Note: Only candidates in Canada will be considered. Within Canada, we are remote-first, with a preference for candidates in Montreal or Toronto.

The problem we’re solving

Canada has welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees and newcomers fleeing conflict in recent years. Now, many are struggling to become independent. Canada needs a new system to help refugees reach independence in our country, quickly and at scale. It’s good for refugees, good for Canadians, and good for Canada. 

Haven focuses on what helps refugees become independent: language and community integration.

Language: Canada’s language system for refugees is breaking down. Federal funding cuts have led to what Languages Canada calls “the sharpest decline in the sector’s history.” Without sufficient English or French, refugees can’t become independent. 

Integration: Public sentiment toward refugees is getting worse. 60% of Canadians say newcomers don’t adopt Canadian values, and 43% believe most refugee claims are illegitimate (Environics). “Refugees should integrate” is easy to say but hard to do. Ever tried rebuilding your social and professional life, from zero, in a new country? Canada needs a scalable way to help refugees integrate.

That’s the problem we’re trying to solve. If that fires you up, keep reading.

What Haven is doing about it

Haven connects refugees in Canada who need help with Canadians who can help. We make this work scalable through our platform: app.findhaven.org. Our vision has three parts, all working toward refugee independence:

• Language: Haven becomes the best way for refugees to learn English (and soon, French). 
• Integration: Haven becomes the best way for refugees to meet Canadians, rebuilding their social and professional network.
• For Canadians: Haven becomes the best way to help refugees in our country.

Launched in 2023, Haven now has over 15,000 users. We’ve proven product–market fit, particularly in language learning: refugees learn English through instruction (online classes with ESL teachers) and immersion (conversation practice with Canadians). Haven makes all this scalable by matching refugees with teachers and volunteers on our platform. 

What comes next

We’ve built something that works. Now it’s time to scale. Our goal is to reach every refugee in Canada who needs help, and we’re expanding our product team to make that possible.

This will be one of the most unique challenges of your career. Haven’s platform must serve tens of thousands of refugees from diverse communities, from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan, while engaging Canadians across the country through a seamless, inspiring experience. We need to build a product that makes Canada stronger and helps families that have lost everything. 

The role and what you’ll be doing

We’re hiring a Senior Frontend Engineer to help deliver on Haven’s product vision. You’ll take the foundation we’ve built and make it even better. Check out our platform at app.findhaven.org. 

Our current tech stack is: 

• Next.js
• Prisma, Mongo
• tRPC
• Tailwind
• Testing: Playwright, Jest

Your responsibilities: 

• Build and maintain our React web app. 
• Work closely with our Senior Backend Engineer, Executive Director, and growing product team to design and deliver features that improve Haven’s platform.
• Own the frontend architecture, making decisions about frameworks, libraries, and best practices.
• Diagnose and fix bugs. Write automated tests for your code.
• Participate in backend and frontend code reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to improve code quality. 
• Contribute across the stack when needed and collaborate cross-functionally to improve the whole product.

What we are looking for

5+ years of experience building and maintaining modern front-end applications in production environments.

Deep understanding of JavaScript and significant experience with frameworks such as React (preferred), Vue, or Angular.

Strong HTML and CSS skills, with bonus points for experience in animations and Tailwind.

Experience with testing frameworks like Playwright or Jest.

Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, Git/GitHub workflows, and monitoring tools such as Datadog or Sentry.

Strong UX instincts and an eye for design. You care about usability, accessibility, and performance, and use feedback and analytics to make the experience smoother and faster.

Ability to work independently and take ownership from concept to deployment in a small, fast-moving team.

Excellent communicator and problem solver in a team; small ego, big work ethic.

Experience using AI tools for development or integrating AI-powered features into products.

You care about our vision: helping refugees in Canada become independent faster and building a stronger Canada.

Bonus points for: experience in design or data visualization, measuring and optimizing UI performance, using analytics tools such as GA4 or PostHog, or an interest in DevOps.

What we offer

Competitive compensation in line with experience. As a tech-for-good organization, we’re looking for people who value a balance between meaningful work and compensation. 

Remote work flexibility (Canada-wide, with preference for Montreal or Toronto).

Mission-driven, high-autonomy role at one of the fastest-growing tech-for-good orgs in Canada

An ambitious and fun working culture that combines a private sector, “get things done” mentality with a humanitarian mission.

Haven Time: Dedicated time every week to meet with and help refugees. 

Flexible, generous vacation time. 

How to apply

Please email [email protected] with:

1. Your resume. No need for a cover letter. 
2. In your email, please explain how your experience fits each aspect of what we've outlined in the “What we are looking for” section - make it easy for us to see the fit.
3. Please include any relevant attachments such as your portfolio or GitHub links. 

Applications submitted through LinkedIn will not be considered. We’re reviewing applications sent by email as they come in.