About us

SafeLink Alberta is an organization delivering services throughout Southern Alberta. As a non-profit organization, we work to reduce the risks associated with sexual activity and substance use. We serve and advocate for priority populations by offering low-barrier, non-judgmental, and informed programs and services. We offer a fun and energetic environment that provides opportunities for you to utilize your talents and develop new skills.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Medicine Hat Support Services, the Lead, Outreach and Peer Services is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of community outreach and the drop in space. The Lead is an active member of the participant support team, engaging in project activities and providing support to participants and team members. Alongside other program staff, the Lead is responsible for supporting members of key populations with comprehensive and individualized support services based on our mission to reduce the harms associated with sexual activity and substance use. They will work with participants to navigate complex health and social systems and to address and improve factors which influence health outcomes.

Key populations include individuals who use substances, those living with or affected by HIV, HCV, and other STBBI’s, adults involved in sex work, cis and trans gay, bi, and other men who have sex with men, members of Indigenous communities, members of African, Caribbean, and Black communities, and members of immigrant and migrant communities. The Lead provides particular support, mentoring, and program development for the peer support programming and the People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) who work within it.

This is a full-time position (35 hours a week), based out of the SafeLink Alberta operational site in Medicine Hat, Alberta. While hours of operation are generally Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, flexibility to conduct outreach and attend community events and meetings during evenings and weekends are necessary.

What you will do

Leadership and Staff Supervision

• Support the Manager, Medicine Hat Support Services in ongoing program development.
• Provide leadership and support to Systems Navigators, including PWLLE who function as peer support workers through direct daily supervision, coaching, scheduling, and participating in weekly supervision meetings and regular employee engagement reviews.
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives, actively participate in these efforts within the organization, and promote an inclusive environment for all individuals.
• Review, approve, and monitor timesheets for direct reports.

Program Development and Delivery

• Schedule and coordinate all drop in and community-based outreach activities.
• Coordinate and facilitate distribution of safer substance use and safer sex supplies, including orders and inventory management.
• In collaboration with the Manager, develop and maintain inter-agency collaborative relationships with community partners to enhance service delivery and outreach to program target populations.
• Coordinate and/or deliver ongoing training and capacity building for program staff.
• Continue the development, implementation, and evaluation of peer support programming.
• Incorporate evidence-based and promising practices into service delivery.
• Engage and center PWLLE in program development, delivery, and evaluation.
• With the support of the Manager and in collaboration with team members, facilitate case discussions to support knowledge development and participant-centered care.
• Conduct substance use debris mitigation and provide drug poisoning intervention in community spaces where needed.
• Understand and communicate key agency positions and values in a professional and situation-appropriate manner.
• Maintain and enhance knowledge of emerging information, laws, and trends regarding HIV and other STBBIs, sex work, and substance use, through ongoing and self-directed learning.

Evaluation & Administration

• Ensure program accountabilities by maintaining program statistics and service delivery outcome evaluation information as per data collection and reporting requirements.
• Participate in ongoing program evaluation and reporting processes as required.
• Continuously monitor quality improvement and evaluation of participant files and provide information on potential areas for improvement.
• Participate as a collaborative and supportive team member of the Medicine Hat Support Services team.
• Participate in agency events and activities.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures, including but not limited to maintaining confidentiality of participants and business operations in accordance with SafeLink Alberta procedures and policies.

What you will bring

• Minimum two years direct work experience in front-line or participant focused support setting. A combination of equivalent experience and education may be considered. Members of communities served, including people with lived and living experience, are encouraged to apply.
• Current registration with relevant professional body as applicable is required.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience required. Supervisory experience is an asset.
• Experience in client support, program development, and community collaboration is required.
• Orientation to trauma and violence informed care and anti-oppressive practice is required.
• A strengths based, harm reduction, and rights based philosophy of care is required.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and responsiveness in working across diverse populations an asset.
• Possess foundational knowledge on IDEA principles in line with SafeLink Alberta’s values.
• Proficiency in public speaking and presenting educational workshops is an asset.
• Thorough knowledge of local social service programs and community resources is an asset.
• Knowledge of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections, substance use, gender and sexual diversities, sex work, and other relevant topics is an asset.
• High ethical standards with a demonstrated ability to adhere to strict confidentiality practices is required.
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Suicide Intervention (ASIST), and current First Aid/CPR certification is an asset.
• Ability to carry a backpack (up to 25lbs) and travel on foot year-round is required.
• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation are an asset. Proof of vehicle registration and $2 million liability insurance is required.
• Provision of a criminal security check with vulnerable sector search every three years. A positive criminal record check will not necessarily preclude a candidate from being hired. Decisions will be made on an individual basis, and all information will be kept confidential.

What We Offer

The starting salary for this position is between $56,558 to $61,802 based on education and experience.

SafeLink Alberta offers a comprehensive health and dental benefits package, including access to EFAP services and an RRSP matching program (up to 5%). Employees start at 3 weeks’ vacation per year, plus a complimentary week off between Christmas and New Year, and receive additional paid time off including personal days, sick days, and birthday.

Join an organization that values IDEA

At SafeLink Alberta, we are committed to promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) within our organization and the communities we serve. For us, Inclusion means fostering a welcoming and respectful culture, diversity is ensuring a fair representation of voices and perspectives, equity is supporting everyone in accessing needed resources, and accessibility is making services available to everyone. We view IDEA as essential to building inclusive, empowered, and healthier communities while acknowledging that this involves continuous work and learning, and sometimes we will make mistakes. We strive to adapt to unlearning and learning as needed. We pledge to integrate IDEA principles into our strategic plans and keep the community informed of our progress for transparency and accountability.

We especially encourage applications from communities that are under-represented among our staff, such as people living with HIV, visible minorities, those with lived/living experience, and persons with culturally diverse backgrounds. We value your experience, and we encourage you to self-identify in your application should you feel comfortable doing so.

Ready to Apply?

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Please send your cover letter, resume, and any other relevant material to support your application via email to quoting job reference SLA – 200.

You must be available for in-person/online interviews. No phone calls please. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.