Volunteer Project Manager - Mind the Gap - Youth-Led Transition Service

Our Client Organization
Mental Health Recovery Partners – South Island (MHRP) is a recovery-oriented, charitable non-profit based in Victoria, BC. MHRP has served the mental health and substance use sector for close to 40 years. We offer free peer support, family counselling, education, and support groups for people living with mental health or substance use challenges, regardless of diagnosis, and for the family and friends who support them.

Organization Mission
To provide hope and authentic support to all who are impacted by their own or someone else’s mental illness, mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Values
A society where timely and accessible support is available for all, and mental health and substance use challenges are transformed into strengthened resilience and growth.

Project Summary
Mind the Gap responds to a well-known gap in care: young people living with mental health challenges often lose support when they age out of youth services and move into the adult system. Phase 2 puts youth in the lead. Guided by young people with lived experience of this transition, the project will design, pilot, and deliver new services that help youth move into adult care with continuity and confidence. The six-month project is organized into the stages below.

Project Stage	Timeline
Initiation and charter	Month 1
Youth engagement and discovery	Months 1–2
Youth-led service co-design	Months 2–3
Pilot planning and preparation	Month 3
Pilot delivery	Months 4–5
Evaluation and refinement	Months 5–6
Handover and closeout	Month 6

Required Qualifications
Greater Victoria / South Island applicants are preferred; the role combines in-person and remote work
Demonstrated experience in project management, including service or program design and pilot delivery
Experience coaching or mentoring other project managers, and comfort supporting someone else to lead
Experience with youth engagement, co-design, or participatory approaches is an asset
Background in mental health, health care, or community social services (professional or volunteer) is preferred
Strong facilitation, organizational, and communication skills, with a trauma-informed, non-judgemental approach
Strong organizational, planning, and risk management skills
Passion for youth mental health, recovery, and reducing stigma
Willingness to complete a criminal record check, as the role involves working with youth

Scope of Work
The Volunteer Project Manager will co-project manage Phase 2 of Mind the Gap, from initiation to close, with the staff Team Lead. The Team Lead leads the project; the Volunteer Project Manager supports, coaches, and mentors them through the entire exercise, bringing project management structure, tools, and guidance while building the Team Lead’s confidence and capability. Together they will plan and run youth-led co-design sessions, turn what is learned into practical service models, coordinate the pilot, and evaluate results so MHRP can decide what to sustain. By the end of the engagement, the Team Lead will be equipped to carry this work forward independently.

Deliverables
Project Charter and Youth Engagement Plan
Co-design Summary capturing youth input and identified service gaps
Service Design for the new transition supports, including roles, referral pathways, and resource needs
Pilot Plan and Schedule, and delivery of the pilot
Pilot Evaluation Report with recommendations for sustainability and scale-up
Handover Package for the Team Lead (templates, lessons learned, next steps)

Accountability
The PM volunteer will share accountability for project deliverables with the Mind the Gap Team Lead, with both reporting to the MHRP Client Sponsor.

Additional Information
We may proceed with interviewing and engaging applicants before the application deadline.
This is a mentoring and co-leadership role. The Volunteer Project Manager will work side by side with the Mind the Gap Team Lead, who leads the project, and will draw on their knowledge of the organization and the community it serves.

Project Management Volunteers (PMV) Sponsored Project
This is a PMV sponsored project. The Project Manager will enter into a 3-way partnership between the Client organization, the Project Manager, and PMV. This will include additional responsibilities and benefits for the Project Manager.

Project Manager applicants, please review the PMV Project Services Agreement
.
Benefits	Responsibilities
Project mgmt. support from PMV representative	Review the Project Services Agreement
Access to PMV’s project templates inventory	Completing Project Charter
Invitation to networking opportunities	Completing Project Status updates