Director, Indigenous Health

Director, Indigenous Health

BC Emergency Health Services

BC (Hybrid)

Regular, Full Time, Permanent, Non-Contract

Pursuant to section 42 (3) of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry.

Please self-identify in your cover letter / resume.

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is hiring a Director, Indigenous Health.

Role Summary

In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA.

As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Indigenous Health the Director, Indigenous Health, is responsible and accountable for providing leadership, guidance, management and oversight of BCEHS programs and services including execution of provincial strategic initiatives in alignment with and in support of the BCEHS Strategic Plan.

In this key leadership role, the Director supports a team of Managers and Supervisors who provide direct front line leadership, guidance and support to BCEHS employees and other partner agencies as required.

In collaboration with other BCEHS leaders, the Director provides strategic leadership to ensure effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of quality health services in a 24x7 environment as part of the health system in British Columbia.

Specific Portfolio’s

Patient Services Delivery : As a key member of the Patient Services Delivery team, this position is responsible for supporting the frontline operations of BCEHS including Patient Services Delivery, Dispatch Operations, Community & Indigenous Programs and First Responder Programs.

This position is responsible and accountable for the operational deliverables and action plans.

Disaster Risk Reduction : This position is responsible for leading and overseeing the development and maintenance of emergency preparedness, response and recovery plans and procedures by which the BCEHS will mitigate and manage the health-related consequences of emergencies or disaster.

BCEHS and PHSA uphold the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the work of Governments in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility; PHSA is committed to creating opportunities which implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.

What you’ll do

Ensure BCEHS operations are carried out in a manner that complies with WSBC, BCEHS and PHSA Health & Safety standards.

Engage and collaborate with the Safety Advisor and Workplace Health to ensure compliance with regulations, timely investigation of issues and proactively resolve safety related concerns.

• Promote and lead an organizational culture that is patient focused, supportive and respectful of all individuals embracing BCEHS guiding principles and values ensuring that all interactions are performed with professionalism, courtesy, dignity and respect.
• Develop a positive work environment for all individuals that empowers and encourages employees to realize their maximum potential, creates commitment and ownership, develops personal growth, a just culture’ and a culture of continuous learning through engagement and building healthy relationships.
• Provide effective human resource management through leadership, guidance, support, mentorship and developing a high performance team of Managers who work to high standards and performance objectives.
• Direct responsibility and accountability for a BCEHS program or geographical area team of frontline managers including indirect accountability and responsibility for a team of bargaining unit supervisors and / or employees in the provision of quality patient care delivery and out of hospital health services.
• Participate in the development and lead the execution of approved BCEHS strategic short and long term operational initiatives and projects including assisting the Senior Provincial Executive Director in budget preparation and management for the delivery of BCEHS programs and services, monitor performance, report and be accountable for achieving the objectives set out in those plans within the resources assigned.
• Provide Spending Authority in accordance with approved matrices for operating expenditures within the program area making sound judgments with awareness of fiscal responsibility and priorities seeking appropriate approval for decisions where and when required.
• Monitor system performance and take appropriate action to mitigate and prevent impacts to patient care delivery. Participate in the development and oversee system continuous quality improvement related to system performance to obtain optimization of resources, improved efficiency and quality patient-focused care.
• Engage, develop and maintain effective communications with internal and external partners, elected officials and representatives of regulatory agencies or bodies, health authorities, emergency services and other agencies to ensure effective and appropriate business development and delivery of quality services.
• In cooperation with internal and external stakeholders, oversee, manage and resolve issues to ensure high quality delivery of service and escalate issues as appropriate according to defined procedures.
• Appropriately manage employee relations issues, including disciplinary action and dismissals. In consultation with the Senior Executive Director, Labor Relations and Human Resources staff, provide support for grievance mediation, recruitment and selection planning as well as performance management.
• Oversee, support and monitor investigations into patient, client and employee concerns.
• Assist the Senior Executive Director in the development, testing and annual review of business contingency and continuity plans for the program area.
• Oversee the operations of Emergency Operations Centers and provide appropriate notification, support and leadership to significant and major events in collaboration with BCEHS Emergency Management, resolve issues and problems within scope of authority and be a key resource in emergency management planning for the program area when required.
• Monitor and provide proactive alerts regarding potential media related issues. Collaborate with BCEHS communications personnel and senior leadership on information notes, briefing notes and communication bulletins.

Represent BCEHS and speak on matters, issues and concerns as and when required.

Represent the Senior Executive Director as required.

What you bring

Qualifications

A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to seven (7) ten (10) years of recent experience in program management, facilitating and engagement consultation processes with a wide range of partner groups, planning, or program development in healthcare or social services preferably with focus in Indigenous health including ICS, colonization and anti-Indigenous racism.

This experience should include working directly with or alongside Indigenous communities and / or Indigenous health organizations.

Skills & Knowledge

• Directors exhibit influential leadership abilities, professionalism, integrity, confidence and immense self control with an ability to respond to and / or manage significant organizational or emergency incidents as required, may work in other locations or may be assigned other work or projects requiring attendance outside of normal business hours.
• This leadership role requires an individual with exceptional written and oral communication skills and functional knowledge of regulatory requirements relative to Health, BCEHS and EMS systems.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to take responsibility and ownership for their performance and has skills to integrate organizational goals and values to make valid evidence based decisions.
• They have demonstrated their ability : to communicate with the physician community; to engage and develop positive working relationships with internal stakeholders and external senior level healthcare partners, regulatory bodies, emergency service provider officials, the private sector and public interest agencies to improve services.
• Influence others to work together to achieve common goals in the delivery of high quality health services, to create a healthy organization where communication and engagement, professionalism and continuous learning are valued
• Set directions by identifying, establishing and communicating clear and meaningful expectations and outcomes and they measure and evaluate outcomes while holding themselves and others accountable for results.
• Travel will be required as needed.
• This position requires a valid driver’s license and annual fit test in accordance with the respiratory protection program.

Portfolio Specific Qualifications :

Disaster Risk Reduction :

• Relevant Post-Secondary Education, including certificate or diploma in Emergency Management.
• Significant experience in Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness.

Indigenous Cultural Safety and Diversity

• Knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies, including knowledge, and understanding of Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility, Indigenous-specific racism and anti-racism.
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Site Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls calls for justice, and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Supports team members on their learning journey, ensuring education strategy for team / department to implement Indigenous Cultural Safety at a practical level.
• Works collaboratively with appropriate Indigenous teams / departments to ensure ICS lens applied holistically.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.)

While BCEHS would consider a foundation in Indigenous cultural safety to be a strong asset for consideration, our commitment to enhancing Indigenous cultural safety includes providing all employees with access to resources and training programs in partnership with San'yas Core Health Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and Anti-Indigenous Racism Response Training.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Character : Models personal and organizational values, and communicates in an honest and transparent manner.
• Assesses & Evaluates : Measures and evaluates outcomes. Holds self and others accountable for results, and course corrects as appropriate.
• Communicates Effectively : Adjusts style based on audiences and situations, using respectful and open communication.
• Demonstrates Critical Thinking : Using a process-focused approach, identifies root causes rather than focusing on the symptoms.
• Self-Awareness : Understands the impact your attributes and emotions have on performance of self, others, and organization
• Builds Teams : Fosters environment of cooperation, support and knowledge sharing

What we do

BCEHS) provides provincial emergency medical care and patient transfer services, as a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority ().

BCEHS brings compassionate, equitable, and professional emergency care, interfacility transfers, and community health-care services to people in communities across British Columbia.

BCEHS is committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation.

True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination.

Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future.

That’s why we’re focused on your care too offering health, wellness and development programs to support you at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Salary Range : $116,591- $167,600

Typical Hiring Range : $116,591 - $145,739

The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan.

Location : BC (Hybrid)

Closing date : June 21, 2024 10 : 00am PST

Requisition # 166561

Contact :

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.