Director, Indigenous Health Jobs

Fraser Health (FH) is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. The Fraser region is home to 32 First Nations communities and 6 Métis Chartered communities. Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: better health, best in health care.

We are seeking an inclusive and progressive Director of Indigenous Health (the Director) to work in collaboration with department leaders to provide direction towards various aspects of clinical operations within the Aboriginal Health program while enhancing the integration of culturally safe service delivery, promoting culturally safe experiences for Indigenous peoples of all ages and leading programs and policies to promote, enhance and support health and wellness for Indigenous peoples of all ages.

Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Vice President of Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety, the Director will partner with physicians and clinicians to support the system design, implementation and sustainability of an integrated clinical program while working within a network of Regional Programs, centralized services, hospitals sites and community health areas. As a key member of the leadership team, the Director will provide direction on the strategic initiatives related to Indigenous cultural safety and humility through the planning, design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of Indigenous programs, projects, policies and services. The successful candidate will be a clear, caring and courageous leader, with a proven ability to implement and advance policies that support the integration of Indigenous values while incorporating the traditional and cultural values that build on the foundations of providing holistic care by treating the mind, body and spirit.

The Director is accountable for:

• Defining and leading the operationalization of the organization’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Action plan within the guiding principles of FH’s operational priority of Embedding Cultural Safety and Humility, and implementing anti-racism actions;
• Ensuring the integration and coordination of programs and services that incorporate an Indigenous lens in order to create a comprehensive service delivery system designed to meet the health and wellness needs of Indigenous peoples; and
• Fostering strategic and inclusive relationships that result in the sharing of Indigenous knowledge, while identifying the opportunities to promote innovation and partnerships for improvement.
• Formulating long-term health goals, resource planning, health service delivery, and policies and procedures necessary to operationalize the cultural safety aspects of the Aboriginal Health strategic plan;
• Leading a team that supports the development, implementation and evaluation of strategic plans that enable the organization to meet Aboriginal health needs as outlined in the goals and recommendations of relevant Aboriginal Health strategic initiatives and frameworks;

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated expertise with high-level policy and program development, implementation and evaluation with in-depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories in BC;
• Experience managing strategic and operational projects and the provisions involved within community-based healthcare delivery systems; and
• Strong financial and project management skills as well as proven experience providing the overall leadership, direction and supervision to team members.
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field related to health care management, supplemented with a breadth of knowledge of Indigenous healthcare issues within health systems, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience;

If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity with Fraser Health, please contact Alix Golgoni, Client Partner of Executive and Senior Leadership Acquisition by emailing [email protected] .

At Fraser Health, we value diversity in the workforce and seek to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner. For this position, we also want to highlight that First Nations, Inuit, Métis or Indigenous ancestry is regarded as directly relevant to the skills and knowledge for excellence in the position. Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry.

Self-identification is the voluntary, confidential, self-declaration of Indigenous ancestry to help support candidates applying for roles at Fraser Health. It is helpful to self-identify as an Indigenous person of Canada on your Fraser Health application as it allows us to stay connected with candidates and provide additional guidance about Indigenous-specific programs and services that are unique, cultural, and holistic to Indigenous candidates .

Detailed Overview

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families:

In partnership with the Vice President, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety, the Director provides leadership and direction to an assigned portfolio of the Indigenous Health program. The position is responsible for clinical operations and/or strategic initiatives related to Indigenous cultural safety and humility. The position leads and supports the planning design, coordination, integration, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of culturally safe and holistic Indigenous programs and services that promote, enhance and support the health and wellness for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Fraser Health (FH).

The Director partners with physicians, clinical and support leaders on system design, implementation and sustainability of integrated clinical programs that achieve FH’s priority actions supporting the Fraser Health Strategic Operating Priorities. The role collaborates with, and leads, programs, departments and leaders across the organization in support of the integration of Indigenous values that are person-centered and incorporates traditional and cultural values that are built on the foundation of providing holistic care by treating mind, body and spirit while also supporting social determinants of health.

The Director collaborates with program and, department leaders across the organization to support the integration of key policies and frameworks, such as FH’s anti-racism strategy and action plan, into core FH systems and practices. Supports individuals, teams and the organization to embed key priorities within relevant frameworks, decision-making processes and strategic planning. Manages the flow of work between the Indigenous cultural safety team and others in the organization to ensure initiatives and priorities align with FH cultural safety and humility and anti-racism actions.

The Director works within a network of Regional Programs, centralized services, hospital sites and community health service areas. Develops and promotes linkages for primary care, community care, and mental health and wellness projects and clinical initiatives at site and system levels across FH. The role develops and maintains effective relationships with leaders and members of First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), Fraser Salish Regional Caucus, First Nation and Métis Chartered Communities, and rural and urban Indigenous community organizations on behalf of FH to foster effective communication and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates effectively with internal and external partners to develop, manage and evaluate programs and services considering client needs, service delivery interrelationships and service potential within a complex environment. Fosters strategic and working relationships that result in the sharing of Indigenous knowledge, monitoring community trends, identification of opportunities to promote innovation and partnerships for improvement, and ensuring consistent delivery of quality health services offered by the program.
• Defines and leads the operationalization of the organization’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan within the guiding principles of FH’s operational priority of Embedding Cultural Safety and Humility, and implementing anti-racism actions.
• Represents the program/department/service in the health service community, civic/regional governments or others.
• In partnership with clinical and operational leadership from various programs, networks and sites, directs the design and implementation of FH’s Aboriginal Health cultural safety and humility and anti-racism initiatives.
• Manages the department’s operating budgets, reviews and projects future variances, develops and implements plans for remedial strategies, allocate scarce resources as needed.
• In collaboration with the Vice President, formulates long-term health goals, resource planning, health service delivery, and policies and procedures necessary to operationalize the Aboriginal Health strategic plan.
• Negotiates, facilitates, builds consensus and effectively collaborates with relevant internal and external stakeholders to promote the achievement of cooperative goals and to contribute to an atmosphere of mutual respect.
• Provides leadership to support engagement and respect through support of the well-being and safety of staff through effective feedback, retention strategies, work practices that support work/life balance and that encourage personal and professional development.
• Provides overall leadership, direction and supervision to team members using effective management and leadership techniques including coaching, mentoring, skill and leadership development, performance management and team building.
• Leads and manages the interface between FNHA, MNBC and FH. Participates in regular regional meetings. Triages and responds to requests for information, reporting, and surveillance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Ensures the integration and coordination of programs and services that incorporate an Indigenous lens to create a comprehensive service delivery system designed to meet the health and wellness needs of Indigenous populations within FH. Establishes linkages with other project and clinical initiatives at site and system levels across FH.
• Actively monitors related Indigenous health and cultural safety trends and issues to foresee the need for changes in Indigenous health care. Supports effective strategizing and operational planning.
• Works with Joint Working Groups with FNHA and MNBC to develop robust responses to the needs of the Indigenous population within the FH region.
• In partnership with clinical and operational leadership from various programs, networks and sites, directs the design, implementation and evaluation of FH’s Aboriginal Health strategic plans and priorities related to primary care, community care, and mental health and wellness as outlined in the relevant frameworks.
• Leads complex reviews of practices, procedures and systems that enhance the integration of culturally safe service delivery, that promote culturally safe experiences for Indigenous patients/clients/residents and their natural support, and that integrate Indigenous cultural safety and humility into programs and policies within FH.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Master’s Degree in a field related to health care management such as public health, nursing or health administration, supplemented by a minimum of seven (7) years’ recent related experience in progressive leadership roles, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Competencies

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

Professional/Technical Capabilities

• Proven presentation skills within a senior leadership capacity.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories in BC and Canada.
• Extensive knowledge of operations and service planning for clinical services.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), In Plain Sight, and other related policies and reports.
• Proven proficiency of leading practice in the field of healthcare leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities to incorporate department/site needs within the broader context of the health delivery system and multiple site/service requirements.
• Sound working knowledge of planning concepts related to service delivery, budgetary, staffing, quality and strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of Indigenous health and wellness, including but not limited to: knowledge of local Indigenous peoples, including differences in respect to access to health services, health benefits and advocacy.

Salary range

The salary range for this position is CAD $59.61 - $85.69 / hour