ABOUT THE ROLE:
The HIFIS Lead plays a pivotal role in ending homelessness in St. John’s by supporting the development and implementation of the web-based community-wide homeless client database system in St. John’s, which is being used by many partner agencies and administrated by EHSJ. The ideal candidate will enjoy the opportunities and challenges of supporting a purpose-built organization working to make St. John’s the next community in Canada to end homelessness.
Under the direction of the Manager of Knowledge Mobilization, the HIFIS Lead’s primary goal is to help build and maintain the foundation of data and information and strengthen the use of the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) 4.0 within the community. This will allow the EHSJ team and other homeless-serving agencies to more fully understand the factors that contribute to homelessness and inform strategies to end homelessness in our community.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The HIFIS Lead will maintain and develop the site and user processes; coordinate training and develop user skills; gather, analyze, and synthesize data including through custom reports – all to inform strategic planning and policy development and to monitor progress toward our goal of ending homelessness. The successful applicant will possess both technical abilities to lead system maintenance and development, and communication and teaching skills to develop capacity in users across the community. As an integral part of the EHSJ team, the HIFIS Lead will support the implementation of the St. John’s Community Plan to End Homelessness through the following responsibilities:
OVERALL
- Support implementation of the St. John’s Community Plan to End Homelessness (https://wecanendit.com/communityplan), particularly as it relates to Action Area #5: Be driven by data, in real time
- Develop a deep understanding of HIFIS 4.0 to strengthen the quality and completeness of the system, and enhance standardization and Community of Practice of the system, through supporting users and user organizations in the community in their own use of HIFIS, and maintaining, monitoring, developing, and customizing HIFIS site for community needs
- Develop a strong understanding of Coordinated Access, By-Name Data, Housing First, and other key concepts and systems related to ending homelessness, as well as the data and information requirements related to ending homelessness
TRAINING AND USER SUPPORT
- Be the lead point of contact for user and technical support; communicate with users and user organizations about training, implementation, technical issues, system customization requests, and other issues as arising
- Coordinate and meet with users and user organizations regularly to provide ongoing in-person training and support
- Coordinate the development and dispersal of print and digital materials to assist in HIFIS 4.0 training and implementation, including handbooks, one-pagers, checklists, videos, etc.
- Manage the user training and activation/deactivation process
- Support new organization and program onboarding, in collaboration with the Manager of Knowledge Mobilization
- Develop and deliver a new user training curriculum and process designed for a wide range of learners with varying levels of comfort with technology
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
- Lead backend configuration and development of the existing system
- Develop, build, test and implement new features as required
- Conduct regular audits and analysis of HIFIS data to assess quality and completion; respond to findings with data cleaning and maintenance as required; use audits to identify areas for improvement to inform training and policy development
- Liaise with server host and with federal departments and software designers regarding system updates and technical needs
- Liaise with user organizations; conduct regular informal needs assessments for system customization among users; ensure program updates are reflected in the site.
POLICY AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
- Support the St. John’s HIFIS Advisory Group in collaboration with the Manager of Knowledge Mobilization
- Inform and participate in the development of policies and procedures relating to system use, data entry, data storage, and various processes related to HIFIS
- Coordinate with appropriate partners in the design, writing, communication, and rollout of/adherence to policies and procedures
- Support the continued development and maintenance of a secure data environment and the policies surrounding it, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of personal client information
- reporting
- Develop custom reports, using Crystal Reports and other tools, to support HIFIS partnerships, standardization, adherence to policies, and analysis; leading the design, writing, implementation, and maintenance of library of reports
- Consult and understand reporting needs of EHSJ and community, in partnership with the Manager of Knowledge Mobilization, and respond to requests
- Leverage opportunities through Tableau to strengthen reporting and data visualization capabilities
- Support with Reaching Home reporting requirements for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC)
- Support with reporting for other sources, including funders, internal and community stakeholders
WIDER DATA ENVIRONMENT
- Support the development and maintenance of By-Name Data to determine the numbers and demographics of individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, and the monthly inflow to and outflow from homelessness at the community level
- Support the implementation of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC)’s Shelter Standards, especially as they pertain to HIFIS, including potential for future provincial expansion of HIFIS 4.0
- Other duties as required related to data, information, and knowledge mobilization
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with training, education, teaching, and/or change management
- Experience with software systems, web-based applications, and/or databases
- Prior experience with HIFIS or other Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) considered an asset
- Prior experience with Crystal Reports, SQL considered an asset
- Degree or diploma in information technology, computer science, software development, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience considered an asset
- Experience working with and maintaining the integrity of personal information, including data privacy and confidentiality considerations
- Excellent time management skills and ability to maintain and prioritize multiple tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines
- Strong organizational and planning skills
- Demonstrated attention to detail and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially presenting complex information in a way that can be understood and adopted by a broad range of learners and stakeholders
- Strong interpersonal skills, given requirements for interaction with a broad range of learners and stakeholders
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
- Working knowledge of Tableau or other business analytics and data visualization tools is considered an asset
- Experience with the nonprofit or community sector is considered an asset
HOW TO APPLY: This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and RRSP contributions. The starting salary is $55,000 per year, with compensation commensurate with experience. The HIFIS Lead is an in-person position based in St. John's, and the successful candidate must be available to work on-site.
Applicants should send a resume and cover letter outlining how they meet the specific requirements of the position to Human Resources at [email protected], using Reference ID: HL-07-2026. Deadline for applying is July 22, 2026, at 11:59 NT.
For more information about End Homelessness St. John’s, please visit our website at wecanendit.com.
End Homelessness St. John’s is an equal opportunity employer.
While we appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: From $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
Education:
Licence/Certification:
- Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check (required)
Work Location: In person
