Program Assistant - Community Safety Navigator Program

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ABOUT MISSION POSSIBLE
Mission Possible is a non-profit organization and social enterprise located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. We support individuals challenged by homelessness, poverty, addiction, mental illness, and other barriers to employment to achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work. Through our Employment Readiness Program and our social enterprises, we equip our program participants with the skills, confidence, and support they need to rejoin the workforce and rebuild a self-sustaining livelihood for themselves.

Tenacious. Empowering. Supportive. Humble. Compassionate. These are Mission Possible’s core values, and we’re looking for someone who also holds these values to join our incredible team as our Program Assistant - Community Safety Navigator Program.
 
ABOUT THE JOB 
 
Position type: Three year contract, 18 hours/week, on-site
 
Start Date: May 2026 (Flexible start date can be discussed) 
 
Compensation: $23.50 per/hour
 
Key Benefits:
  • 4% Vacation Pay
  • Access to Employee and Family Assistance Program
  • Access to training and professional development opportunities
Position Overview:
Mission Possible is seeking a dedicated and community-minded Program Assistant to support an innovative three-year initiative (May 2026–March 2029). This project addresses systemic underemployment for individuals with lived experience of poverty, homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges in Vancouver and Surrey. The Program Assistant will play a hands-on role in supporting participants through their journey from intake to external employment. You will be the primary point of contact for participants during their community internship placements, ensuring they have the support and tools needed to succeed as a Community Safety Navigator.
 
Working Conditions:

The Program Assistant will report to the Program Manager, and will work closely with the Employment Readiness Program Team and other Mission Possible staff. They will interact with community partners, volunteers, and program participants. Most work will take place in the Mission Possible office. Some off-site work may occur, including connecting with internship placement providers in the community.

Key Areas of Responsibility: 

  • Assist the Program Manager with participant recruitment, eligibility screening, and health and safety orientations

  • Support with the coordination of regular site visits to internship providers in Vancouver and Surrey to monitor quality of the work environment and participant progress

  • Support with ongoing communication with internship supervisors in terms of scheduling, monitoring participant progress, and identifying issues that require a follow-up plan

  • Assist in the scheduling and coordination of internship placements for participants

  • Assist in the coordination and scheduling of pre-employment training, including Basic Security Training (BST), de-escalation, and trauma-informed practice.

  • Support the Program Manager with administrative tasks, including logging participants’ hours, and ensuring equipment needs for the project are met

  • Provide 1-1 support to participants as needed to check in on their progress, milestone completion, and attendance  

  • Other responsibilities as assigned by the Program Manager 

ABOUT YOU:
Our ideal candidate has:

  • Capability to work well independently and to take a proactive approach to tasks and responsibilities  

  • Experience working in low-barrier settings or with individuals facing multiple barriers to employment (homelessness, substance use, mental health)

  • Proven professionalism and ability to model this professionalism to participants

  • Ability to carry out tasks to follow the vision and instruction of the Program Manager

  • A strong ability to communicate well with diverse stakeholders, including internship providers and program participants

  • Creative problem-solving skills 

Education and Experience 

  • Familiarity with Google Suite (google docs, google slides, google sheets, and gmail) is an asset

  • Training in de-escalation, Standard First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Overdose Response, or Trauma-Informed Practice is an asset  

  • Class 5 Driver’s License is an asset

  • Or the equivalent combination of related skills and experience

Requirements:

  • Legally allowed to work in BC

  • This role requires the completion of a vulnerable sector police background check that demonstrates no offenses that are relevant to the role, given the vulnerable populations that Mission Possible serves. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an individual from employment in this role. If you are considering applying and have any questions about this requirement and how it relates to your own lived experience, please reach out to us directly at careers@mission-possible.ca.  

How To Apply:

If you feel you're a good fit for this role, please send your cover letter and resume to careers@mission-possible.ca with "Application for Program Assistant" as the subject line. While we appreciate all interested candidates, only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. We will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis until we find the right fit, so we encourage you to get your application in as soon as possible. 

We value, support, and thrive in a diverse and inclusive workplace. Those with diverse abilities are encouraged to apply. Please note that our ideal candidate includes those who may not possess all of the qualities listed above, but have a strong motivation to gain the skills and experience needed for this position.  

Thank you for your interest!