Communications Officer, Research, BC Cancer

 

Communications, PHSA Corporate

Vancouver, BC

 

Communications work is important; who you do it for is even more important. This is an opportunity to be part of something that truly matters – shaping, creating and guiding communication that speaks to the needs of real people, in an industry that every British Columbian needs. Join us in making a difference for patients and care providers and reap the rewards that come from meaningful work done alongside great people.

 

We are recruiting for full-time temporary Communications Officer position to support one of PHSA’s highest profile clinical programs that brings with it the chance to dive deep into communications work that truly matters. This position would be primarily based at the BC Cancer administrative office in Vancouver on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-wathuth First Nations. We are grateful to be able to work on these lands supporting care for patients and their families throughout the province.

 

About you

 

You are a self-starter who takes initiative to creatively identify and act on communications opportunities, respond quickly to issues, and advise on effective messages and strategies that are inclusive and culturally safe. You have a special passion for communicating the life-changing potential of health research and translating complex advances into compelling, people-centred stories. You know how navigate a matrix environment, build relationships through collaboration and prioritize competing interests and requests. You are a supportive team player who views your role as helping and enabling your colleagues’ success, as much as securing support for your own. You are comfortable working directly with senior leaders, engaging in challenging conversations, delegating tasks and supporting team members and contactors in accomplishing their deliverables.

 

Role summary

 

Reporting to the PHSA Manager, Communications & Engagement at BC Cancer, the Communications Officer, Research, supports the development and implementation of strategic and tactical communication plans and priorities as determined by their manager in collaboration with senior leadership at the BC Cancer Research Institute and communications department level. Grounded in principals of person-centred and trauma-informed care, you liaise with key contacts within PHSA, external partners, including BC Cancer Foundation, to negotiate and facilitate consensus and provide information. The Communications Officer brings their storytelling expertise to their role to produce communications that are high quality, consistent and in alignment with the strategic priorities for PHSA and BC Cancer.

 

This posting is for a full-time temporary role for a two-year term with the possibility of extension.

 

You will be joining a high-performing team that cares about its members, has fun, and can find humour in almost any situation. Our team has humbly started a journey of reconciliation and you would participate in our efforts to dismantle colonial ways of thinking and acting.

 

What you’ll do 

• As a fully contributing member of a high-performance team, support the development and implementation of consistent and high-quality communication materials for the BC Cancer Research Institute and associated programs.
• Develop, write and edit a broad range of communication materials, including web materials, newsletters, brochures, displays, speeches, memos, social media content, and presentations.
• Liaise with all levels of PHSA/BC Cancer staff and leaders to research and write media releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, Q&A documents, issue notes and other communications materials to support external reputation management.
• Act as initial contact for media inquiries and research-related queries, and provide support for media and other events, where assigned.
• Work collaboratively with broader PHSA communications team members to contribute to centralized, coordinated and proactive editorial planning across all internal and external communication platforms.
• In keeping with our culture of collaboration and teamwork, the officer participate in the PHSA after hours on-call roster.

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline such as a degree in Journalism, Public Relations or Communications, combined with at least five years of experience in a communications role.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within Communications, PHSA Corporate contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (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 - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Awareness of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (the Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

Skills & Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to research and write creative and compelling copy for a variety of applications, including online and print publications. Experience in multi-media storytelling, including social media and video production.
• Recent training/experience related to DEI and Cultural Safety is a strong asset for this role.
• The ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive issues with skill, tact and diplomacy is important as is excellent decision making skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team; and flexibility to reprioritize quickly to meet changing priorities.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of products, Adobe Acrobat, database and web-based programs.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (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, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

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, 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.

Job Type: Temporary Full-Time (Until March 2028)

Salary Range: $90,770- $130,481/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.
Location: 1333 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 08:30-16:30 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition #: 197995E

 

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA, the other BC health authorities and the BC Ministry of Health, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and responsibility shared by everyone, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. The PHSA Communications & Engagement team is happy to support employees with hybrid work arrangements.

 

What we do

 

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

 

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (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.

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:

 

You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.

 

The internal job posting expires on May 18, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

 

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.

 

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.