Autism Support jobs in Port Coquitlam, BC

Community Companion & Mentor (Support Worker)

Where Relationships Come First

Family-Directed Community Inclusion | North Vancouver, BC

Two positions available | 4–5 days per week | 6-hour shifts | 24–30 hours per week

$29/hour to start, increasing to $30/hour
Plus 4% vacation pay and, after successful completion of a three-month probationary period, an additional 10% in lieu of benefits

Mileage reimbursement and ongoing paid training provided.

This Is More Than a Support Worker Position

We're looking for two Community Companions & Mentors to build genuine, one-to-one relationships with autistic young adults in North Vancouver.

Each position supports one person, and we're looking for the right match based on personality, interests, communication style, and compatibility.

We're looking for people who are warm, energetic, curious, patient, reliable, and have a great sense of humour. People who enjoy being out in the world, trying new things, and bringing their own interests and personality to a relationship.

Most importantly, we're looking for people who want to get to know the person, not simply fill a shift.

Trust takes time. It grows through consistency, shared experiences, laughter, patience, respect, and showing up.

Understanding Autism Matters

The people you'll be getting to know communicate in ways that may be different from what you're accustomed to.

Spoken language is not a measure of understanding, intelligence, personality, curiosity, or how much someone has to say.

We're looking for people who understand, or genuinely want to learn about, autistic communication, sensory differences, processing time, regulation, anxiety, autonomy, and the many ways autistic people communicate.

You need to be curious enough to ask: “What is this person trying to tell me?”

rather than: “How do I get them to do this?”

We presume competence. We respect autonomy, choices, boundaries, and the right to say no. We expect the people supporting them to do the same.

Previous autism experience is an asset, but experience isn't everything. We'd rather find someone willing to understand the person in front of them than someone who believes they already know everything about autism.

What Will You Do Together?

These are active, community-based roles. We're looking for people who participate rather than supervise from the sidelines.

Between them, interests include swimming, boating and paddle boating, movies, restaurants, sports, music, trains and transit, community events, spending time near the water, exploring Metro Vancouver, and discovering new places.

And we want you to bring your interests too.

Love sports, photography, music, nature, history, food, boats, current events, or exploring the city? Great. Maybe you'll introduce someone to something new.

Some of the best days begin with:

“I have an idea…”

Joining in. Laughing. Exploring. Trying things together.

That's how relationships grow.

Communication Is About Connection

We'll provide training and ongoing support to help you learn the individual communication style of the person you're matched with.

Your job isn't to make someone communicate like you do. It's to learn how the two of you can communicate with each other.

Talk with them. Share stories. Explain things. Be funny. Wonder about things together. Give them time to process and respond in their own way.

Someone who uses little or no spoken language still deserves to be spoken with, not spoken around, spoken over, or reduced to instructions.

You Might Be a Great Fit If You…

• genuinely enjoy people and building relationships
• bring energy, curiosity, and a sense of humour
• are patient and comfortable with processing time
• understand that behaviour is communication
• respect autonomy and choice
• can change plans when something isn't working
• don't need to be in control
• are active and enjoy being out in the community
• are dependable and follow through
• are open to feedback and willing to learn
• can leave your ego at the door

We're not looking for perfection. We're looking for people who are willing to learn.

The Practical Stuff

You'll need:

• Availability for 4–5 six-hour shifts per week
• A valid BC Class 5 Driver's Licence and safe driving record
• The ability to swim confidently
• First Aid & CPR, or willingness to obtain them before starting
• A Criminal Record Check
• Strong spoken and written English communication skills
• Some flexibility for evenings and weekends
• A commitment to reliability and consistency

Access to your own reliable vehicle is a strong asset, and mileage is reimbursed when your vehicle is used for approved activities.

One Important Thing Before You Apply

These positions are based in North Vancouver, and we're hoping to find people who will become consistent, long-term parts of someone's life.

Living on the North Shore would be ideal. If you live elsewhere, that's okay, but please make sure travelling to and from North Vancouver four or five days each week is realistically sustainable for you.

For an autistic person, getting to know someone new takes time. Familiarity and trust develop through consistency. We want these relationships to have the opportunity to grow.

We're not asking anyone to promise they'll stay forever—life happens. We're simply asking you to consider whether the hours, location, commute, and commitment genuinely fit your life before becoming part of someone else's.

Interested?

We're interested in more than your résumé. We want to know who you are.

If this sounds less like a job you're applying for and more like a person you'd like to get to know, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: From $29.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24.0 – 30.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Application question(s):

• This position is based in North Vancouver and requires 4–5 six-hour shifts per week. What community do you live in, and what would your typical commute to North Vancouver look like?
• Do you have a valid BC Class 5 Driver's Licence and a safe driving record
• Do you have access to a reliable vehicle that you would be comfortable using for community activities during some shifts?
• Can you swim?

Work Location: In person