Manager, Sanctuary Program

Covenant House Vancouver; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Training and career advancement

Job summary

Covenant House Vancouver seeks a Manager, Sanctuary Program to oversee direct service delivery for youth in the Sanctuary Program, ensuring safety and adherence to CHV philosophy and policies. You will guide planning and budget development, supervise staff, and coordinate cross‑department collaboration to support continuity of care.

The ideal candidate holds a degree in a related field, with leadership experience in harm‑reduction settings; knowledge of trauma-informed care is essential.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a low-barrier, harm-reduction setting serving homeless or at-risk youth.
• Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and Harm Reduction principles.
• Ability to design and develop policies, program manuals, and practice guides.
• Strong communication and collaboration across departments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee direct service delivery in the Sanctuary Program, ensuring safety for youth and staff.
• Assist in annual service planning and strategic planning initiatives.
• Participate in developing the Sanctuary Program budget and operational plans.
• Manage and supervise administrative and daily operations of Sanctuary.
• Screen, hire, train staff, volunteers, and practicum students; schedule staff.
• Provide formal supervision and ongoing staff development opportunities.
• Oversee data collection, reporting and evaluation of client statistics.
• Represent Covenant House Vancouver at community tables and regional committees.
• Maintain relationships with related service providers and internal departments.
• Support fidelity to core concepts; train and supervise in Trauma-Informed and Harm Reduction practices.

Skills

Leadership experience

Trauma-Informed Practice knowledge

Harm Reduction Principles

Education

Degree in Social Work, Nursing, or related discipline

Registered Social Worker or Nursing, or related graduate degree an asset

Job description

As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.

About Covenant House Vancouver

Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.

Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees. While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self‑awareness and self‑care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair. We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on‑boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.

The Impact the Manager, Sanctuary Program can make

To oversee and manage all aspects of direct service in the Sanctuary Program Department. Ensuring the safety of all youth and staff in the programs; and upholding and ensuring adherence to the Mission, Values, philosophy, and policies of Covenant House. Together with the Director, Complex Care, supports strategic planning, and explores program growth opportunities.

How you will contribute

• Responsible for direct implementation and adherence to CHV philosophy, policies and procedures
• Assist in the development of the annual service and strategic planning
• Participate in the development of the annual Sanctuary Program operating budget and operational plans
• Manages and oversees the administrative and daily operations of Sanctuary
• Participate in the screening, hiring, and training of staff, volunteers, and student placements
• Schedule staff, practicum students, and volunteers
• Oversee Assistant Manager and meet regularly with staff for formal supervision, reflective practice, annual performance appraisals and provide ongoing informal supervision and staff development opportunities
• Oversee the collection, reporting and evaluation of client statistical information – ensure data is accurate and complete
• Attend intra‑agency and program related meetings as required
• Liaison with department Managers and staff from development and communications, finance, payroll, administration, operations, food services and volunteer services
• Responsible for the monitoring of staff morale, including identification of trends, and promoting staff and workplace health
• Support and maintain positive and effective working relationship with Case Management Services
• Work with managers of other program departments to support the continuum of care for youth within CHV
• Maintain a relationship with other related service providers
• Support program services to maintain fidelity to core theoretical concepts and practices, including the creation and review of policies and procedures and consultation support to all program areas
• Is a subject matter expert in key priority areas such as Trauma Informed Practice, and Harm Reduction, providing both internal and external training and supervision
• Represents CHV at community tables and regional committees as assigned, engaging in advocacy and awareness in alignment with our key priority areas
• Manages and maintains community partnerships as directed
• Other duties as assigned

Who are we looking for?

Education and Experience

• Degree in Social Work, Nursing, or a related discipline
• Registered Social Worker, Nursing or other Graduate degree an asset
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in a low barrier, harm reduction setting providing services to homeless and/or at‑risk individuals with complex care needs

Competencies

• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care and Harm Reduction Principles, and the needs of this specialized population of youth
• Knowledge of adolescent development and issues related to youth homelessness
• Knowledge of Resiliency Theory & Stages of Change models of practice
• Demonstrated facilitation skills
• Demonstrated ability to design and develop policies and procedures, program manuals, and practice guides
• Experience working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting, and with community stakeholders, effectively building constructive, friendly, professional relationships and networks of key contacts with people and colleagues, maintaining partnerships that can provide information, assistance and support; networking and building working relationships to respond to current and future needs
• Proven ability in the design and execution of initiatives, strategies and policies, and ability to set priorities for concurrent projects
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills, including report writing and presentation design and facilitation
• Ability to coordinate major interdisciplinary projects involving complex and politically sensitive issues
• Effective leadership capabilities and interpersonal skills with proven experience consulting, engaging and coordinating with various stakeholder groups working cooperatively and effectively with others to reach a common goal, places a high value on teamwork and sets values and objectives that encourages the team’s cohesiveness
• Excellent decision making, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and exercise a considerable degree of independent judgment and discretion
• Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and self‑directed working style
• Experience with Reflective Practice Supervision an asset

Additional Position Information

• The schedule is as follows: Salary Mon-Th 8a-4:45p 70hrs (70hrs (Salary) - Mon-Thur 8.75)
• The successful candidate can expect a starting salary of between $79,534 and $99,427, depending on factors such as internally equity, experience, competencies, and education
• Once hired, salaries are reviewed annually following the annual performance review and successful employees have the opportunity for their salary to increase, over time, up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $119,301

In 2024, we were recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions. CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to: Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin; Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities; Persons who identify as women; Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and Indigenous persons. We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.

Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement.

Covenant House Vancouver is a non‑profit organization that supports young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, human trafficking, and youth in need.

We offer a continuum of care, providing housing and wraparound supports. We are a diverse team dedicated to ending youth homelessness.

Make a difference with us and embark on a fulfilling career.

We strive for employees to feel appreciated, supported, and empowered. Our culture is built around absolute respect, courage, integrity, equity, and inclusivity. We create an engaging work environment where employees can thrive, resulting in the best care for the youth we serve.