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: $118,923-$170,951/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.

 

Role Summary

 

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and 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 & Cultural Safety BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS), the Director, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety provides leadership and strategic direction to improve the health status of Indigenous people in BC accessing provincial specialized inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use services with complex needs. Supporting a visionary, innovative, and creative approach to Indigenous health and cultural safety. The Director ensures and maintains productive and respectful long-term relationships with Indigenous partners including organizations, business and communities and their leadership.. Providing strategic consultation and guidance to BCMHSUS, the Director supports key partnerships both internally and externally, and provides critical linkages with leaders within, across and beyond BCMHSUS, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), regional health authorities, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), and external relevant organizations from provincial to national to global levels. The Director oversees BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Strategic Initiatives across BCMHSUS specialized programs, services, health promotion, research and evaluation. In addition the Director will advise executive leadership, management and staff on matters of Indigenous-specific racism, Indigenous cultural safety & Humility, protocol and cultural sensitivities with respect to interacting with various Indigenous organizations, businesses and communities.

 

The Director oversees Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety strategic initiatives at BCMHSUS and supports effective partnership with program leaders within BCMHSUS to build organizational relationships and knowledge-sharing capacity about Indigenous health and cultural safety. The Director is accountable for the development and implementation of project goals, and works collaboratively with provincial Indigenous leaders and teams in the attainment of these goals. Towards the aim of providing culturally safe services for Indigenous people accessing specialized provincial mental health and substance use services and advocating for the needs of Indigenous patients and their families, the Director provides leadership, sets direction and ensures effective service delivery for Indigenous people. The Director develops and maintains liaison and advisory relationships with the PHSA Indigenous Health leadership, First Nations Health Authority, and the Ministry of Health Indigenous leaders, and collaborates with a variety of community-based agencies and organizations within and beyond the province of BC. The Director provides input and direction in the development of Indigenous population health initiatives and strategies to PHSA Indigenous and Population Health leadership

 

The Director identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement activities and development projects, including the mobilization of internal and external funding sources to support these initiatives. The Director represents BCMHSUS at regional, provincial, national and international levels by liaising with community-based agencies throughout the province, developing partnerships with relevant health agencies and educational facilities. The Director collaborates with government agencies and Indigenous communities in the development of strategies to improve the health of Indigenous women, children, newborns and their families in British Columbia.

 

The Director Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety is part of a new and innovative Indigenous led team where we continue to work towards dismantling and disrupting white supremacy throughout the organization. Our Indigenous Health team continually works to eliminate Indigenous-specific racism and hardwire Indigenous Cultural Safety and humility across BCMHSUS and the health system. The Indigenous Health program works provincially throughout B.C. PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).

 

Duties/Accountablilties:

Key Accountabilities Provides expert advice and consultation to Executive Team at BCMHSUS with respect to identifying ongoing and emerging health needs and systemic health service barriers that the Indigenous people experience, and develops strategies to address these issues. Provides an Indigenous lens to BCMHSUS strategic planning processes to ensure priority setting and program/policy design and scope are fully inclusive of and culturally safe for Indigenous peoples. Implements effective processes to assess project risks, identify risk mitigation strategies, and monitor risk throughout the project lifecycle.  Compiles, analyzes, summarizes, and communicates data to support program initiatives.  Evaluates whether program objectives/milestones are met. Leads in developing and implementing the BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety action items as they relate to the PHSA Indigenous Health strategy and plan consistent with the First Nations Health Plan, the Tri-partite Health Plan, and the PHSA strategic plan to improve the health of Indigenous people in provincial specialized mental health and substance use services. Ensures Agency, Board, Ministry, and other reporting requirements are maintained such as identifying and tracking metrics as they relate to the deliverables of Tripartite First Nations Health Plan. Provides leadership and representation for BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and cultural safety issues, strategies and needs at health planning and policy development boards/committees for PHSA, the Ministry of Health and other bodies, as required.  Collaborates with the PHSA Indigenous and Executive leadership, First Nations Health Authority and the Indigenous Health leaders at each Health Authority to improve access to health programs serving Indigenous populations throughout British Columbia. Consults and collaborates with Indigenous agencies, organizations and community groups to address Indigenous health issues and establish strategies for strengthening community capacity, especially those pertaining to Indigenous peoples access specialized provincial mental health and substance use services. Leads and directs the provincial specialized mental health and substance use Indigenous health and cultural safety strategies, utilizing provincial strategies to establish priorities for BCMHSUS. Develops and maintains key partnerships with relevant health agencies, educational facilities, and Indigenous communities and groups. Directs the planning, coordination, and execution of Indigenous health and cultural safety initiatives at BCMHSUS. Represents BCMHSUS at various forums such as meetings, workshops, and conferences in order to share information, provide education, give presentations, and facilitate inclusion of Indigenous peoples. Supervises designated staff, determines performance expectations in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, and provides performance coaching and evaluation for all direct reports. Investigates work and staff issues and where necessary initiates disciplinary action up to and including termination. Compiles, analyzes, summarizes, and communicates data to support program initiatives.  Evaluates whether program objectives/milestones are met. Develops and oversees annual budget for the Indigenous Health and cultural safety initiatives. Responsibilities include budget planning and monitoring, approving expenditures, and identifying and costing new initiatives Prepares, negotiates, and administers contracts for projects related to the Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Initiatives. Identifies and pursues opportunities for supporting new activities and improvement initiatives.  Prepares, negotiates, and administers contracts for projects related to the Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Initiatives.

 

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Masters degree in a relevant discipline, such as Indigenous studies, nursing, population and public health, epidemiology, health psychology, or sociology, with a minimum of ten (10) years of recent, related experience working with Indigenous communities in public health care, including eight (8) years at a senior management/leadership level and significant Indigenous health-focused experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies.
• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of health issues, and especially the determinants of health, legislation and public policy affecting Indigenous people.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is required.
• Experience or working knowledge of health systems and policy, organizational change, anti-Indigenous racism, resistance to change, population health, illness prevention, health promotion, knowledge exchange and change management.
• 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.
• Established knowledge and network of Indigenous communities, services, and agencies throughout BC is an asset. Experience or working knowledge of population and public health is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated facilitation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong conceptual and policy-oriented skills.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex ideas and information.
• Demonstrated ability to creatively problem-solve with a global perspective in order to incorporate the organization’s systems and strategies when developing viable solutions to problems.
• Demonstrated ability to establish courses of action for self and others that are results oriented.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and to build and manage teams.
• Experience in negotiating, facilitating, building consensus, and effectively collaborating to build relationships that promote the achievement of cooperative goals and contribute to an atmosphere of mutual respect.
• Ability to operate relevant equipment including word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs.