Senior Director, Indigenous Health

 

PHSA, Indigenous Health

Vancouver, BC

 

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.

 

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, 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.

 

The Senior Director, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Strategy reports to the Executive Director, Indigenous Health and is accountable to provide executive-level leadership and senior expert council to advance the overall Indigenous cultural safety strategy for the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and its Programs and Services. The Senior Director has direct access to the EVP, People, Diagnostic & Treatment Services as a key advisor regarding the strategy. This position drives the development, implementation, and evaluation of appropriate policies and procedures for the portfolio; identifies and assesses needs, customizes implementation of cultural safety initiatives and programs; and builds tools and resources to create a culturally safe and equitable environment for Indigenous clients and staff.

 

The Senior Director provides strategic leadership to a core team who provide frameworks to assess individual, team, program and organizational capacity and measures of the current state of cultural safety, guidance on best practices and knowledge integration, web resources and guidelines, and recommendations for policy development. The Senior Director identifies and provides sound decision making, advice on best practices and action plans, implementation strategies, and evaluation supports including metrics for the organization that support the Programs and Services to improve cultural safety for patients, families and staff.

 

The Senior Director works horizontally and vertically within the organization and closely with the EVP and is responsible for cultivating partnerships within PHSA’s middle leadership and Indigenous health teams to advance culturally safe care. The Senior Director develops and implements a spectrum of engagement opportunities including consultation, collaboration, and empowerment with PHSA Program and Service leaders to advance the transformation of organizational culture to ensure safe and more equitable service delivery for Indigenous patients/families and staff. The Senior Director provides mentorship to selected Indigenous leaders at larger programs.

What you’ll do

• Provide strategic leadership and accountability for the planning, alignment, actions, and evaluation of services within the portfolio to advance Indigenous cultural safety of patients/families and staff. Ensure consistency with PHSA’s overall strategic plan, Truth and Reconciliation recommendations, PHSA Indigenous Health strategy, the First Nations Health Plan, the Tri-partite Health plan, and provincial mandates regarding cultural safety and humility training.
• Lead portfolio service development and planning activities through working groups and projects, and monitor the progress and outcomes achieved. Create, implement, and evaluate objectives, policies and procedures, and standards of cultural safety practice related to patient care in partnership with key stakeholders across PHSA.
• Establish strong working relationships and partners internally with PHSA-wide Programs and Services to develop and operationalize strategies and plans in order to improve local and organizational systems and service delivery for Indigenous clients. Take a leadership role in developing, implementing, and evaluating the strategies such as policy, quality and human resources that support cultural safety by promoting evidence-based best practice.
• Oversee and provide leadership to develop a master transformational plan and timetable to advance the organization’s transformational goal of creating culturally safe and equitable, person and family-centric services for Indigenous clients and staff. Utilize an organizational Indigenous Cultural Safety framework that includes assessment, best practices, measurement, implementation and evaluation. Establish partnerships and mechanisms to support Program and Service accountabilities for the plan.
• Assess the impact of transformational initiatives using a systems approach and manages the impacts and interdependencies of cross-divisional and cross-Program and Service projects.
• Oversee the development of operating and capital budgets and, as required, cost pressure and business case submissions. Responsibilities include identification of service and budget priorities, allocation of resources, program development, planning of goals and objectives, coordination of service delivery systems, and establishing and monitoring of targets and indicators.
• Oversee all aspects of human resource management within the portfolio and looks for opportunities to develop individuals with lived experience. Ensure Indigenous staff receives culturally safe support.
• Represent PHSA at national, provincial, and inter-authority levels in various capacities including participating on committees, providing secretarial support or policy/guideline development and implementation advice. Influence, inform, and contribute to policy for upstream issues affecting Indigenous people through partnerships, facilitating dialogue and consensus, maintaining awareness of emerging issues and ensuring that processes and mechanisms are in place to get the deliverables and outcomes that PHSA, MoH and others have requested.

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in a relevant health care profession and a minimum of ten (10) years of recent related progressive leadership experience, including five to seven (5-7) years of organizational change management experience and at least two (2) years in a managerial/leadership role; and if applicable, current registration / membership with a professional college.
• 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. Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts, underpinned by significant expertise in Indigenous-specific mandates. This includes a clear understanding of and commitment to eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination. Additionally, it involves embedding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility, and an advanced expertise and unwavering dedication to engaging with diversity, centering equity, and advancing inclusion (DEI).
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within PHSA, Indigenous Health 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, Anti-Racism Data Act, BC Human Rights Code - 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 leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging and Indigenous Cultural Safety. Demonstrates action-oriented practices addressing Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as confronting/addressing broader issues of racism and discrimination. Exhibits strong DEI and anti-racism competencies/skills to lead by example fostering a culture of continuous learning, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• 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 facilitative leadership skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a proven ability to foster a collaborative team approach to decision making. Considerable creativity and problem solving to manage direct and indirect opportunities. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects. Exceptional communication, interpersonal and public relations skills. Proven ability to negotiate and mediate resolutions to complex situations.
• Ability to interact tactfully and effectively with staff at all organizational levels both internally and externally. Ability to establish courses of action for self and others that are results-oriented. Demonstrated ability to relate effectively to a variety of people from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is required. Lived experience with Indigenous populations and demonstrated extensive knowledge of Indigenous health care needs, services, and issues as well as knowledge of culture, protocols, traditions, and ideology of Indigenous people and organizations in British Columbia is an asset.
• *Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of their personal learning/unlearning journey in relation to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Able to articulate and share this journey to motivate and inspire others enhancing a culture of learning/unlearning and self-reflection.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the social, economic, political realities of settler-colonialism and impacts on Indigenous peoples in social and health contexts as well as knowledge and understanding of, and commitment to upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments in the foundational documents: 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, 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 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: Regular, Full-Time

Salary Range: $130,864 - $188,116 /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 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 08:00-16:00 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition #: 200161E

 

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 June 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.