Come work as the Vice President, Indigenous Health with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeking a collaborative, innovative, and engaged leader to assume the role of Vice President, Indigenous Health (VP, IH). This person plays a crucial role in driving systemic change within the health system to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples. Their leadership is instrumental in advancing health equity, promoting cultural safety, and fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Based in Vancouver and reporting to the President and CEO and supported by an engaged Board, the VP, IH is a member of the VCH Senior Executive Team and assumes joint accountability for the attainment of the strategic objectives and operational plans of the organization as approved by the Board, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior Executive Team.

In addition to being an expert in their field, the incoming VP, IH will be grounded in community and Indigenous ways of knowing and will be encouraged to leverage their connection(s) to community to strengthen their leadership capacities. The VP, IH is a change agent who inspires system transformation by collaborating with leaders throughout the region to facilitate a new era within VCH.

They will lead the evolution of the organization’s Indigenous cultural safety education and support the organization to deliver on relevant legislation including the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Additionally, their work will be informed by the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) – particularly Calls 18 to 24 as they pertain to Indigenous health – and recommendations from the “In Plain Sight” report to address Indigenous racism in the B.C. health care system. This position also represents the organization in regional, provincial, and national forums to share, support, and celebrate the organization’s deep commitment to uplifting Indigenous voices and advancing reconciliation.

VCH is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.25 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Lil’wat, Musqueam, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa.

Through its Reconciliation framework, VCH is committed to improving health and access to culturally safe health care for Indigenous peoples within the region. Serving 14 First Nation communities, approximately 27,000 members living on reserves and 21,000 Urban Indigenous community members, VCH is guided by the following principles:

• Indigenous clients and families can expect to receive culturally safe care.
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit People's roles are respected and acknowledged in the traditional territories in which VCH operates.
• VCH as an organization upholds the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action to an optimal level within its mandate and scope.
• Partners working with VCH support alignment with UNDRIP and TRC Calls to Action.

To apply please email application materials in a package to Applications@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.ca. For any questions please contact Laurie Sterritt, Managing Director at 778-838-4569 / LaurieS@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.com, or Katy Gottfriedson-Jasper, Senior Consultant at 250-318-6788 / KatyGJ@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.com.

Education & Experience

• Education and experience equivalent to a degree in a medical or clinical profession such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), Nurse Practitioner (NP. DNP), Midwifery, Nursing, or Allied Health profession supplemented with a master’s degree in a related discipline such as Health Care Administration or Business Administration plus fifteen (15) years’ experience in progressively senior executive leadership roles or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 
• Experience in the provision of direct service, community-based healthcare delivery systems and extensive experience interacting with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous leadership (including Elders, Bands, Tribal Councils, Friendship Centres, Indigenous service providers, etc.) as well as government agencies and provincial ministries is required.

Preference will be given to candidates identifying as Indigenous, including First Nations, Metis, or Inuit.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding organizational and systemic dynamics, underscored by a deep understanding of trauma-informed Indigenous health issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous community health system requirements and insights from Indigenous community engagement, including traditional Indigenous perspectives, which contribute to the commitment toward reconciliation and healing within Indigenous health contexts.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the principals and organizational practices necessary to implement systems wide cultural change and create opportunity at all levels of the organization to develop, implement and evaluate policies, programs, and partnerships to enhance diversity equity and inclusion and create a safe and respectful work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deploy and measure initiatives aimed at the promotion of diversity, Indigenous cultural safety, and cultural humility within a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience in developing budgets and overseeing the appropriate use of financial resources, identifying, and forecasting financial requirements and implementing cost-effective strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate a workplace culture that prioritizes respect, inclusivity, and understanding, foster a culture of continuous learning, and empower program managers and team members.
• Demonstrated communication, facilitation, and interpersonal abilities with the ability to present views in a clear and compelling manner and to develop trust and influence.
• Negotiates, facilitates, builds consensus, and effectively collaborates to build relationships that promote the achievement of cooperative goals and contribute to an atmosphere of mutual respect.
• Collaborates effectively with internal and external stakeholders to develop, manage and evaluate programs/services considering client needs, service delivery interrelationships and service potential within a complex environment.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of legislative policy development and processes of various levels of government to ensure well-informed decision-making.
• Uses strong leadership, strategic thinking, problem solving and innovation abilities to develop effective strategies and ensure support and attainment of goals.
• Applies superior judgment and political expertise as well as a strong understanding of the essence and subtleties of communication to relay sensitive information and effectively persuade and negotiate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Uses sound business acumen to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders throughout high profile endeavors.
• Demonstrated leadership skills that promote a respectful, motivating, and empowering work environment, where individual competencies can thrive.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.