Wellness Navigator, Substance Use

First Nations Health Authority

$91K — $123K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
  • 3-5 years of recent relevant experience
  • Experience with First Nations communities on health and wellness issues
  • Experience supporting individuals who use drugs and their families
  • Familiarity with health and social systems mapping
  • Knowledge of harm reduction and BC model of care
  • Certification in substance use specialization

Responsibilities

  • Assist First Nations individuals and families in navigating wellness services
  • Facilitate access to substance use and mental health services
  • Collaborate with community partners and healthcare providers
  • Strengthen pathways to care and build community capacity
  • Contribute to regional substance use initiatives and knowledge sharing

Benefits

  • Municipal Pension plan with employer contribution
  • 3 weeks of vacation increasing with service, plus additional personal days
  • 5 cultural days for eligible employees
  • Immediate access to group health benefits and Health Care Spending Account
  • Completion of cultural safety training and wellness plan development
Full Job Description
Title: Wellness Navigator, Substance Use
Salary: $91,172 - $107,261 - $123,351 per year (pay range explained below)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday- Friday (core hours- 9:00 am- 3:00 pm)
Location: Coast Salish Territories of Squamish, Musqueam & Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Metro Vancouver, BC or surrounding areas)- Hybrid - 50%+ in the office (Park Royal)

Please note, this role will be relocating to our new office building in North Vancouver on Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) land, south of Mount Seymour Parkway in Spring 2027.

About the role

As a Wellness Navigator, you will play a key role in advancing FNHA's vision of Healthy, Vibrant and Self-Determining BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities. Working within a culturally safe, trauma-informed, and harm reduction framework, you will support First Nations individuals, families and communities on their wellness journeys by facilitating access to substance use, mental health, wellness, and public health services. Working collaboratively with community partners, healthcare providers, wellness workers, people with lived and living experience, and policing services, you will strengthen pathways to care, build community capacity, and enhance access to culturally grounded supports. You will also contribute to regional substance use initiatives partnership development, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement efforts that promote healing, wellness, and positive health outcomes for First Nations people across the region.

About you
To be successful in this role you will have-

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Recent and relevant experience (usually acquired over a period of 3-5 years)
  • Experience in the regional health authority systems/services/services and in particular working with First Nations individuals, communities or organizations on issues related to health and wellness
  • Experience supporting people who use drugs and their families
  • Experience in the mapping of health and/or social systems and assets
  • Experience in harm reduction and knowledge of BC model of care - from prevention and harm reduction to treatment and recovery
  • Certificate in Substance use specialization and relevant experience
  • First aid level 1 (with CPR), Hep B shot, and flu vaccine
  • Naloxone training

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • In-depth knowledge of the BC health care system, and the current landscape of First Nations health in BC
  • In-depth knowledge of First Nations health and wellness system needs
  • Thorough understanding of person-centered care to provide holistic, integrated, coordinated, and high-quality care that respects diversity and culture
  • Knowledge and support of Harm Reduction approach to substance use recovery
  • Trauma informed practice
  • Motivational interviewing

Please refer to Job Specification section of the Job Description for more details.

Working at FNHA

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits, including:

  • Municipal Pension plan with an employer contribution of 9.31%
  • 3 weeks' vacation, which increases with service to 4 weeks, plus 5 personal days, 1 volunteer day, and 14 public holidays including National Indigenous People's Day, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Easter Monday and Boxing Day
  • 5 cultural days per year for non-union First Nations, Inuit, or Métis employees
  • Access to group health benefits and a Health Care Spending Account through Canada Life on day 1 of employment
  • And more!

Leading with culture, all FNHA employees complete San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. We support our family to be leaders in wellness and all staff members develop a yearly wellness plan as part of their performance partnership and goal-setting.

The Pay Range is the minimum and maximum annual salary based on full time equivalent hours.
Incumbents are typically hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on their knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in relation to the role requirements.
The top 10% of the pay range is for the incumbents who are industry experts in the job with the combination of exceptional experience and competencies needed to perform all duties and responsibilities at a superior capability level. Internal employee compensation will be determined as per the FNHA Employee Total Compensation Policy.

How to apply
If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button.

Closing date: October 2, 2026 (at 23:59)

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