Who we are:

UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.

The Aboriginal Youth Safehouse is a short-term live-in 6 bed resource for youth in need of safe housing and support services.  Our program is trauma-informed and grounded in the philosophies of harm reduction and youth centered care.

At Urban Native Youth Association UNYA we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:

• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Two-Eyed Seeing
• Harm Reduction Practice
• Youth/Person Centered Practice
• Culture as Therapy

Highlights of this opportunity:

As a member of the Management team at ASH, the Assistant Manager is responsible for the collaborative practice of delivering programs and services at ASH.  This position provides effective leadership, role modelling and support to a team of staff that are currently operating programs under contract.  The Assistant Manager reports directly to the Manager of ASH and maintains a 40 hour per week schedule. 

Qualifications and Conditions:

1. Relevant degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Care or related fields or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. We recognize that formal education is not the only relevant qualification for this role.
2. Supporting Indigenous youth to address the effects of poverty, colonization and intergenerational trauma, and reinforcing a positive sense of belonging and identity. Priority is given to First Nations (status and non-status), Metis and Inuit applicants, as per Section 41 of the Human Rights Code.
3. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, coupled with strong crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills.
4. A strong spirit of collaboration, dependability, positivity, and a love of what you do.
5. Class 4 or 5 Drivers License is considered an asset and a Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Contribute to a team focused on increasing stabilization, belonging, and empowerment for youth.
2. Collaborate with and mentor front line staff on care-planning and advocacy for youth.
3. Assist with the day-to-day management of the program including staff supervision, scheduling, payroll, coordinating staff holidays and sick time.
4. Facilitate recruitment, hiring and training, and contribute to performance evaluation of front line staff.
5. Prepare and submit accurate and timely monthly statistics and written reports.
6. Share 24/7 on-call duties with the Program Manager.
7. Establish rapport and develop relationships with youth, staff and other professionals.
8. Foster a positive and engaging workplace for all.
9. Ensure the Philosophy of Care practices are implemented within the program through the staff team

What we offer:

Taking care of people is our priority, and this includes our staff.  Together, we strive to create an accepting, respectful, and non-judgmental work environment.

Having a self-care plan in place is important to your well-being, both personally and professionally, and we have a number of supports in place to help our staff with this.  Our Elder in Residence has set hours every week to meet with staff for personal, cultural, and spiritual support.

We are committed to ongoing learning and positive team building, and the entire UNYA team comes together once a month for a morning of professional development, followed by a shared meal and an afternoon of fun activities.

• Compensation: Step 1 - $29.17 through Step 4 - $33.67/hour (based on years of service)
• Paid Vacation, sick days and Wellness days
• 40 hours a week
• Comprehensive Benefits package includes Extended Health, Dental, Vision, LTD and Life insurance (completely paid by employer)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff
• Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
• Monthly Staff development