The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay

has a rewarding opportunity for a

Drug Strategy Specialist

Work Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario

Thunder Bay is the largest community on Lake Superior. With a census metropolitan area population of 123,258 (Census 2021), it is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario. Deeply rooted with European and Indigenous cultures, Thunder Bay is the sixth most culturally diverse community of its size in North America. The community values a high quality of life and promotes a clean, green, beautiful and healthy community that provides economic opportunity, respects diversity and provides affordable and safe neighborhoods that are accessible to all.

Thunder Bay is a vibrant community and is the region's commercial, administrative, and medical hub. From trees to transportation to the new frontier for research, health and life sciences, the community stands for hard work and innovation. The City by the Bay is home to 38 elementary schools, three middle schools, eight secondary schools, two private schools, an adult education facility, a post-secondary college and a university institution that provides a medical school and a law school.

As a four-season outdoor paradise Thunder Bay is the sunniest city in eastern Canada with an average of 2121 hours of bright sunshine each year. It is also one of the most dynamic "Cultural Capitals of Canada". Residents and visitors of Thunder Bay enjoy the harmony of a city rich in wide-open green spaces, parks and wilderness - and a major centre for visual and performing arts, and culture.

If you truly enjoy the advantages of work life balance that a smaller city provides in a large organizational setting, then come join us!

If you already live here, we can’t wait for you to join our team!

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager – Community Safety & Well-Being, as the Drug Strategy Specialist you will represent the City of Thunder Bay in advancing the community partnership to implement the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy approved by City Council.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a busy municipality where you will work in partnership with prevention, justice, treatment, harm reduction and housing sector agencies/groups and consult with a community-based implementation panel.

Some of the accountabilities for this role are:

• Establish and maintain working relationships with diverse local community groups, agencies and boards, other orders of government and individuals to meet the objectives of the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy; and coordinate resources to develop innovative programs, policies, and services to improve health and well-being in the City.
• Coordinate public consultation processes for new facilities, programs, and initiatives to support substance use health in Thunder Bay.
• Develop public education and outreach programs to build awareness of initiatives and to disseminate information regarding evidence-based practices in addressing alcohol and other drugs.
• Researches and monitors new and emerging evidence-based practices and current social, economic, and political issues affecting the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy. Recommends appropriate actions to integrate those findings in the development and planning of programs and policies including preparation of Corporate Reports to City Council.
• Act as a liaison and a central focus for substance use issues in the City.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have:

• Degree in social sciences or other related discipline
• Minimum five years of related experience, including community development experience
• Knowledge and understanding of root causes of addiction
• Knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health
• Extensive experience with persons with lived and living experience and working with municipal police, public health organizations and community agencies focusing on substance use health issues
• Knowledge of, and experience in applying for federal and provincial government and non-government funding sources

For a full detailed job description, click here

Why Work for the City of Thunder Bay (CTB)?

When you work for the City of Thunder Bay, you are part of our team, and here you can:

• Experience your importance   
• Unleash your potential
• Know your work matters
• Embrace diversity
• Make a difference
• Join a dedicated team
• Build community

Learn more about the top reasons to work at the CTB:  https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/jobs.aspx

Great Tangible Benefits

As an employee with the Corporation you will be in receipt of the following amazing benefits:

• Great competitive salary and fantastic matching pension plan
• Great paid vacation and holidays
• Strong health benefits coverage – employer paid health, vision, & dental benefits
• Excellent life insurance & accidental death & dismemberment insurance (2 times your annual salary)
• Fantastic employee family assistance program (EFAP)
• Great employee wellness program
• Supportive career progression opportunities
• Great corporate training & leadership development
• Great tuition reimbursement program (continuous learning)
• Voluntary leave purchase plan (optional - purchase 5 additional leave days)

Beautiful Thunder Bay

Learn why Thunder Bay is such great place to live and work:  https://gotothunderbay.ca/why-thunder-bay/

General Information:

As an equal opportunity employer, the City of Thunder Bay encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority groups, women and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS CODE:  It is a contravention of the Human Rights Code of Ontario to discriminate on the basis of: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, age, record of offences, gender identity or gender expression.  Therefore, a resume submitted to the City must not include references to any of the above characteristics.  Do not include: 

• Photos
• Any certificates that have photo identification
• Driver’s licences
• Police records checks

Note: The above documentation will be requested by the Human Resources & Division should you be the successful applicant.  If a Criminal Record Check is required, it will be requested by Human Resources should you be the successful applicant.  Please do not submit your Criminal Record Check with your application.

ACCOMMODATION:  Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for all parts of the recruitment process.

PRIVACY: Personal information on this form is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, c. 302, as amended, and will be used to determine eligibility for employment. Questions about this collection of personal information should be directed to the Human Resources & Corporate Safety Division, 125 Syndicate Ave Suite 42, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7E 6H8, Telephone: 625-3866

The City of Thunder Bay is a place where art, culture and nature come together!

Watch this video to learn more about our City: