About the Community Action Initiative (CAI):

The Community Action Initiative (CAI) was created to strengthen the role and capacity of the community sector to address substance use and improve mental health for British Columbians. The CAI was established in 2008 through a $10 million grant from the Province of British Columbia, and since then has received subsequent grants from the province to continue its work and address a number of key provincial policy issues.

CAI is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors which represents a cross-section of expertise and interests, including lived experience with the mental health and substance use system of care.

About the Job:

You will be responsible for the coordination and management of the provincial Overdose Prevention and Education Network or “OPEN” program. OPEN is a $3M provincial grant program that supports community-led responses to the toxic illicit drug crisis, through direct grants and training, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange activities. The role requires working effectively with diverse stakeholders, including people with lived/living experience of substance use and their families, community-based organizations, and provincial government bodies. This position reports directly to the CAI Executive Director.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and maintain strategic project plans to ensure project and organizational objectives are achieved.

• Support the development and launch of the OPEN grant call, including external consultation, planning, application design, review and adjudication, decision-making, and contract and payment phases.

• Oversee and coordinate all grant management activities, resources, and budgets; monitor project progress; and provide regular updates to CAI staff and external stakeholders.

• Develop and implement pathways for formal and informal reporting (e.g., written, or oral progress reports, financial reports, periodic check-in meetings) and data collection to ensure accountability and contractual requirements are met, and to support internal and external evaluation activities.

• Convene, coordinate, and facilitate an Advisory Committee of provincial stakeholders.

• Work collaboratively with Advisory Committee, project partners, and grantees to develop and implement training, knowledge exchange, and capacity building activities that are responsive to community-identified needs.

• Co-create, with the CAI Grant Program Manager and Communications staff, a communications and knowledge translation strategy.

• Prepare project reports, briefing notes, and status updates for diverse audiences, including community partners, the CAI Board of Directors, and provincial government ministries.

• Lead and participate in committees and working groups.

• Other duties as assigned.

About You:

Education and Experience

• A graduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Public Health, Public Policy, Education, Social Work)

• Two to three years of project management and/or grant management experience.

• An equivalent combination of work, training, and education may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent project management skills including project planning, resource and financial management, communication, risk management, and problem-solving.

• Knowledge of the provincial mental health and substance use sector.

• Knowledge of trauma informed practice, and education, prevention, and harm reduction approaches to address substance use issues.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent working knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

• Strong time management and organization skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders.

• Communications, knowledge translation and/or facilitation experience will be considered an asset.

• Government relations experience will be considered an asset.

Basic Requirement

• A clear provincial criminal record check, including vulnerable sector, will be required for this role.

Working Conditions:

• This position is offered as a 12-month contract with the opportunity for extension.

• This is a part-time position with 0.8 FTE / 30 hours per week and located in Vancouver, BC.

• A combination of working from home and working in the office will be required.

• The Project Manager, OPEN is unionized role through the Health Sciences Association of BC, with the Health Science Professionals bargaining unit, with an hourly rate of $41.04.

• Most work is accomplished during usual business hours; however, the successful candidate may need to maintain some flexible scheduling.

• Travel may be required.