Come work as a Public Affairs Leader, Public Health with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Public Affairs Leader to join the Public Health team. Apply today to join our team!

As a Public Affairs Leader, Public Health with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Play a key role within the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Communications, Equity and Partnerships team and is primarily responsible for providing strategic communications support to the VCH Public Health department, as well as the broader Public Affairs portfolio.
• Provide internal and external communications support to the VCH Public Health department.
• Help identify, plan and execute storytelling opportunities as well as external announcements; triage and respond to media enquiries; liaise with internal and external partners; develop key messages and communications materials; identify and prepare VCH spokespeople; monitor key trends, challenges and opportunities related to Public Health communications. The Leader will also provide similar support to the boarder Public Affairs portfolio, as capacity allows.
• Work in both a strategic and tactical role that has exposure to a wide variety of complex local and regional initiatives.
• Join a supportive, inclusive, results-oriented team with a purpose-driven mission to promote the health and wellness of our communities.
• Support initiatives that help directly advance the organization’s vision, values and pillars.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or Journalism plus a minimum of five (5) to seven (7) 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 media relations strategies that reflect those needs in advancing organizational goals and objectives.

   

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated skill and experience in journalistic writing and editing skills to compose briefing materials, news releases, key messages and communication strategies for a variety of target audiences in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute strategic communication plans with measurable objectives and results.
• Ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities, garner resources to manage the response to them, while demonstrating tact, diplomacy and composure.
• Ability to be creative in developing new approaches to resolving issues and enhancing organizational reputation.
• Ability to effectively work with senior leaders and other stakeholders in a wide variety of settings across the organization.
• Is practical, with an open, team-oriented approach to establishing good working relationships with internal and external stakeholder groups/partners in routine and controversial situations.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities and be results-oriented. And remain calm, alert and high functioning under stressful situations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive issues with skill, good judgment tact and diplomacy and to carry out the duties of the position with a high degree of ethical and professional behaviour.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

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):

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

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, BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.

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.