Join our award-winning Vancouver Coastal Health Communications team

Do you have a passion for communications and bringing projects to life through storytelling and strategic communications. Then we have a role for you. Come join the exceptional Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Communications team and work in the dynamic health care environment to support change, deliver impact, and facilitate better health outcomes for all.

A complex organization with more than 18,000 staff and physicians, our purpose at VCH is to come together as one collective team to deliver exceptional care. We strive to create meaningful connections with our staff and physicians as well as our patients and clients. As a Communications Leader, Redevelopment Projects, you will lead the delivery of strategic communications in support of multi-million dollar capital development projects. 

The Communications Leader is a dynamic self-starter who is resourceful, creative, and client-focused. Our ideal candidate is capable of seeing the big picture and eager to roll up their sleeves to work shoulder-to-shoulder with team members implementing communications that reinforce our vision, purpose and values. You should be able to proactively identify opportunities, potential risks, and serve as a trusted advisor and coach, demonstrating a positive attitude, critical thinking skills, diplomacy, and exceptional communication skills.

The ideal candidate should also have an appreciation of measurement and evaluation, and understand how to apply data to improve audience engagement and contribute to larger organizational goals and objectives. The impact of your insightful decision-making abilities will be evident in successful engagement of our key stakeholders and influence attitude or behaviour changes.

The Communications Leader is accountable for planning and implementing strategic communications, as well as maintaining and strengthening the health authority’s reputation with both internal and external stakeholders. The Leader will be responsible for the communications and engagement needs of facility redevelopment projects, working closely with stakeholders across the organization.

As a Communications Leader with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Provide strategic communications consultation, planning and evaluation for senior leaders to proactively achieve strategic priorities, manage reputation risks, support change and transition initiatives, and positively impact corporate operations and employee engagement.
• Advise senior leaders and physicians on best use of communication tools and practices to achieve operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure employees and physicians are aware and understand corporate goals and objectives through strategic use of established and emerging communications channels.
• Provide advice and guidance and communications direction both internally and externally to ensure the successful implementation of communications strategies.
• Identify and respond to incidents and emerging issues with background information and messaging and develops strategic external communications with various stakeholders including news media, government, foundations, community stakeholders and other publics.
• Provide overall leadership and direction to designated team members using effective management techniques (e.g. coaching, mentoring, skills and leadership development, performance management) as applicable.
• Conduct research and evaluations, including surveys, focus groups, to benchmark, and measure the effectiveness of the organization’s communications strategies.
• Carry out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements.  Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or Journalism plus a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years’ recent, related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Advanced abilities with various computer applications, including a working knowledge of social media tools.
• The ideal candidate will possess an impressive record of achievement in determining the views and perspectives of multiple audiences - internal and external - and in designing communications and change management strategies that reflect those needs in advancing organizational goals and objectives.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to create and execute strategic communications plans with measurable objectives and results.
• Ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities, and to manage appropriate responses.
• Ability to be creative in developing new approaches to resolving issues.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional leaders and other stakeholders across the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive issues with skill, sound judgment, tact and diplomacy.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills to turn complex concepts into simple, accessible ideas.
• Team-oriented with the ability to build strong working relationships with stakeholders and partners.
• Strong team member and individual contributor.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Results-oriented, self-starter with the demonstrated ability to set and meet priorities.
• Calm and alert with the ability to maintain composure in stressful situations.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

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
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a great place to work and delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure special measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed.

We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2022.

Please note that a resume is required to apply to this posting.

Hours of Work may vary due to project requirements.

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

***Employees of VCH must apply via the Internal Application Process. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for How to Apply instructions. 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.