Shelter Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Shelter Manager Department: Shelter Reports To: Associate Director of Community Safety & Connection Date last approved: July 2025

FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside community for 140 years. We offer responsive, low-barrier services to individuals who are low- income, under-housed or homeless. We provide essential services to meet the daily needs of community members and engage in systems change work to reduce homelessness and break cycles of poverty. If you're looking for purpose-filled work and want to make a different in the community, this might be the opportunity for you. FIRST UNITED is seeking applications for the position of: Shelter Manager WHAT WE OFFER: Salary: $82,000 - $88,000

• Annual salary progression for all staff
• Comprehensive and 100% employer-paid health benefits including extended health and

dental plan for regular staff, spouses and dependents.
• United Church of Canada defined pension plan; employee contribution rate 6%,

employer contribution rate 9%.
• Life insurance, Long-term Disability, and AD&D benefits
• 20 days of paid annual vacation
• 13 statutory paid days off every year and 12 days of paid sick leave.

Each job within the FIRST UNTIED CHURCH Community Ministry Society should promote our accomplishment of our vision, mission, and values. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Shelter Manager, under the direction of the Associate Director of Community Safety & Connection ensures community members who access our shelter services feel connected and are treated with respect and dignity. The shelter manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations, providing direct service and supervision to staff, shelter residents, ensuring adherence to shelter policies and protocols, and ensuring effective operations of the shelter program.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Operations Management: Directing shelter operations:

• Overseeing the day-to-day activities, ensuring efficient workflows, and implementing and maintaining necessary systems, policies, and procedures.

• Oversight of the weekly staffing schedules, timesheets/payroll, leave requests and associated administrative duties regarding shelter staff.

• Facility Maintenance, overseeing facility maintenance and ensuring it is kept in good working order. Reporting deficiencies to the Facilities Manager.

• Maintaining the budget, monitoring spending, and assisting with operational budgetary planning.

• Identifying and reporting resource requirements and deficiencies, ensuring the facility is well-stocked and functioning properly.

• Data Collection and Reporting: Keeping data regarding key functions of the shelter, analyzing information, and presenting monthly reports.

• Ensuring the safety and sanitation of the facility, implementing and overseeing safety programs, and staying current on industry best practices.

• Attending the OHS monthly meeting and following up with recommendations.
• Some maintenance duties as needed.

Staff Supervision:

• Managing and supporting shelter staff, providing orientation, training, and guidance.
• Responsible for Human Resources functions regarding the Shelter Team including

progressive discipline, coaching and performance reviews. Carry out recruitment, hiring, training and orientation of staff to maintain a full roster of full-time and part-time Shelter Resource Workers, Case Workers, Shift Supervisors and Janitorial Staff.

• Establish policies and procedures for the Shelter Team and the Shelter Program which align with First United Church Community Ministry Society values, and the BC Housing contract. Review and edit established policies to reflect program changes where required.

Resident Support:
• Oversee the case planning function. Work with Shelter Case Planner/s, and Shift

Supervisors to provide case management and gateway services for shelter residents.
• Collaborate on decisions regarding termination of shelter services for shelter residents.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation when required.
• Ensure the overall safety of the shelter program. Develop and provide input to the

development of safety plans and decisions regarding denial or restriction of service due to violent, abusive or inappropriate conduct.

• Follow up complaints and concerns from the shelter residents.

Communication and Collaboration:
• Attending all organizational staff meetings.
• Planning and conducting regular staff meetings, providing feedback and support to

staff.
• Accountable for HIFIS documentation and shift report accuracy and completion.
• Accountable for information management, data collection and reports for shelter

resident intakes, stays, turn aways and gateway into housing.
• Collaborating with external partners, such as community agencies, and representing

the shelter at community events when required.
• Providing excellent customer service, resolving complaints, and ensuring a positive

customer experience. KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Ability to maintain a calm, welcoming, empathetic and professional demeanor with vulnerable and/or marginalized individuals, which may include mental health, and substance use disorder.

• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Organizational and administrative skills.
• Ability to work effectively with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Knowledge of shelter operations.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Experience with budgeting and financial management.
• Computer proficiency.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle difficult situations and de-escalate conflict.
• Physical ability to safely lift 23kg (50 lbs.) regularly.
• Valid BC Driver’s License and clear driving record required. Ability to drive cargo

van/s. EDUCATION

• Management experience preferred.
• Post-secondary education, degree or diploma in a relevant field or a combination of

education and management experience.
• Experience in a non-profit environment, e.g. shelter, group home, recovery house
• Experience in a unionized environment strongly preferred.
• Non-violent crisis intervention
• Basic First Aid Certification.
• Naloxone training

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY Supervisory/Management responsibility Shelter Case Planner/s, Shift Supervisors, Shelter Resource Workers, and Janitorial Staff Financial responsibility Responsible for the overall management of the budget in assigned areas of responsibility. Latitude The Shelter Manager works independently. If clarification is required, it is expected that the Manager will request further directions from the Director of Community Connection & Safety, Director of Community Services, and/or Executive Director. INTERNAL/EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Regular communication is maintained with all levels of staff and management, as work is assigned and completed, and information exchanged on an ongoing basis.

JOB CLASSIFICATION & WAGES: □ Exempt X Management □ Bargaining Unit *** We are committed to becoming a more just, equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace, which extends to how we hire. We are continually learning new and unlearning old practices while examining systemic causes of inequity, including colonialism. We aim to be representative of the communities we serve. We welcome everyone to apply, and we strongly encourage applications from members of communities that have been marginalized based on Indigeneity, race, colour, religion, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. In order to achieve a representative team, preference may be given to people who are members of one or more of these groups. ***