Casual Program Support Worker

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community for nearly 140 years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who are low-income, underhoused or homeless. We provide essential services to meet the daily needs of community members and engage in systems change work to reduce homelessness and break cycles of poverty. If you’re looking for purpose-filled work and want to make a difference in the community, this might be the opportunity for you.

POSITION TITLE: Casual Program Support Worker
DEPARTMENT: Programs
REPORTS TO: Program Manager
DATE: November 2024 (Temporary to Late Summer 2025)
Starting Wage: $28.32

OUR VISION

A neighborhood where every person's worth is celebrated, and all people thrive.

OUR MISSION

We seek a just society, nurturing spirits through ministry, housing, advocacy, and community services.

Each job within the First United Church should in some way promote our accomplishment of this vision and mission.

Our Values

Acceptance, Discernment, Empathy, Accountability and Social Justice   

This hybrid, temporary role supports the ongoing function of community programming during a time of significant change and rapid transition in the life of First United.  First United is undergoing redevelopment of its property at 320 E. Hastings St.  As a result, ministry and community programs, kitchen, shelter and admin spaces (traditionally housed together in one building) are splitting into 6 satellite locations (plus a food truck) for the period of April 2023 to summer 2025.  The primary responsibility of this hybrid temporary role is to support the function of the help desk and community meal programs at First United during the relocation period.  The position will cease upon occupancy of the newly redeveloped building at 320 E. Hastings.

Community Help Desk (70%)

• Providing exceptional client greeting services; providing helpful and knowledgeable assistance and informed referrals to clients, visitors, and the public in-person, over the phone and via email.
• Monitoring messages and answering the direct line.
• Ensuring the reception and client lobby area is clean, tidy, and sanitized
• Community mail - updating the community mail list and distributing the mail to the community, adding postage, and taking out the daily mail.
• Helping with lifting/moving office and supplies and/or furniture, as required.
• Advising the Program Manager when supply inventory is low.
• Program Support Data-entry - Providing administrative and statistical support for programs, word processing, formatting, and editing, reports and spreadsheets as requested
• Keeping stats for Community Help Desk as required for grants and funders.
• Harm reductions supplies- ensuring there are enough rig kits made well in advance and advising the programs manager when inventory is running low
• Updating and maintaining the community message board
• Deescalating situations with the community

Program Support Assistance (30%)

• Community meal program:

o   Food Truck pilot project 2-2.5 years.  Assisting with the community lunch program

o   Meeting the food truck at the specified location

o   Setting up and managing the line, putting out bio-recycling containers

o   Assisting community members as needed, reminding community to use the containers and not to litter, picking up litter around the food truck to maintain good relations with our community neighbors.

o   Serving in the truck if required

• In-Kind Donations - Picking up and delivering donations from donors and between satellite worksites, as required.
• Tax Program - assisting with intakes; receiving tax-related documents from clients, assisting with data entry, for the CVITP.
• Community engagement - program facilitation of social inclusion activities at various First United locations.

LATITUDE

The incumbent works under the direction of the Program Manager, including direction to respond to changing organizational needs. If clarification is required, it is expected that the incumbent will request further direction from the Programs Manager.

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Communication is maintained with all management staff and co-workers as work is assigned and completed, and information exchanged on an ongoing basis.
• Program Manager: taking direction, give and receive feedback, regular communication, implementation of programs
• Kitchen Services Manager: coordinating delivery of community meals; support meal line ups; give and receive feedback.
• Community members: regular communication, answering basic tax inquiries, community resources and First United services, mail program/community phone and message board  etc.

• Superior verbal and written communication skills. 
• Superior organizational skills, with strong attention to detail; exceptionally resourceful, with the ability to effectively problem-solve. 
• Demonstrated record of professional excellence, high degree of initiative.
• Proven ability to offer exceptional customer/client service(s) in person, over the phone and email.
• Superior knowledge of windows-based applications (Outlook email/scheduler, Word, Excel)
• Ability to prioritize, manage time, and engage in multiple tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to maintain complete confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong sense of idealism and desire to give back to the community; and good sense of humor and ability to have fun while working.
• Ability to display a high level of professionalism.
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and procedures.
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Fluency in a second language an asset
• Ability to drive cargo vans
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License and clean driving record required.  Ability to drive cargo van/s.
• Physical ability to safely lift 23 kg (50 lbs.)

• College/Associate's Degree or equivalent education and experience.
• Additional relevant post-secondary skills/training an asset.
• Mental Health First Aid an asset.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) or Managing Hostile Interactions training is an asset.

• Minimum 2 years reception and/or administrative experience in a computerized office environment where tact, empathy and professionalism are valued.
• Minimum 2 years experience working with the DTES community in a direct service capacity.
• If applicable, a minimum of 1-year continuous sobriety is strongly suggested. 

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

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