HSABC is looking for an Indigenous Engagement Lead to join a passionate, supportive, and hard‑working team. This role offers an opportunity to work closely with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and service providers to ensure Indigenous ways of knowing inform research, engagement, and recommendations that strengthen culturally safe and responsive approaches to addressing homelessness.

Temporary, Full-Time (35 hours per week)

Employment Duration: 22 months June 15, 2026 – April 30, 2028

Location: New Westminster - In Office

Starting wage: $40.21 per hour

Closing Date: Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, 12:00 p.m. PST

Benefits: This position is eligible for HSABC’s benefits package after three months, including health and dental coverage, in accordance with organizational policy.

About us

Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) is an umbrella organization of shelters, drop-in centres, homeless outreach teams and other service providers addressing the needs of persons experiencing homelessness with the goal to ending homelessness.

HSABC’s goal to ending homelessness is embedded within the right to adequate housing and acknowledges the Indigenous Definition of Homelessness in Canada. Furthermore, HSABC is committed to deliberately and meaningfully include those with lived and living experience of homelessness in decision-making and ensure all actions contribute to decolonization and anti-discrimination.

HSABC is actively committed to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace. We strive for a diverse team and foster the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented and oppressed. We strongly encourage applications from individuals from communities and groups that have historically been disadvantaged and/or marginalized, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women or gender diverse persons, 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons, and/or persons with lived or living experience of homelessness, poverty or precarity.

The Challenge

Across Greater Vancouver, communities and service providers are working hard to respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, however, the data used to inform system decisions does not always reflect what people are experiencing on the ground. The Reaching Home funded Greater Vancouver Regional Research Project will conduct research across 11 communities, grounded in lived and living experience, Indigenous ways of knowing, and practical recommendations that can inform practice improvement, system coordination, and policy change.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an Indigenous Engagement Lead to support Indigenous leadership and cultural integrity within the Greater Vancouver Regional Research Project. In this role, you will help ensure Indigenous ways of knowing meaningfully inform research design, community engagement, analysis, and knowledge mobilization, and that the project challenges colonial narratives in homelessness research and systems.

This is an opportunity to bring your lived expertise, cultural knowledge, and commitment to continuous learning to work that supports Indigenous leadership, strengthens culturally safe approaches, and impacts the lives of people experiencing homelessness and the organizations supporting them.

Our Team

Join a collaborative, supportive project team committed to community-driven and culturally grounded research. HSABC strives to create a work environment that treats each member of the team with patience, guidance and care, while ensuring we can fulfill our common goals through our collaborative work.

Within the first month in this position, you will

• Meet the HSABC and project team and complete gradual onboarding orientation process.
• Become familiar with the Greater Vancouver Regional Research Project, including its governance structure and the role of the Elders and Knowledge Keepers Circle.
• Review project goals and engagement expectations, including approaches for culturally safe engagement and contribute to development of project workplan and timelines.

Within three months, you will

• Coordinate and support the Elders and Knowledge Keepers Circle, including scheduling, preparation of materials, documentation of guidance, and follow-up on recommendations.
• Establish working relationships with urban Indigenous organizations, partners, and participants across 11 communities.
• Provide guidance to the Project Team on Indigenous cultural protocols, expectations, and culturally appropriate engagement practices.
• Support and coordinate engagement activities, including focus groups, interviews in collaboration with the Project Team and community partners.

Within six months, you will

• Continue leading engagement with Elders and Knowledge Keepers Circle and urban Indigenous organizations, partners, and participants across the 11 Greater Vancouver.
• Review and provide guidance on research tools, engagement approaches, and documentation to ensure cultural safety and alignment with Indigenous ways of knowing.
• Support culturally safe collection of real-time qualitative data and advise on appropriate interpretation of Indigenous perspectives within analysis and reporting.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

To address issues of systemic inequity within Canada and specifically within the Canadian labour market, HSABC is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through inclusive Human Resource practices in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring and promotions.

Therefore, we are prepared and willing to accommodate requests for specific considerations within this recruitment and hiring practice to ensure equitable opportunity to apply. Please contact us with requests, or any inquiries you may have to address unintentional barriers or biases in our practices.

How to apply

Please review the Indigenous Engagement Lead job description (https://hsa-bc.ca/Indigenous_Engagement_Lead.html) before applying.

Applications will be accepted in a variety of formats, including written, audio, or video submissions, to support accessibility and allow you to best express your interest and qualifications. Please clearly indicate why you are interested in joining the HSABC team and describe the experiences that demonstrate why you are a strong fit for this position.

For inquiries, requests for specific accommodations, or to submit an application, please contact Tembra-Lynn Pattengale-Blair at

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the timeline to fill the positions is short. If you are interested in more than one available position, please indicate the position titles in the subject line and submit a separate application for each role.

Application tips

• Initial screening will focus on the Candidate Profile in the job description.
• Be as clear and specific as possible in your application as to how your cumulative life experience—including personal history, paid and unpaid work, formal education and informal training—contribute to your qualifications in relation to the Candidate Profile.
• The content and format of your application may be considered as part of your submission.
• Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada (i.e., Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or authorized in writing to work in Canada such as via a work permit). Employment is contingent upon continued eligibility to work in Canada.

If your application is shortlisted – Next steps

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the next stage of the hiring process, which may include (a) interviews; (b) requests for a sample of work; (c) reference checks; or (d) a presentation. Shortlisted candidates will require a criminal record check. However, existence of a criminal record will not result in immediate disqualification as HSABC acknowledges the systemic racism within policing and the unjust criminalization of poverty and homelessness.

First round interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, concluding on May 25th, 2026.

Second round interviews will be conducted during the week of June 1st to 5th, 2026.

Sincere Appreciation

HSABC would like to thank all applicants for their time and candor in preparing your submission. We will endeavour to respond to all applications and, subject to practicability, provide feedback.