The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC) is seeking a Manager, Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion (MSPLP) to support the Associate Director, Suicide Prevention & Life Promotion (ADSPLP) in launching and managing suicide prevention initiatives across British Columbia. The MSPLP’s primary responsibility will be supporting the launch of a new-province wide suicide prevention initiative for BC’s agricultural sector. This initiative will be based off the successful Association Québécoise de Prévention du Suicide (AQPS) Sentinel program, which uses an organized network of trained volunteers who interact closely with farmers through their work or community to identify farmers at risk of suicide and connect them to professional help. A similar program, the Guardian Network, has been adapted and is currently being
delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario. The MSPLP will work closely with the ADSPLP to oversee the successful piloting of this initiative in the Fraser Valley region, and eventual provincial expansion. The MSPLP, with guidance from the ADSPLP and other key project partners, will adapt the AQPS Sentinel program to the BC context which will involve establishing exceptional policy and practice standards to ensure that the initiative is implemented effectively, safely and in compliance with the best practices for suicide prevention. The MSPLP will be responsible for operational activities and program management tasks required to successfully launch, monitor, and expand this initiative. The initiative will be designed and delivered using a partnership model that brings together multiple organizations and community partners. Success in the role will require an appreciation of collaboration and sharing power, recognition of multiple forms of expertise and knowledge, comfort with ongoing learning, and the ability to problem solve in a relational and effective way.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The MSPLP will ensure the success of CMHA BC’s suicide prevention initiatives through establishing and upholding best practices. The MSPLP works effectively with diverse stakeholders including, but not limited to, provincial government bodies, municipalities, community agencies, Indigenous partners, members of BC’s agricultural sector, and people with lived and living experience. Under the supervision of the Associate Director, Suicide Prevention & Life Promotion, the MSPLP is accountable to:
- Develop, edit, and maintain project materials, in consultation with relevant project partners.
- Provide operational oversight to the implementation and expansion of a suicide prevention strategy for BC’s agricultural sector.
- Coordinate and execute ethical and effective project plans across the province that are rooted in community needs, evidence-based best practices and the perspectives of people with lived and living experience.
- Advise on resource allocation, financial decision-making, and issues management.
- Develop and produce confidential timely reports and briefings to CMHA BC’s Senior Leadership and the Project Advisory Committee.
- Recruit, supervise, mentor, and coordinate training for program volunteers.
- Recruit, supervise and coordinate training for program trainers.
- Engage effectively and respectfully with community and provincial partners.
- Represent CMHA-BC and other project partners on internal and external working groups, when appropriate.
- Support project partners in monitoring and evaluating project pilot activities.
- Develop and present written and oral reports of project progress and provide relevant recommendations.
- Work collaboratively with diverse partners across the province.
- Undertake research and analysis, such as participatory or client-oriented research.
- Maintain principles of reconciliation, decolonization, and equity.
- Manage project budgets to ensure cost-effectiveness and program accountability.
- Engage people with lived experience in co-design of strategies, policy, and service improvements.
- Ensure mechanisms are in place to measure and collate results of pilots and other projects.
- Develop project reports, briefing notes and status updates.
- Collaborate with partners on communication strategies and content.
- Act on behalf of the Associate Director when assigned to do so or when they are absent.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
- Undergraduate Degree (Graduate Degree preferred) in a related field, such as public policy, public health, project/non-profit management, mental health and substance use, or a similarly relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Demonstrated experience with community engagement and managing partnership-based projects.
- Demonstrated experience co-developing services with people with lived and living experience relevant to the service.
- Demonstrated experience working to provide services in a trauma-informed and culturally safe way.
- Experience with program evaluation using multiple approaches, including quantitative data, qualitative data, stories, and developmental evaluation.
- Experience supervising staff and/or volunteers using collaboration and relationship-based approaches.
- Lived experience related to mental health and/or substance use challenges is considered an asset.
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) certification is an asset.
- Successful completion of background screening checks including a criminal record check and education verification.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Demonstrated ability to design, lead and evaluate large-scale projects and/or initiatives.
- The ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multiple communities and stakeholders.
- Knowledge of complex organizational and system dynamics in terms of involving multiple partners, knowledge of community organizations and services, knowledge and understanding of socioeconomic and cultural determinants of health.
- Collaborative leadership skills applicable to supervising staff and/or volunteers and establishing policy in a unionized environment.
- Ability to work with humility and create a culture of ongoing learning.
- Ability and confidence to work in a self-directed manner and lead a large-scale provincial initiative.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and ability to foster constructive relationships at all levels.
- Excellent project management, time management, and organizational skills, including attention to detail and ability to work remotely, meet deadlines and solve problems creatively.
- Knowledge of reconciliation, decolonization, and equity principles as they relate to health.
- Knowledge of harm reduction approaches to address substance use issues.
- Capacity to juggle multiple demands with varying deadlines.
- Knowledge and agility to select and use Office 365 tools and cloud-based management software tools.
- Demonstrated ability to act with diplomacy and integrity and to appropriately manage highly confidential and sensitive information.
- Knowledge of BC’s Agricultural sector is an asset.
- Knowledge of suicide prevention best practice is an asset.
- Knowledge of the provincial mental health and substance use sector is an asset.
Our key values and principles
The MSPLP consistently conducts themselves in alignment with CMHA BC’s Core Values of:
Inclusive
- Proactive
- Compassionate
- Steadfast
- Collaborative
WORKING CONDITIONS
This role is funded for 3-years. There is the possibility of contract extension beyond the initial 3-year.- This position will be full-time, 37.5 hours per week, primarily during regular office business hours.
- The position can be based out of the Vancouver or Victoria office. We offer hybrid work environment.
- The position requires occasional flexibility to travel.
- Performance will be reviewed annually by the Associate Director, Suicide Prevention & Life Promotion.
- Compensation review for this role is underway and the current salary range is $75,000 - $85,000.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume along with a cover letter, clearly documenting how you satisfy the requirements outlined in this job posting to [email protected]. This position is open until filled. The subject line should mention “Manager, Suicide Prevention & Life Promotion”. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted to schedule an interview. CMHA, BC Division is committed to our workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work. As such, we encourage applications from persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the diversity of our staff. Personal experience with mental illness and or addiction, either through self or a loved one, is an asset.
ABOUT US
Founded in 1918, The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health and addiction, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness and/or addiction.
We respectfully acknowledge xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaʔɬ (TsleilWaututh), Lkwungen (Songhees) and Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples on whose traditional, unceded lands the CMHA BC offices are located
