Assistant Program Manager (Nora Hendrix Place)

About Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS)

Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS) is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the social, political, economic, and cultural well-being of people of African descent (Black People) through the delivery of inclusive housing, built spaces, and culturally informed programming. For years, the Society has been a leading advocate for people of African Descent in Metro Vancouver who have endured the legacies of so-called urban renewal, residential displacement, and the attempted erasure from Vancouver’s historical narrative.

About Nora Hendrix Place (NHP)

Nora Hendrix Place is a 52-unit temporary modular social housing facility located in the heart of Hogan’s Alley Block. It is specifically designed to accommodate Black and Indigenous individuals at risk of homelessness. These units serve as temporary housing until residents can secure a more permanent housing solution. Each unit is self-contained, featuring a private bathroom and kitchen facilities. Additionally, a minimum of 10% of the units are wheelchair accessible.

Since its establishment in 2019, Nora Hendrix Place has been operated in partnership with Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS), with a focus on developing internal capacity as a culturally informed housing provider. Recently, HAS has assumed full operational responsibility for Nora Hendrix Place, taking over from its previous co-operator, Atira. As part of this transition, HAS is actively recruiting new staff members for Nora Hendrix Place and has introduced additional positions within the facility. These efforts are aimed at enhancing the support services offered and improving the overall wellbeing of residents.

This transition marks an important milestone for HAS as it moves towards becoming a culturally informed housing operator. It aligns with the broader vision for Hogan’s Alley Block, which aims to develop an asset-based model that empowers racialized communities to actively contribute to city-building efforts and address longstanding economic, social, and political disparities.

Scope of Role

Reporting to the Building Manager, the Assistant Program Manager works with the Building Manager to oversee program development at NHP and the daily operations of the property. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the program policies, procedures, and practices. The Assistant Program Manager is ​responsible for managing direct service staff performance and working relationships to support their development, engagement and commitment to their work and to HAS. This position also nurtures strong and positive working relationships with partner agencies, businesses and other neighborhood and community groups.

The primary objective of the Assistant Program Manager is to support the Building Manager and HAS in promoting the interests of NHP residents and the program within the community, ensuring that it is maximally integrated and coordinated with other systems of care. As a member of the NHP leadership team, the Assistant Program Manager will work closely with the Building Manager, HAS team, Building Operations team, and other NHP colleagues to ensure a high level of operations at NHP.

Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and direct a supported housing program including service staff and support workers.
• Understand, interpret, explain, and apply municipal, provincial, and federal policy, law, regulation and court decisions governing the Nora Hendrix Place program.
• Foster effective communication with staff and support workers.
• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other written materials.
• Consult effectively with the Director, Strategic Projects and the Building Manager to develop solutions to complex organizational and people management issues.
• Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within policy guidelines.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential personnel issues and employee situations.
• Support the building manager with facilitating staff meetings monthly, ensuring occupational health and safety is on each meeting agenda.
• Support the building manager with facilitating tenant meetings monthly to elicit their feedback and suggestions for building improvements.
• Develop and nurture relationships with community agencies and service partners.
• Promote and encourage community involvement in the building.
• Be on call (rotation schedule to be determined) to deal with staff scheduling issues and to respond to emergencies such as fire, flood, death, and breach of building security.
• Manage and maintain all housing records including payment, receipts, wait list, repairs, maintenance, etc.
• Keep current on all related Housing and Rental standards and regulations, and administer programs in accordance with policy, funding agencies and related regulations and housing building standards as related to the Social Housing Program
• Attend HAS team meetings, as directed by the building manager
• Attend regular check-in with building manager
• Support the Building Manager with other related tasks.

Skills/Knowledge/Experience

• Excellent understanding of social housing management, rules, and regulations.
• Three years experience working in or managing a similar program.
• Courses and training in building management and experience in community or customer service would be beneficial.
• Experience and knowledge about mental health diagnosis, medications, treatment and support resources.
• Knowledge of Indigenous communities and health resources.
• Understanding of the ongoing impact of colonialism and the residential school system.
• Have a clear understanding of Black history in Canada, and experience working with immigrants and refugees.
• Have an understanding and analysis of the impacts of anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity
• Have knowledge of the legacies of so-called urban renewal, residential displacement, and the attempted erasure of the people of African Descent in Metro Vancouver from Vancouver’s historical narrative.
• Basic sound knowledge of relevant physical health issues (e.g. HIV and Hepatitis C), including diagnosis, treatment, and support resources.
• Create and construct effective relationships with the neighborhood and the community to ensure the program is maximally integrated into the community.
• Knowledge of the housing continuum, including market, subsidized, and supported housing systems, including different program models.
• Must demonstrate clear, direct, and sensitive verbal and written communication skills.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of systems theory, strategy development, counseling, advocacy, community networking and life skills development.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with community resources and within a team setting.

Training/Education Required

• Minimum, a diploma or certificate in a relevant discipline (e.g., community support worker, mental health and addictions worker or social services worker) with a minimum of three years of supervisory experience (depending on education) experience, working with people affected by trauma and who may also struggle with substance use and or mental wellness. The equivalent combination of relevant experience and applicable skill-based training may be considered.
• Lived experience is invaluable, as is living in the community in which you work. HAS strives to hire staff who reflect the people we serve.
• Must complete an acceptable Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Search report.
• Must hold a current Standard First Aid and CPR certificate.
• A current Crisis Prevention Institute certificate or Non-violent crisis intervention training.
• Mental Health First Aid is an asset but not required.
• Harm reduction and Naloxone training.

Personal Attributes:

• Flexible - able to adapt to an ever-changing environment and open to taking on diverse tasks whenever needed.
• A quick thinker who can make decisions without agonizing and who knows when to reach out to others for guidance and support.
• Committed to working with people struggling with substance use and comfortable working in a harm reduction environment.
• Strong consultative and relationship building skills.
• Embraces the mission, vision, values, and philosophy of Hogan’s Alley Society
• Ability to de-escalate conflict and crisis situations.
• Put clients first and work to include them in all decisions that affect their lives.
• Well-developed understanding of and commitment to anti-oppression work and intersectionality.
• Committed to working with tenants who may be struggling with substance use, brain trauma and cognitive impairment, and/or mental illness.
• Understands and is comfortable working within a harm reduction environment and while you support tenants who choose abstinence, you understand abstinence is just one option for those struggling with substance use.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the risks associated with programs that serve vulnerable populations.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Understanding of trauma informed care and support.

Closing date:

Position will remain open until filled.

Thank you in advance to all applicants.

Hogan’s Alley Society acknowledges that we work and organize on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. We offer our commitment to working in good relations with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples and to working in solidarity to address the long-lasting impacts that colonialism, genocide, and systemic racism have had on Indigenous peoples.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00-$68,250.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Please tell us briefly how your lived experience and/or close connection to the Black or Indigenous communities in Canada have prepared you for this role.
• Are you able to work Sundays through Thursdays from 11:30am - 8:00pm?

Work Location: In person