Fire Safety Coordinator

Final date to receive applications: 16 May 2025
Posting Date: 30 April 2025

Job Title: Fire Safety Coordinator
Job Type: Full Time (40 hours/week), permanent salaried position
State Date: As soon as possible
Working

Location:

Chinatown, Vancouver
Reports to: Program Manager

• $32.76 – $39.21 per hour, as per SRO-C wage grid
• Annual raises in line with cost-of-living increases.
• 4 weeks paid vacation during first year of employment and 6 weeks paid vacation each subsequent year, plus generous sick leave policies.
• Full benefits package, including extended health and dental coverage.
• Top up for cell phone and internet costs
• Flexibility to work from home when possible.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.

The Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving habitability and affordability for the 4,000 low-income residents living in 100 privately-owned single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels in downtown Vancouver. We are a grass‑roots organization that experienced rapid growth during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and are continuing to actively grow.

The Fire Safety Program helps tenants in SRO’s take more control of their safety by providing fire prevention training, resources, and ongoing support. The program aims to expand to multiple buildings, where tenant volunteers, called “Firebolts,” conduct weekly safety checks, update building‑specific emergency plans, and lead annual fire drills. Through tenant workshops, one‑on‑one support, fire safety training, and partnerships with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS), the program strengthens safety and preparedness while tracking areas for improvement.

This tenant‑centered approach offers support that was previously unavailable, giving tenants the knowledge and tools to respond effectively to emergencies and ensuring they have a clear, actionable plan in place.

Community organizing is at the core of SRO‑C and the role of organizing is essential to engaging tenants and community. SRO‑C tenants are disproportionately impacted by poverty, colonialism, and discrimination. They are a diverse community facing various challenges such as substance use, physical and mental health concerns, behavioural issues, criminal records, and histories of trauma. The demanding and fulfilling tenant organizing work we undertake is supported by our dedicated staff.

We support the wellness of our staff by developing skills in trauma‑informed practice, de‑escalation, and conflict mediation to help address the complexities of our work and assist tenants in doing the same. We strive to foster a supportive work environment that promotes continuous learning, enabling staff to think innovatively and act courageously. We recognize that embracing our mistakes can be an opportunity for improvement which is vital in creating positive and meaningful change within our community.

A solid understanding of the issues impacting communities living in and around the DTES and Chinatown, as well as a commitment to learning and practicing intersectional, anti‑oppressive and anti‑racist approaches is critical to the work at SRO‑C. SRO‑C values staff who can work in this challenging environment, be extremely patient, and provide practical, emotional, and human resources support to their fellow staff and share in mutual support of the team.

Staff commit to learning and practicing nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, and coaching skills while effectively and compassionately setting and maintaining expectations and accountability with their team.

• A Coordinator at the Collaborative
  • Develops and implements program ideas and structures based on input from participants and organizers following a plan co‑created with a manager or director
  • Coordinates the day‑to‑day operations of one or two programs to meet goals including: logistics, scheduling, communications and on the ground problem solving
  • Implements budgets, policies and procedures in their area of responsibility to keep the program(s) running…