We are seeking a dedicated Climate Emergencies and Mental Health Advisor to join our team to support CMHA branches before, during and after environmental emergencies. Reporting to the Director of Mental Health Promotion, you will provide technical expertise, capacity development and provincial coordination for CMHA in BC in the realm of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The Advisor will work closely with CMHA branches, enhancing their capabilities and strengthening ties with the emergency response field while advocating for the needs of branches providing services during emergencies.

Join our team and play a crucial role in promoting best practices in mental health emergency response, enhancing branch resilience, and improving coordination and communication with stakeholders in the face of increasing climate events.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Technical Expertise and Advisory: Provide subject matter expertise and advice on mental health and psychosocial support across all phases of the emergency cycle (mitigation, planning/preparedness, response, and recovery) to CMHA BC and its branches.
• Resource Development and Knowledge Retention: Develop and maintain a central repository for CMHA of MHPSS lessons learned and expertise gained from personnel in disaster-affected regions. Priorities for filling knowledge gaps to be identified through consultations with branches.
• Training and Capacity Building: Conduct or organize trainings and workshops tailored to the capacity-building needs identified through branch consultation and aligned with best practice evidence. Some MHPSS training to groups other than branches, such as other first and secondary responders, may also be required.
• Documentation and Agreements: Document meetings, draft guidance documents and provide advice
• on agreement language related to deliverables as required to formalize procedures and collaborations.
• Funding Support: Research and identify appropriate opportunities and then write, coordinate, and support the development of funding proposals and grant applications. Manage the monitoring and reporting of collective grants to ensure compliance and efficacy.
• Organizational Resilience: Lead initiatives in collaboration with CMHA branches to enhance organizational resilience across CMHA, focusing on preparedness for climate-related events and other community emergencies.
• Information Sharing and Collaboration: Facilitate and support the coordination of CMHA branches by convening meetings, enhancing information sharing, fostering collaboration, and ensuring branches are supported during emergencies.
• Consultation and Advocacy: Regularly consult with CMHA branches to understand their needs during emergency responses, documenting these needs and actively advocating for resources and support to address them.
• Representation in Technical Groups: Represent CMHA BC at relevant provincial working groups and coordination tables, ensuring CMHA perspectives and needs are well represented and addressed.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

 ABOUT YOU

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in a related field, plus a minimum of five (5) years recent and related experience working with clients in the field of crises response, community disaster management, mental health and substance use.
• Have a strong theoretical, technical, and practical knowledge of MHPSS encompassing international guidelines and best practices.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships at
• all levels internally and with external stakeholders and community members.
• An equivalent combination of professional experience and education may be considered.

In addition, you will have:

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively on program initiatives in a complex federation environment.
• Certification in common MHPSS courses and interventions (Psychological First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention and Skills Training).
• A strong understanding of complex factors and social determinants that contribute to barriers to inclusion as well as Protection, Gender, Inclusion and Engagement (PGIE) and harm reduction considerations.
• Ability to provide technical input into the design, implementation, and evaluation of MHPSS responses.
• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to source information subject matter experts (including those with living and lived experience), occasionally academic research and other credible sources.
• Strong organizational and project management skills and to adapt or change priorities according to the situation.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills.
• Indigenous cultural awareness, safety and engagement experience including traditional knowledge/practices to cope with and recover from emergencies.
• Experience working with and/or in rural or remote communities an asset.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments.
• Excellent communication, emotional-intelligence, conflict-solving, and diplomacy skills to manage relationships in high-stress situations.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office 365 software (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Teams, SharePoint) at an intermediate level.
• Self-motivating and able to work with minimal supervision.
• The ability to travel within the province and, on occasion, work flexible hours, during evenings and weekends to provide subject matter advise and related support to CMHA branches during emergencies.

Working knowledge of emergency management structures and processes is an asset.

Our key values and principles

The Climate Emergencies and Mental Health Advisor consistently conducts themselves in alignment with CMHA BC’s core values:

• Inclusive
• Proactive
• Compassionate
• Steadfast
• Collaborative

 WORKING CONDITIONS                                                                                                                                

• CMHA BC offices are located in downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria. Alternately, this position can also be done remotely in BC.
• The position is a 0.67 FTE position with a usual work week of 25 hours.
• This is a part-time position ending on March 31, 2028.
• This position will require occasional travel within the province.
• Successful completion of background screening checks including a criminal record check.
• This position will require occasional travel within the province. In some communities this may require a valid class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle with adequate insurance due to lack of other transportation options.
• Climate Emergencies and Mental Health Advisor is an exempt role.
• Salary range is $46,678.00 - $67,099.00
• Typical Hiring Range: $49,595.00 - $55,430.00

CMHA, BC Division is committed to our workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work. As such, we encourage applications from persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to

the diversity of our staff. Personal experience with mental illness and or addiction, either through self or a loved one, is an asset.

 ABOUT US                                                                                                                                

Founded in 1918, The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health and addiction, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness and/or addiction.

We respectfully acknowledge xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səli̓lwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Lkwungen (Songhees) and Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples on whose traditional, unceded lands the CMHA BC offices are located.