Come work as a Community Health Specialist with Vancouver Coastal Health on the Healthy Public Policy Unit in Gibsons, BC. Apply now to join the team!

Within the context of a client and family centered care model and in accordance with established standards of professional practice and the vision and values of the organization, the Community Health Specialist (CHS) works collaboratively with all levels and disciplines of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) staff and diverse community groups, service providers, school districts and local government in the delivery of health promoting policies, programs and related initiatives. Acts as the key point of contact for local VCH staff and external partners at the community level regarding upstream prevention and health promotion strategies that address behavioral risk factors that contribute to chronic disease. The CHS engages regularly with regional teams to inform this work.

ABOUT GIBSONS, BC:

Known as the “gateway to the Sunshine Coast”, located just north of Vancouver, Gibsons is a quaint town overlooking a harbour and features the beautiful backdrop of our coastal mountains. This area is located on the traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. This charming municipality filled with artists, entrepreneurs, and fishing boats is just a scenic 40-minute ferry ride from West Vancouver followed by a short 5km drive from the Langdale ferry terminal. It is ideal for residents seeking a relaxing blend of water and land activities. Enjoy an outdoor lifestyle with unlimited hiking, biking, golf, fishing and more in a community rich in culture.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Applied Science or related field.
• Three (3) years’ recent related experience in community development inclusive of experience in health promotion, community engagement and development, population health, community capacity building, program evaluation, facilitation of integrated approaches to community health and well-being and leadership, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Current BC Driver's License and access to a personal vehicle for business-related purposes, as required.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Working knowledge of local government and other community partner structures, processes and sources of information.
• Working knowledge of sustainable community engagement and development, collective impact and design theory.
• Comprehensive knowledge of population health principles, health equity and chronic disease prevention.
• Working knowledge of participatory, community-based research, evaluation methodologies including policy development.
• Knowledge of project management methodology and/or project planning.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing to a diverse audience.
• Demonstrated ability to build community capacity through the facilitation of group processes.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including individual community members, community groups, non-governmental organizations, government bodies, health professionals, interdisciplinary teams and health authority leaders.
• Ability to guide others through conflict to reach consensus by using conflict resolution and problem solving strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, multi-task and prioritize work in a dynamic environment subject to changing deadlines and interruptions.
• Ability to advocate for and with communities to improve health and well-being.
• Provide leadership and expertise within VCH to maximize building community well-being capacity.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

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
• 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.