Role and Facility Information
Department Head, Medical Oncology
BC Cancer – Kelowna
Regular Full-Time Leadership Appointment (1.0 FTE)
Lead the Future of Cancer Care in One of BC's Fastest-Growing Regions
BC Cancer is one of the world's leading cancer organizations. Working in close partnership with regional health authorities, community oncology sites, and academic partners, BC Cancer supports patients across the Interior region to access high-quality cancer care closer to home.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of Medical Oncology services across the Southern Interior. Working alongside a dedicated team of clinicians, researchers, educators, administrators, and health professionals, the successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership to support excellence in patient-centred cancer care, education, research, quality improvement, and workforce development.
The Opportunity
In accordance with the vision, mission, and values of BC Cancer and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), the Department Head, Medical Oncology provides medical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for Medical Oncology services based at BC Cancer Kelowna and associated regional sites.
Reporting to the Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer Kelowna, the Department Head works closely with provincial program leadership, Medical Affairs, Interior Health, operational leaders, and physician colleagues to support clinical planning, quality improvement, workforce sustainability, academic excellence, and service growth throughout the region.
The Department Head serves as the primary physician leader for Medical Oncology and is responsible for fostering excellence in clinical care, professional practice, education, research, and physician engagement.
Key Accountabilities
Leadership, Planning and Administration
- Provide leadership for the Medical Oncology Department and represent physician perspectives within BC Cancer Kelowna leadership structures.
- Establish departmental policies, procedures, standards, and operational expectations in consultation with department members and site leadership.
- Develop and implement strategic priorities and long-term plans aligned with BC Cancer, provincial systemic therapy priorities, and regional growth objectives.
- Participate in centre-wide leadership, operational planning, and program development activities.
- Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, innovations, and best practices in Medical Oncology and advocate for improvements that enhance patient care and service delivery.
Quality, Safety and Performance
- Monitor and promote the quality of medical care provided by members of the department.
- Lead and support quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, and performance initiatives.
- Foster regional integration of Medical Oncology services as part of high-quality, patient-centred interdisciplinary care.
- Promote continuous quality improvement and accountability for clinical outcomes and service excellence.
- Support development and implementation of departmental clinical standards and professional practice expectations.
Medical Staff Leadership and Management
- Lead recruitment, onboarding, retention, mentoring, and professional development of Medical Oncology physicians.
- Develop and maintain physician coverage schedules to ensure continuity of oncology services across Kelowna and affiliated community sites.
- Manage medical staff leave requests and workforce requirements to ensure continuity of patient care.
- Chair departmental meetings and facilitate effective communication and engagement among medical staff.
- Support physician wellness, leadership development, succession planning, and professional growth.
- Participate in physician appointment, reappointment, credentialing, privilege review, and medical staff performance processes in accordance with BC Cancer and PHSA policies.
- Address concerns related to physician performance, professionalism, and quality of care in collaboration with Medical Affairs and site leadership.
Workforce Planning
- Participate in the development of long-term workforce and human resource plans for Medical Oncology services within the region.
- Support succession planning and sustainable workforce strategies to meet current and future service demands.
- Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Interior Health, and provincial leadership on recruitment and retention initiatives.
- Identify current and future workforce needs and opportunities to expand regional oncology services.
Academic and Research Leadership
- Promote and support research, scholarly activity, innovation, and academic partnerships.
- Maintain academic credentials appropriate to the role.
- Foster constructive relationships with the University of British Columbia and other academic partners.
- Support undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional education within the discipline.
- Encourage participation in teaching, clinical research, and scholarly activities across the department.
Partnership and Regional Engagement
- Collaborate with Interior Health, regional oncology partners, and community oncology programs to improve service delivery and patient outcomes.
- Work with centre leadership to advance strategic priorities for cancer services, research, and education throughout the Interior region.
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with external agencies, licensing bodies, academic institutions, and professional organizations.
- Promote collaboration across disciplines, centres, and community partners to advance integrated cancer care.
Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Hold a Medical Degree from an approved medical school.
- Be certified in Medical Oncology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or hold equivalent qualifications.
- Be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.
- Have demonstrated leadership experience and credibility within Medical Oncology practice.
- Be eligible for a clinical faculty appointment with the University of British Columbia.
- Demonstrate strong leadership, collaboration, communication, strategic planning, and consensus-building skills.
- Have a demonstrated commitment to Indigenous Cultural Safety, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous-specific racism, systemic barriers in healthcare, and a commitment to creating culturally safe and inclusive care environments.
Commitment and Compensation
The Department Head appointment is supported through an annual administrative stipend in addition to compensation associated with a full-time Medical Oncologist position.
The role is structured to balance clinical and administrative responsibilities, enabling the successful candidate to maintain an active clinical practice while providing leadership for the department's strategic, operational, academic, and workforce priorities.
What We Bring
- The opportunity to lead a highly engaged and collaborative Medical Oncology team.
- A growing regional cancer centre serving communities throughout British Columbia's Interior.
- Strong relationships with provincial program leadership, Interior Health, and academic partners.
- Opportunities to influence the future direction of oncology care, education, innovation, and workforce development.
- A supportive environment committed to physician wellness, professional growth, and leadership development.
This position offers an exceptional opportunity to influence the future of cancer care delivery across British Columbia's Interior region while supporting a department committed to excellence in patient care, education, research, innovation, and service growth.
Contact
To apply, please send a letter expressing your interest along with your curriculum vitae to: Health Match BC
Applications will be reviewed immediately, and the position will remain open until it is filled.
What we do
BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.
BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
(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 – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.
The BC Cancer (www.bccancer.bc.ca) is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. BC Cancer provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia in partnership with regional health authorities to deliver a range of cancer services, which include prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. It operates six regional cancer centres in Surrey, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Prince George, along with two research centres that conduct research into the causes and cures for cancer.
BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which plans, manages and evaluates specialty and province-wide health care services across BC. PHSA embodies values that reflect a commitment to excellence. These include: Respect people
- Be compassionate
- Dare to innovate
- Cultivate partnerships
- Serve with purpose.
PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to employment equity and diversity and hires on the basis of merit. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. 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.
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.
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