[Hiring] Peer Coordinator @AVI Health and Community Services

Role Description

The Peer Coordinator is a contract role grounded in lived and/or living experience of substance use and the toxic drug supply. The role supports peer leadership, engagement, and harm reduction activities connected to the work of the Nanaimo CAT. The Peer Coordinator builds trusted relationships, elevates peer perspectives, and supports community-led responses to reduce drug toxicity harms.

Key Responsibilities

• Peer Engagement & Community Outreach
  • Build and maintain meaningful, trust-based relationships with people impacted by the toxic drug supply.
  • Conduct outreach to identify emerging needs and share resources.
  • Support inclusive engagement processes that elevate lived and living experience voices.
  • Promote culturally safe, peer-led, and stigma-free approaches.
• Support to the Community Action Team
  • Participate in monthly CAT meetings and contribute peer-informed perspectives.
  • Coordinate and support Peer Advisory meetings, or other Peer Meetings to support the collaboration of peer work within the Nanaimo CAT.
  • Manage peer compensation through stipends and maintain records.
  • Support peer participation in CAT initiatives, projects, and community events.
• Harm Reduction & Drug Toxicity Response
  • Support overdose prevention and harm reduction activities.
  • Share accurate information on drug toxicity risks and services.
  • Assist with harm reduction supply distribution and public education.
  • Support stigma reduction efforts.
• Documentation & Reporting
  • Maintain documentation of peer engagement activities.
  • Contribute to reporting and evaluation requirements.
  • Identify and share advocacy priorities emerging from peer engagement.
  • Maintain records of payments, receipts, stipends, and other expenses.
  • Complete and submit regular timesheets.

Qualifications

• Lived or living experience related to substance use and/or the toxic drug crisis (strongly preferred).
• Experience in peer support, harm reduction outreach, or community-based work.
• Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed practice, and equity-based approaches.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• No formal education requirements; lived and living experience is recognized as essential.

Requirements

• Community-based role with outreach in diverse environments.
• Flexible schedule, including some evenings or weekends.
• Exposure to environments impacted by substance use and drug toxicity.
• Access to supervision and debriefing supports.

Benefits

• Pay: $30/Hour plus expenses (flexible and based on funding).
• Hours and Schedule: 10 hours per week.
• Location: Nanaimo, BC and in the community as needed, may have an option of working remotely for a part of the job.
• Start Date: As soon as possible and is subject to ongoing funding.
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

To Apply

To apply please click on ‘apply to position' and submit your resume and cover letter by 5pm on August 17, 2026.

Please note: This is an excluded contractual position.

AVI is committed to equity and diversity and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We would like to thank all those who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.