FTIR Spectrometer Technician and Education Coordinator

Lift Community Services is working with all levels of government to eliminate poverty in the qathet Regional District. We are seeking an individual who is passionate about supporting from a harm-reduction approach while serving program participants. Our vision is a welcoming, inclusive, and diversity-affirming community that is free of poverty and full of heart. At Lift, we believe a thriving, sustainable community comes from a collaborative, equitable, future-focused approach. 

Our programs and services include employment services, supportive housing and homeless outreach, temporary shelter services, literacy programs and outreach, immigrant services, adult and family on-demand support. We also provide community leadership and development in overdose response planning, poverty reduction planning, and other projects that develop a more connected and resilient community. Lift operates many resource centres in our community, including the local WorkBC Centre, the Community Resource Centre, the Family Place, and the Dr. Elsie Paul Literacy Centre.

Lift Community Services is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. 

The Position

The Spectrometer Technician is responsible for performing point-of-care drug checking in designated areas within qathet Region using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and immunoassay strips. The technician communicates back the results of point-of-care drug checks to service users in a meaningful and respectful way and positively interacts with service users and site staff and shares harm reduction information as needed. The technician meticulously tracks data in an electronic data capture system and facilitates the proper storage and transportation of samples to laboratories for additional analysis.

The Spectrometer Technician is also responsible for planning and implementing day-to-day operations for the drug checking program in collaboration with stakeholders, including Tla’amin Nation, Vancouver Coastal Health, the BC Centre on Substance Use among others. This role works in collaboration with the wider team at the Overdose Prevention Site, Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic and Lift Community Services including people with lived and living experience with substance use.

Overview 

• Hours:  35 hours per week


• Possible days:  Monday-Friday


• Shifts:  9am-5pm


• Hourly Wage: $27.15 per hour


• Job Type: full-time temporary (for 6-months, with possibility of extension)


• Start Date: ASAP


• Closing Date: August 26, 2025


• Questions? Contact Cynthia Leighton at  [email protected]  

Key Accountabilities 

• Operate point-of-care drug checking technologies including fentanyl test strips and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers


• Communicate drug checking analysis results to clients at point-of-care and answer any questions related to drug checking methods and outcomes


• Facilitate the proper onsite storage and transportation of samples for laboratory testing


• Support clients by highlighting relevant harm reduction information and liaising with site staff


• Follow proper evaluation, data collection, and device storage/transportation protocols


• Assists in the education and training of drug checking technicians and harm reduction service providers


• Coordinates day-to-day operations and schedules sites for use and any transportation of the FTIR

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and awareness of harm reduction issues and practices.


• Demonstrated ability to remain neutral, non-judgmental and professional when interacting with and supporting marginalized client populations.


• Demonstrated understanding of the confidentiality and sensitivity of the role.


• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment and the ability to learn new technologies.


• Computer literacy including experience in Microsoft Office suite and database applications.


• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.


• Excellent ability to work and learn independently with minimal supervision and collaborate in a larger team.


• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.


• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and stakeholders, including strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy.


• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems.

We appreciate all applications, however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

As an inclusive employer, we would like to make the recruitment process as accessible as possible. Please contact us to let us know how we can best support you.

We live and work on the homelands and territories of the Tla’amin People. We honour the land, the Tla’amin People, and their treaty and continually seek to strengthen our relationship and responsibilities to them as guests in the territory.