation, and development in collaboration with KAFS and other stakeholders.
• Provides trauma-informed supervision and mentorship grounded in harm reduction, including regular one-on-one and team meetings and skills development.
• Supports staff in problem-solving challenging situations and leads onboarding, orientation, and performance management, including addressing disciplinary concerns when necessary.
• Ensures appropriate staffing levels by scheduling program staff and managing payroll and leave approvals.
• Supports PACT staff in responding to crises, including direct frontline involvement as needed.
• Facilitates overdose prevention education and first aid training, including the use of Naloxone.
• Mentors staff on connecting mental health, wellness, and crisis intervention within a harm reduction framework.
• Develops and maintains relationships with community partners and represents PACT in internal and external committees.
• Contributes to initiatives aligned with KAFS principles of social justice, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility.
• Prepares program statistics, funding proposals, and reports per organizational requirements.
• Reviews and monitors expenditures, including credit card and petty cash usage, to ensure alignment with the program budget.
• Performs other related responsibilities as assigned to support program success.

REQUIREMENTS – WHAT YOU BRING TO KAFS:

• Bachelor’s degree in health or social services (e.g., Public Health, Social Work, or related fields); a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of senior experience in program management and supervision of diverse staff teams, with proven leadership skills.
• In-depth understanding of systemic barriers, violence, and criminalization faced by people who use drugs or experience mental health distress, with a strong commitment to anti-oppressive and harm reduction practices.
• Extensive experience supporting staff and clients in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and conflict resolution, including non-violent communication and diffusing hostile interactions.
• Strong ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution, and foster empathic communication while maintaining clear boundaries.
• Expertise in trauma-informed, culturally safe, and violence-informed care in community settings, including the provision of supportive counseling and clinical case management.
• Skilled in mental health and safety assessments, suicide intervention, and wellness triaging, with Mental Health First Aid and Suicide Intervention Training; CBT and DBT training are assets.
• First Aid and CPR Level C certification, with experience responding to overdoses and toxic drug poisonings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to engage diverse stakeholders, including people impacted by poverty, criminalization, or substance use, service providers, and funders.
• Adept in fostering the meaningful inclusion of people who use drugs in program development, delivery, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Emergency Services Personnel and community partners to ensure safety and wellness.
• Exceptional organizational and project coordination skills, including workload management, budgeting, and maintaining confidential client records.
• Technologically proficient, with excellent communication skills across various platforms (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Knowledge of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous social services, including housing, income, and food security supports.
• Positive, flexible, and resourceful approach, thriving in a dynamic, informal, and relational workplace environment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check

TOTAL REWARDS:

• Wage: $38.00  – $42.00 per hour, based on skill set and experience
• Group benefits including extended health, dental, and vision
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Wellness Days Off

KAFS is committed to equity and diversity, and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of color, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs. Preference will be given to applicants of Aboriginal ancestry as per section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code (please self-identity in your cover letter).