Pursuant to Section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Sanya'k ?ula (Indigenous Recruitment and Employee Experience) for support, advice, and guidance on the PHSA hiring process.

 

Salary Range: $108,147-$155,461/year. 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. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic directions 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 at BCCDC, the Lead, Indigenous Research and Data Governance is responsible for the design, implementation, research, and evaluation process at the BC Centre for Disease Control to make First Nations and Indigenous Peoples visible in data, upholding their rights to self-determination and informed decision-making in alignment with UNDRIP Article 24—the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

The Lead works within a complex healthcare, political, and academic environment, providing leadership in ethical data governance, population health surveillance, and intersectoral collaboration to inform policy, decision-making, and public health practices at local, regional, and provincial levels. This role develops and implements partnership approaches with Indigenous governing bodies and First Nations communities, prioritizing self-determined outcomes through reciprocal relationships that respect unique governance structures and community priorities.

The Lead also establishes and encourages the BC Centre for Disease Control to uphold ethical data stewardship practices that center strengths-based approaches, prevent harm in public health data use, and advance culturally safe methodologies in research and surveillance. Additionally, the Lead will support the development and delivery of training and resources for public health staff to build capacity in ethical data collection, analysis, and sharing. The Lead plays a key role in fostering strong internal working relationships, particularly with the Epidemiology Intelligence Services (EIS) Unit, Executive Director, Applied Research & Methods, and externally with First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO), and Métis Nation BC (MNBC) to strengthen Indigenous research partnerships and applied research initiatives.

Through this work, the Lead is accountable for applying Indigenous research and data governance principles to BCCDC’s public health initiatives, strengthening organizational capacity to advance equitable and anti-racist health practices. The Lead will liaise & collaborate with provincial and national organizations that are involved in collecting data that is utilized by the BC Centre for Disease Control (e.g. StatsCan, CIHI, etc.), aiming to increase the cultural safety & relevance of data used for public health decision making.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Provides leadership and manages the development, implementation, and evaluation of projects, programs, and services in support of strategic BCCDC Indigenous Health data priorities and Ministry mandates.
• Develops strategic direction of the program area in alignment with the Unit and BCCDC strategic plans and broader PHSA and Ministry priorities.
• Maintains responsibility for ensuring that programs, services, and related projects are completed in adherence to project protocols/ charters/ agreements, timelines, applicable institutional and ethical policies and procedures, and applicable legislation.
• Build relationships with external (FNHA, MNBC, OPHO) and internal (EIS Unit & Executive Director Applied Research and Methods) partners and facilitates collaboration in support of BCCDC’s provincial mandate and program priorities.
• Manages the identification, collection, synthesis, and analysis of relevant information/ evidence to inform policy/practice within BCCDC. Engages in research when appropriate.
• Supports team members on their learning journey related to Indigenous-specific Anti-racism, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility, DEI and anti-racism.
• Develop proposals, budgets, and work plans for proposed programs, services, and related projects, ensuring that resources will meet program/project objectives and high-quality deliverables; prepares mid-term and final reports.  In collaboration with the other team members and the Executive Director, Indigenous Health, ensures adherence to the budget by performing duties such as monitoring expenditures, variance reporting and recommending remedial action and taking corrective action to ensure performance to plan.
• Leads project teams, related working groups, and advisory committees to achieve targeted goals/objectives of programs, services, and related projects.
• Represents BCCDC on external committees and with external bodies, including community-based organizations, Regional Health Authorities, First Nations Health Authority, Métis Nation BC, the Ministry of Health, Office of the Provincial Health Officer and other ministries.
• Ensures integration of the legislative obligations and provincial commitments to reconciliation and the elimination of Indigenous-specific racism.
  
  

Qualifications:

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree in public health or a related field with a minimum of (7) years recent and related experience in program management or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training, including two (2) years at a leadership level.
• Commitment to developing knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents, including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA, 2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, and an understanding of how these commitments intersect across the health care system. Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) communities and organizations.
• Experience or working knowledge of conducting evaluations and synthesizing and mobilizing knowledge and evidence.
• Strong understanding of public health systems, data and research, policy and legislation, health promotion, knowledge translation and change management.
• Systems thinker with experience setting and implementing the strategic direction for a program area. Proven excellent oral and written communication skills with a broad range of partners, with an ability to function at a high level in a complex and changing interdisciplinary public health environment.
• Sound judgment, tact and diplomacy include strong negotiation, conflict resolution and consensus building skills. Demonstrated ability to develop and manage a budget.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and guide staff and facilitate team building and develop healthy workplace.  
• Strong computer skills, including ability to develop and use spreadsheets, word processing, data management/ analysis, presentation, and project management applications.