Peer Support Worker – Quit Buddies (2 Positions)

Position Type: Full time, permanent
Annual Salary: $57,500
Schedule: 37.5 hours weekly – exact hours flexible, to be determined with Project Manager. Regular work outside of standard / typical business hours will be required.
Start Date: April 7, 2025 (flexible) 
Location: Remote, within Canada
Language: Bilingual (English / French) required
Reports to: Project Manager
Application Deadline: February 28 2025, 11:59 pm PT

Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars – community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development – position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities. CBRC was incorporated in 1999 and is a non-profit charitable organization. Our main office is in Vancouver, British Columbia; we also have a satellite office in Toronto.

CBRC believes in work led by and for the community. As part of our commitment to employment equity, we encourage applications from Indigenous, Black and people of colour (IBPOC) individuals, Two-Spirit people, queer, trans and non-binary people, people living with HIV, people living with Hepatitis C, disabled people, 2SLGBTQIA+ women, and other people with fabulous and diverse identities and experiences. CBRC acknowledges that not everyone is able to publicly disclose these identities, and we do not expect that employees will disclose this in the course of their work.

At CBRC, we recognize that some applicants have experienced barriers to traditional educational and employment opportunities. We consider various combinations of education, employment, volunteer, and lived experience and encourage applicants to highlight these experiences in their cover letter and resume.

Description

Are you a member of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community who is passionate about smoking cessation and harm reduction? Do you want to improve the health and well-being of your peers?

CBRC is launching “Quit Buddies,” a national, virtual tobacco harm reduction program that will provide education, peer support, and supplies to 2S/LGBTQIA+ people across Canada who want to quit smoking and / or adopt healthier smoking behaviours. We are currently recruiting two Peer Support Workers to join this team.

Peer Support Workers are the primary point of contact for community members seeking supports through the “Quit Buddies” program, and will deliver a variety of supports and services including one-on-one motivational interviewing sessions, group support sessions, and education. Peer Support Workers will also work with other team members across CBRC to support additional project needs, like resource development and evaluation, to help maximize our impact and reach our collective goal of improving the health and wellbeing of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities across Canada.

While this position is considered permanent, please note that the continuity of all roles is contingent on sustainable funding.

Primary Job Responsibilities

Approximate percentages of time spent on each activity (averaged over 1 month) are provided as an estimate only, but this may develop over time.

1. Peer Support Service Delivery (60%) 

  • Delivering one-on-one motivational interviewing sessions (virtual)
  • Delivering group support sessions (virtual)
  • Responding to client questions and support needs via chat
  • Supporting dissemination of nicotine replacement therapy supplies
  • Completing client intake and exit interviews
  • Referring clients

2. Additional Project Responsibilities (30%)

  • Completing and maintaining confidential client records, including client intake forms, referral forms, session notes, and incident reports, in compliance with relevant policies and regulations
  • Supporting the Project Coordinator in ensuring adequate service coverage
  • Attending project meetings (internal project meetings, community advisory team meetings, provider advisory team meetings, debriefing sessions)
  • Informing and providing feedback on project outputs (eg informational resources)
  • Supporting the evaluation team in administering client-facing evaluation tools (eg post-service evaluation survey)

3. Other Organizational Needs (10%)

  • Attending relevant trainings as required
  • Attending and actively participating in 1:1, project, team, department, and all-staff meetings as required, including other relevant CBRC events
  • Attending and actively participating in organizational development activities as reasonably requested (ad hoc committees, working groups, caucuses, etc)

Minimum Requirements

  • 2-3 years experience in peer support / outreach services
  • Bilingual (English / French) - able to fluently communicate in both English and French (oral & written) as services will be offered in both languages
  • Advanced 2S/LGBTQIA+ competencies, often gained through lived or living experience; significant knowledge of issues facing 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities gained through lived or work experience; as this is a ‘peer’ role, identification as 2S/LGBTQIA+ is required
  • Knowledge and / or experience related to tobacco use and strategies and tools to quit smoking or adopt healthier smoking behaviours; this can be gained through lived or living experience (you or someone close to you smokes or smoked tobacco) and / or professional experience (you have provided smoking cessation supports in an employment or volunteer capacity)
  • Able to create an inclusive and non-judgemental environment for diverse 2S/LGBTQIA+ community members
  • Able to work well independently, including directing own work and managing time
  • Strong communication and active listening skills; able to communicate effectively with peers to educate and inspire

Other Competencies & Qualifications (assets)

  • A diploma or degree in a relevant field (social work, counseling, psychology, child & youth care, health & social sciences)
  • Knowledge of Canada’s 2S/LGBTQIA+ health landscape, including factors influencing mental health and addiction
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply harm reduction principles
  • Relevant training and / or certifications (motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, etc)   
  • Able to think strategically, work under pressure, adapt to change, and problem solve
  • Proficient with common software platforms (Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom) and case management / electronic medical records systems (eg Jane app)
  • Able to identify and mitigate risks, including preventing and resolving conflicts

Perks

  • Generous vacation time, personal days, and other leave policies
  • Extended health benefits, including medical, gender-affirming care, dental, vision, and long-term disability (LTD), life coverage, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
  • Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
  • Inclusive workplace
  • Remote and hybrid work arrangement 
  • Flexible working schedule
  • Kind and supportive team

How to apply

Please email your application to Human Resources at [email protected] and include the job you are applying for in the subject line. All applicants are required to provide a cover letter and a resume. As this is a Peer role, please include in your cover letter a brief description of your lived experience related to 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities and any lived experience related to tobacco use. Please note, as this is a bilingual role, candidates selected for interviews will be required to demonstrate verbal and written competence in English and French. All documents should be submitted in English.

Accessibility

If this process presents barriers, please get in touch via email with the subject line Access: PEER SUPPORT WORKER or call us (604-568-7478) to leave a voicemail to discuss alternative formats for submitting an application.

Disponible en français.

CBRC

About CBRC

Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development.
Peer Support Worker – Quit Buddies (2 Positions)
Peer Support Worker – Quit Buddies (2 Positions)
Check out Community-Based Research Centre. I just joined.