Program Assistant I

Position Status: Full-Time Temporary (This position to last not later than April 30, 2026)
Department: Regional Parks
Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: PG T17 $2,317.83 - $2,724.55 bi-weekly

Our Regional Parks Department is seeking a Program Assistant I who will provide administrative support to the various teams within the department and be part of a dynamic administrative support team.

You are self-motivated and thrive in a fast-paced environment with the ability to manage competing tasks and priorities. You are a quick learner, adaptable, highly organized and detail oriented. You have a strong technical skill set and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

This role:

• Assists in coordinating and facilitating the Division's activities related to legislative mandates and services; tracks the processing of permits, approvals, and orders; advises staff of pending deadlines and information requirements, keeps senior staff informed of status of various activities; coordinates efforts to resolve issues of nonpayment of fees or appeals/reviews of fee assessments; and maintains and prepares timesheets for department staff.
• Handles bookings; responds to requests concerning public meetings, parks recreational usage, facilities and services; assesses individual requirements and actively promotes, recommends and books suitable locations, catering and services; informs of regulations, restrictions and applicable charges; determines eligibility for fee waiver; ensures insurance and permit requirements are met; establishes conditions and terms of contract; liaises with parks operational personnel regarding available facilities, events coordination and customer service; coordinates receipt of support services as required; and responds to customer complaints.
• Posts, compiles, checks, processes, maintains, and controls a variety of records, files, and statistics related to departmental operations; reconciles and balances complex activity control information requiring procedural determinations; performs non complex calculations as required; generates lists, invoices, and other information from databases and spreadsheets, identifies unutilized project resources and brings to the attention of a superior; monitors charges assessed for activities; and issues payments, purchase orders and requisitions as required.
• May supervise the work of one or more subordinates engaged in clerical and office support tasks and request temporary clerical assistance as required.
• Develops, and upon approval, implements new and/or improved office methods and procedures to increase efficiency and accommodate department requirements and work schedules; prepares and maintains documentation on current and new procedures.
• Composes non routine correspondence, as required; types, edits and formats a variety of material including reports, correspondence, agendas, notices, permits and other documents.
• Provides information and assistance to staff and the public on a variety of matters pertaining to departmental operations, procedures, and services; handles inquiries requiring explanation of rules, regulations and procedures applicable to the work of the division where a variety of data is required to answer or resolve complaints or related matters; circulates documents and applications to required agencies and follows up on status of same.
• Assists in planning and arranging logistics related to committees, information meetings, seminars, events and workshops; gathers, organizes, posts and distributes materials; attends meetings, takes minutes or carries out action items and assignments from meetings as required; obtains information from external sources on assigned projects; researches file documentation; and follows up on phone and written information inquiries.
• Monitors divisional administrative budget expenditures and checks that expenditures have been allocated to appropriate accounts; investigates variances between budgeted and actual expenditures and takes corrective action or notifies superior of potential cost over runs.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Completion of Grade 12, supplemented by business, administrative and computer courses, preferably completion of a certificate program in office or business administration, plus considerable related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Considerable knowledge of the functions, regulations, and procedures governing divisional activities as related to the work performed.
• Considerable knowledge of office practices and procedures and of business English, spelling, punctuation and arithmetic and technical terminology applicable to the work performed.
• Considerable knowledge of computer applications as related to the work performed.
• Sound knowledge of the organization and functions of the department and related Metro Vancouver Regional District departments.
• Ability to assist in the coordination of divisional activities and to assess and act upon information requirements.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and to develop and implement upon approval new and/or revised work methods and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of contacts, provide information and assistance and function effectively while dealing with contentious matters.
• Ability to arrange meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes, and follow up on actions from meetings.
• Ability to plan, assign, supervise and check the work of a small group of subordinates engaged in clerical and office support tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to compile, maintain, and control a variety of records, reports, and files, to compose non routine correspondence, and type a variety of material.
• Ability to operate office equipment and computer applications and to develop and maintain databases, spreadsheets and other computer office support tools.
• Driver’s Licence for the Province of British Columbia.