Assistant Director, Patient And Community Engagement

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Administration, Level D

Job Title

Assistant Director, Patient and Community Engagement

Department

Administrative Leadership | UBC Health

Compensation Range

$7,278.33 - $11,372.33 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

June 24, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director, Patient and Community Engagement works under the broad direction of the Associate Vice-President, Health (AVPH) and the Directors of Patient and Community Partnership for Education (PCPE) to provide senior management leadership for operationalizing strategic plan initiatives and objectives relating to patient and community engagement. This position is responsible for building capacity and supports for sustainable patient and community partnerships by developing and leading strategies to advance the inclusion of people with lived experience throughout UBC Health’s core areas of education, research, and health systems.

Working closely with senior leadership within the Office of the Vice-President, Health (VPH) and with partners in the community and across campuses (e.g. UBC Health Executive, UBC Health Council, UBC Health Directors and Special Advisors, committees, faculty, staff, students, patient and public members, community organizations, etc.), this post is responsible for a wide variety of initiatives that bring the university closer to the people it serves to enhance the university’s social responsibility and accountability. This position leads in conceptualizing, strategizing, implementing and evaluating new initiatives in collaboration with university and community partners from across the province to advance diverse patient and community perspectives in the academy in alignment with the UBC Health Strategic Plan. This role will continue to evolve and the individual must be willing to respond to the given priorities of the day and be able to work collaboratively in a challenging and dynamic environment.

Organizational Status

Through the leadership of the Associate Vice-President, Health (AVPH), the Office of UBC Health is responsible for driving the vision for the UBC Health portfolio, which promotes an integrated approach to collaboration amongst all health programs at UBC, more broadly across Faculties on both campuses, and with external partners in the health sector. The Office of UBC Health reports to the Vice-President Health portfolio, and serves as a resource across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses of UBC. By facilitating closer linkages and collaborations across disciplines and sectors, UBC Health aims to strengthen the university's impact and capacity for excellence in health education and research, informing health system innovation and effectiveness. Additionally, UBC Health aims to create the opportunity for improved wellbeing and patient outcomes, accelerated knowledge development and innovation, and greater training effectiveness.

Action areas relating to the Strategic Plan include: cross-sectoral collaborations fundamental to translational research and the application of knowledge; collaborative health education program development building on strengths in patient engagement in education; coordinated approaches to addressing overlapping issues (e.g. program delivery focus and costs, clinical placement capacity, data systems, faculty recruitment); and helping to build capacity to coordinate and manage external relations with appropriate governmental ministries, provincial health authorities, and collaborative frameworks relating to health systems. This position reports to the Associate Vice-President, Health and supports the VPH, AVPH and the Directors of PCPE. The incumbent interacts with the whole portfolio and areas of responsibility for the Office of the Vice-President, Health.

Work Performed

This position plays a lead strategic role in patient and community engagement in the Office of the Vice-President, Health. The overall goal of the position is to improve UBC’s interactions with sector partners and ensure that UBC’s efforts in health are informed collectively by inclusive and diverse public and patient perspectives. The incumbent will work on expanding engagement to advance diverse community priorities, enhance learner experiences, and align research activities. These actions will help establish a more inclusive and coordinated model for community involvement across health education, research, and systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Advance the UBC Health Patient Engagement Framework, including the development of a central hub for patient engagement in health programs, shared guidelines and approaches to patient engagement.
• Identify project opportunities that involve patient and community engagement, and oversee the launch and implementation of initiatives approved by the Senior Leadership Team of the Office of the Vice-President, Health (which includes the VPH, AVPH, PCPE Directors, Directors of Education and Research, Special Advisor on Health Systems, and other senior staff).
• Oversee the effective management of the Patient and Community Partnership for Education (PCPE) as a unit within the Office of the Vice-President, Health.
• Oversee the integration of current educational activities involving people with lived experience in curricula (Health Mentors Program, Community as Teacher, Patient & Community Voices workshop series, Living Library, Integrated Curriculum online modules and workshops).
• Perform other duties consistent with job classification and responsibilities.
• Provide expert advice on patient and community engagement and oversee the inclusion of patients and community members in teaching and learning, curriculum development, committees and working groups within UBC Health and various health programs across the university.
• Act as an interface between UBC Health and people with lived experience by developing and maintaining relationships with individuals, families and relevant community organizations to inform and support the work of UBC Health.
• Lead project planning and implementation; provide solutions; manage, develop and execute identified goals, priorities and objectives related to patient and community engagement, from inception through completion in line with the strategic directives from the Directors of PCPE and the UBC Health Senior Leadership Team.
• Advise and serve on relevant staff and faculty committees for the purpose of providing strategic input.
• Plan, develop, manage and facilitate joint projects with collaborators in the community and university by liaising with partners regarding key priorities, project goals, work plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Build an evidence base for patient and community engagement and share best practices by conducting research on the impacts on students, patients, communities, and the university, and disseminating outcomes through scholarly activities such as publications and conference presentations.
• Drive the conceptualization of innovative ideas and the development and execution of action plans to advance patient and community engagement across the activities of UBC Health.
• Provide strategic direction in the development of models and processes to facilitate more inclusive, coordinated and sustainable approaches to patient and community engagement in UBC Health activities, including additional supports for marginalized groups.
• Represent the AVPH and Directors of PCPE on committees and working groups as appropriate.
• Foster and maintain community relationships and partnerships using principles and best practices for community engagement.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

This position represents the Office of the Vice-President, Health as well as the University, and is required to exercise professional judgment, maturity, collegiality and initiative while undertaking all responsibilities and developing relationships and partnerships. Incorrect decisions or judgment will directly affect UBC's reputation with students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. Inappropriate actions, errors in performance or indiscretions in judgment can negatively impact UBC Health's working relationships and credibility with a range of critical internal and external partners, may result in legal action or negative public relations, incur inappropriate costs, and/or jeopardize the unit's reputation in the areas of patient and community engagement, collaborative health education, research and health systems.

Supervision Received

Works independently with minimal supervision and broadly under the direction of the Associate Vice-President, Health in support of the Directors of PCPE. Work is reviewed in terms of fulfillment of mandates and achievement of executive goals.

Supervision Given

Supervises PCPE staff and Work Learn students.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of seven years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant discipline an asset. The Assistant Director, Patient and Community Engagement is expected to have knowledge of the University's and health partners' environments and culture, and extensive knowledge of best practices in patient and community engagement. Experience must include a minimum of five years’ relevant experience in a higher education institution, health setting or community organization working on patient and community engagement.

• Ability to plan and complete multiple projects, tasks and priorities simultaneously.
• Experience in managing projects that involve a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to compose sensitive correspondence and other written materials using clear and concise business English.
• Effective organizational, problem-solving, planning and analytical skills.
• Ability to effectively use MS Office and videoconferencing technologies at an advanced level (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Ability to set priorities, organize workload and work within deadlines in a busy and complex environment.
• Ability to prepare and present proposals to small and large diverse audiences.
• Ability to work cooperatively both within the UBC community and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to review, analyze and synthesize complex information into summaries and reports.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to establish effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Proven ability to communicate professionally and tactfully, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative to an outstanding degree.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to exercise judgment, tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to think conceptually and bring complex ideas to fruition.