Job Summary
In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including patient, employee and Indigenous Cultural Safety, are priorities and responsibilities shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
The Executive Director, Indigenous Health, is responsible for a designated PHSA Program or Service area and reports directly to its Chief Operating Officer(COO)/Vice President (VP) with matrix reporting to the Vice-President, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety (IH&CS). The Executive Director (ED) is accountable for leading an Indigenous Health (IH) program and for providing executive-level leadership to further the overall enhancement, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the designated Program and overall PHSA IH&CS strategic direction. The position provides strategic Indigenous thought leadership to planning by practicing ‘Speak Up culture’ and supporting work to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination at systemic, structural, and interpersonal levels to make impactful change, including at the point of care, and to enhance cultural safety for Indigenous patients, families, and staff. Provides leadership and management expertise in senior Indigenous cultural safety practice and programming, and in developing leading-edge strategies that effectively support the delivery of the highest quality services to the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia, utilizing a distinctions-based approach.
The ED leads work to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination, disrupt and dismantle white supremacy throughout the organization, and enhance Indigenous culturally safe care. Develops the portfolio’s internal partnerships and maintenance of strong working relationships to ensure a consistent strategy; implements, coordinates, and integrates IH strategies and initiatives; supports direct service delivery for health service improvements, including at the point of care. The position works with the COO/VP on building and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships, collaborates with, and supports the senior leadership team of the portfolio and the PHSA Indigenous Health senior leadership team. The ED drives the cultivation of collaborative relationships between and within the portfolio, corporate partners and other internal PHSA business services. The position leads the program’s IH team that is involved in service delivery to provide for a safe space for Indigenous patients, families and staff, strategic level dialogue related to IH, and planning and support of leadership development and coaching. Develops and maintains liaison and advisory relationships with Indigenous partners and collaborates with a variety of community-based agencies and programs throughout B.C.
The ED engages provincially with leaders at regional health authorities, Indigenous partner organizations and communities, Ministry personnel, and the portfolio’s senior leadership and PHSA IH staff to discuss new trends, initiatives, and policy directions. The ED functions as the primary IH representative providing Indigenous thought leadership on various internal and external initiatives, advisory groups and/or committees. The position is responsible for building the strength of their leadership team in eliminating Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and contributing to the broader PHSA IH portfolio. Drives the development, implementation and evaluation of appropriate portfolio policies and procedures; ensures alignment, consistency and standardization of policy and practices with the PHSA IH team; and ensures that strategies are aligned with the overall PHSA business needs, strategic direction, and mandates. The ED models the PHSA values of respecting people, being compassionate, daring to innovate, cultivating partnerships, and serving with purpose. The Executive Director embodies and models the Coast Salish Teachings with their Indigenous and non-Indigenous colleagues.
Duties/Accountabilities
- Informs the direction of the portfolio with a critical Indigenous-specific anti-racism approach encompassing an understanding of the harms experienced by Indigenous people in settler colonial institutions, the structure of whiteness embedded in health care and lived experience as an Indigenous person to contextualize the impacts.
- As part of the broader IH senior leadership team and community, makes key contributions to overall IH strategies across PHSA; works vertically within the designated PHSA Program or Service, works horizontally with other senior leadership colleagues, and closely with the Executive Leadership Team. Holds the portfolio ecosystem accountable for clear measurable priorities to demonstrate progress against the In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care report recommendations and recommendations from other foundational documents. Advances Indigenous Health and wellness from a rights-based perspective consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as affirmed by the provincial Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Action Plan.
- Leads internal partnerships to support direct service delivery to address health service improvement at point of care to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and enhance culturally safe care in the PHSA program or service. Supports and collaborates with the portfolio’s senior leadership team and partners with leadership colleagues such as clinical service delivery and public health and wellness programs and services. Provides expert advice and consultation to the Program’s or Service’s Senior Leadership Team with respect to identifying ongoing and emerging health needs and systemic health service barriers for Indigenous patients, families, and staff.
- Leads the portfolio’s internal Indigenous Health team, including those in direct service delivery, to provide a safe environment for Indigenous patients, families and staff. Initiates strategic level dialogue and planning and supports leadership development and coaching. Maintains a dotted line of reporting to the VP Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety. Promotes Indigenous-specific anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility education and training. Works towards organizational change to constructively disrupt white supremacy, to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in their health care area. Navigates barriers and resistance to change.
- Actively guides, contributes and works in partnership with the PHSA IH team and the portfolio’s senior leadership team in the overall strategic leadership and the planning, development, implementation, management and evaluation of the IH strategy, goals and objectives of the portfolio in context of the broader PHSA strategy. Makes decisions that have broad implications and complexity, ensures consistency with PHSA’s overall strategic plan, alignment with the MOH priorities, and works within the boundaries of government legislation and policies as well as provincial standards and agreements.
- Provides Indigenous thought leadership, strategic leadership and expertise, develops long and short-term plans for the portfolio and aligns them to the overall strategic direction of IH within PHSA. Forecasts issues/concerns of the portfolio and for PHSA and develops/recommends strategies. Sets the designated Program or Service priorities for planning and implementing IH strategies in conjunction with PHSA IH and other corporate partners. Ensures the development, implementation, administration and evaluation of the portfolio’s IH program and services.
- Leads staff in growing partnerships with internal and external partners, and facilitates consensus to plan and deliver on specific programs and services. Develops, builds and maintains mutually beneficial working partnerships, and represents the portfolio, PHSA and their interests across various audiences and stakeholder groups. Collaborates and liaises within the Program or Service, PHSA and various external groups including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, regional health organizations and health authorities, Ministry personnel, the First Nations Health Authority, provincial/national associations, and across provincial networks.
- Negotiates both internally and externally to the Program or Service and PHSA on a formal basis, enters into contracts and letters of understanding on behalf of PHSA, and makes decisions involving complex and diverse issues. Compiles, analyzes, summarizes, and communicates data to support program initiatives. Evaluates whether program objectives/milestones are met. Ensures organization, Board, Ministry, and other reporting requirements are maintained such as identifying and tracking metrics. Implements Wise Practices, practice-based and evidence-based interventions.
- Provides a bridge to Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations to ensure shared decision-making. Consults and collaborates with Indigenous agencies, organizations and community groups to address health issues, especially those pertaining to patients and their families. Develops and maintains key partnerships with relevant health agencies, educational facilities, and Indigenous communities and groups.
- Collaborates with or amongst People and Culture to provide lived employee experience perspectives. Provides advocacy and support for higher-level Indigenous leadership positions and hiring of Indigenous staff. Supports Indigenous staff and leadership with safety, wellness, and professional development.
- Oversees the portfolio team to successfully deliver the IH programs, and to embody and support PHSA purpose, vision, values, and Coast Salish Teachings. Provides leadership to staff through coaching, guiding and modeling key behaviours/strategies, encouraging dialogue and providing guidance and advice to facilitate resolutions to work issues. Builds and mentors the portfolio leadership team and assists team members to define shared and individual goals, meet target dates and ensure alignment of team goals with client needs. Fosters team spirit, trust and mutual respect. Recruits, develops and recognizes staff; outlines expectations, determines training requirements; and evaluates individual and team performance in collaboration with appropriate internal stakeholders and leaders. Defines a vision and guides individuals and groups towards the vision; motivates teams towards attaining their maximum potential and encourages professional development.
- Develops and monitors an annual budget including operating, project/temporary funding, and budgets related to any delegated initiatives. Monitors overall portfolio budget performance, plans and adjusts operations and/or staffing to meet projections and annual targets, and approves expenditures and prepares summaries for fiscal reporting in collaboration with the portfolio’s program leaders.
Qualifications
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.
A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in a related discipline supplemented by a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively more senior experience with a minimum of five (5) years at a leadership level.
Ability to inform the direction of the portfolio with a critical Indigenous-specific anti-racism approach encompassing an understanding of the harms experienced by Indigenous people in settler colonial institutions, the structure of Whiteness embedded in health care and lived experience as an Indigenous person to contextualize the impacts. Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Lived experience, knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in B.C.
Leadership capabilities in the areas of leading self, engaging others, driving change, achieving results, developing coalitions and system transformation are required. Solid understanding of wise/best practices and policies for areas of specialty. Expertise to define and guide individuals and groups towards a vision while maintaining group cohesiveness, motivation, commitment and effectiveness. Demonstrated ability to influence change and decision-making at senior levels of an organization. Able to respond to the needs of partners while being aware of the impact of actions on a system. Ability to influence system improvements within the programs and services of PHSA including direct health service delivery. Demonstrated ability to innovatively solve problems with a global perspective, make decisions and facilitate resolution of issues. Sound acumen to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with business partners as well as other external stakeholders, including MOH and senior leaders of other health organizations, throughout high profile endeavours. Excellent communication skills including the ability to facilitate and persuade others. Proven ability to negotiate and mediate resolutions to complex situations. Excellent organizational skills including the ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and coach staff. Demonstrates a solid commitment to the value of continuous learning. Ability to deal effectively with all levels of staff. Ability to approve, develop and oversee an annual budget.
