$22.00/hour to start, $24.00 after three months — with a fully paid break. You're paid for 8 hours on an 8-hour shift, not 7.5.
That's the equivalent of $23.47/hour to start and $25.60/hour after three months, compared to a standard 7.5-hour paid shift — plus $0.72/km for all driving on shift.
About us
Community Apothecary is an independent, closed-door pharmacy — no retail counter, no walk-in traffic. We provide harm reduction–oriented care to people living in supported housing in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Our team works alongside nurses, pharmacists, social workers, family physicians, psychiatrists, mental health workers, and community mental health teams.
About the role
You'll start your shift at our Burnaby pharmacy, deliver medications to ten supported-housing buildings operated by PHS Community Services Society in the Downtown Eastside and Olympic Village, and return to the pharmacy for pharmacy assistant work in the dispensary. Depending on the day, you may also cover witnessing shifts at the buildings.
This is real community work. You'll see the same clients week after week, and that continuity is often what keeps people engaged in care at all. It can be demanding, and it can be genuinely rewarding. The schedule is predictable — same days, same hours, no rotating shifts, no nights.
Schedule
Sunday and Monday, 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. Additional shifts at 8:30 am to 4:30 pm are often available if you want them.
What you'll do
- Medication delivery. Transport and deliver prescriptions from the pharmacy to ten supported-housing buildings in the Downtown Eastside and Olympic Village.
- Medication witnessing. Witness medication administration at the buildings, including opioid agonist treatment and prescribed alternatives, under delegation from a pharmacist and in accordance with CPBC standards.
- Pharmacy assistant work. Prepare and organize prescriptions, reconcile physical stock against records, receive inventory.
- Client engagement. Compassionate, respectful interaction that supports adherence and builds trust over time.
- Overdose recognition and response. Recognize signs of overdose or medical emergency, administer naloxone, and call for additional help.
- Documentation and team communication. Accurate, confidential records; clear communication with the pharmacy team and other providers.
What you need
- Valid Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) licence with the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board of BC
- Current first aid certification
- Valid BC Class 5 driver's licence with a clean driving abstract
- Reliable vehicle with a lockable trunk or compartment for secure medication transport, and ICBC coverage that permits business use
- Criminal record check under the Criminal Records Review Act (required for work with vulnerable adults)
- Experience or interest in mental health and substance use work — an asset
- Comfort working within a harm reduction framework
- Good communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
We provide OAT-specific training, which is refreshed every three years.
What we offer
- $22.00/hour to start, $24.00/hour after successful completion of three months
- Fully paid break — 8 hours paid on an 8-hour shift
- $0.72/km mileage reimbursement for all driving on shift
- 6% vacation pay
- 5 paid sick days per year
- Naloxone and PPE provided
- A small, closed-door team without retail pressure
Location: Burnaby (402–3701 Hastings Street) and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Pay: From $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Paid time off
Application question(s):
- Do you have a reliable, working vehicle?
Licence/Certification:
- BC Driver's License (required)
- EMR License (required)
Work Location: In person
