Director, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety, Indigenous Health Care - BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Director, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety, Indigenous Health Care

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Burnaby, BC (Remote)

Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry.

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS), the Director, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety provides leadership and strategic direction to improve the health status of Indigenous people in BC accessing provincial specialized inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use services with complex needs. Supporting a visionary, innovative, and creative approach to Indigenous health and cultural safety. The Director ensures and maintains productive and respectful long-term relationships with Indigenous partners including organizations, business and communities and their leadership. Providing strategic consultation and guidance to BCMHSUS, the Director supports key partnerships both internally and externally, and provides critical linkages with leaders within, across and beyond BCMHSUS, Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), regional health authorities, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), and external relevant organizations from provincial to national to global levels. The Director oversees BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Strategic Initiatives across BCMHSUS specialized programs, services, health promotion, research and evaluation. In addition, the Director will advise executive leadership, management and staff on matters of Indigenous-specific racism, Indigenous cultural safety & Humility, protocol and cultural sensitivities with respect to interacting with various Indigenous organizations, businesses and communities.

The Director oversees Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety strategic initiatives at BCMHSUS and supports effective partnership with program leaders within BCMHSUS to build organizational relationships and knowledge-sharing capacity about Indigenous health and cultural safety. The Director is accountable for the development and implementation of project goals, and works collaboratively with provincial Indigenous leaders and teams in the attainment of these goals. Towards the aim of providing culturally safe services for Indigenous people accessing specialized provincial mental health and substance use services, and advocating for the needs of Indigenous patients and their families, the Director provides leadership, sets direction and ensures effective service delivery for Indigenous people. The Director develops and maintains liaison and advisory relationships with the PHSA Indigenous Health leadership, First Nations Health Authority, and the Ministry of Health Indigenous leaders, and collaborates with a variety of community-based agencies and organizations within and beyond the province of BC. The Director provides input and direction in the development of Indigenous population health initiatives and strategies to PHSA Indigenous and Population Health leadership The Director identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement activities and development projects, including the mobilization of internal and external funding sources to support these initiatives. The Director represents BCMHSUS at regional, provincial, national and international levels by liaising with community-based agencies throughout the province, developing partnerships with relevant health agencies and educational facilities. The Director collaborates with government agencies and Indigenous communities in the development of strategies to improve the health of Indigenous women, children, newborns and their families in British Columbia.

The Director Indigenous Health & Cultural Safety is part of a new and innovative Indigenous led team where we continue to work towards dismantling and disrupting white supremacy throughout the organization. Our Indigenous Health team continually works to eliminate Indigenous-specific racism and hardwire Indigenous Cultural Safety and humility across BCMHSUS and the health system. The Indigenous Health program works provincially throughout B.C. PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).

What you'll do

• Provide expert advice and consultation to Executive Team at BCMHSUS with respect to identifying ongoing and emerging health needs and systemic health service barriers that the Indigenous people experience, and develops strategies to address these issues.
• Provide an Indigenous lens to BCMHSUS strategic planning processes to ensure priority setting and program/policy design and scope are fully inclusive of and culturally safe for Indigenous peoples. Implements effective processes to assess project risks, identify risk mitigation strategies, and monitor risk throughout the project lifecycle. Compile, analyze, summarize, and communicate data to support program initiatives. Evaluate whether program objectives/milestones are met.
• Lead in developing and implementing the BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety action items as they relate to the PHSA Indigenous Health strategy and plan consistent with the First Nations Health Plan, the Tri-partite Health Plan, and the PHSA strategic plan to improve the health of Indigenous people in provincial specialized mental health and substance use services.
• Ensure Agency, Board, Ministry, and other reporting requirements are maintained such as identifying and tracking metrics as they relate to the deliverables of Tripartite First Nations Health Plan.
• Provide leadership and representation for BCMHSUS Indigenous Health and cultural safety issues, strategies and needs at health planning and policy development boards/committees for PHSA, the Ministry of Health and other bodies, as required. Collaborate with the PHSA Indigenous and Executive leadership, First Nations Health Authority and the Indigenous Health leaders at each Health Authority to improve access to health programs serving Indigenous populations throughout British Columbia.
• Consult and collaborates with Indigenous agencies, organizations and community groups to address Indigenous health issues and establish strategies for strengthening community capacity, especially those pertaining to Indigenous peoples access specialized provincial mental health and substance use services.
• Lead and direct the provincial specialized mental health and substance use Indigenous health and cultural safety strategies, utilizing provincial strategies to establish priorities for BCMHSUS.
• Develop and maintain key partnerships with relevant health agencies, educational facilities, and Indigenous communities and groups.

What you bring

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Masters degree in a relevant discipline, such as Indigenous studies, nursing, population and public health, epidemiology, health psychology, or sociology, with a minimum of ten (10) years of recent, related experience working with Indigenous communities in public health care, including eight (8) years at a senior management/leadership level and significant Indigenous health-focused experience.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BCMHSUS contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

You will also have

• Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies.
• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of health issues, and especially the determinants of health, legislation and public policy affecting Indigenous people.
• Knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is required.
• Experience or working knowledge of health systems and policy, organizational change, anti-Indigenous racism, resistance to change, population health, illness prevention, health promotion, knowledge exchange and change management.
• Extensive knowledge of Indigenous health care needs, services, and issues as well as knowledge of culture, protocols, traditions, and ideology of Indigenous people and organizations in British Columbia is an asset.
• Established knowledge and network of Indigenous communities, services, and agencies throughout BC is an asset.
• Experience or working knowledge of population and public health is an asset.
• Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry.

• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That's why we're focused on your care too - offering health, wellness, development programs to support you - at work and at home.

• Join one of BC's largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations - offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
Salary Range: $116,591 - $167,600/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate's relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Location: 1795 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby BC, V5C 6E3 (Remote)
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of Work: Monday - Friday, 0830 - 1630
Requisition # 182080E

What we do

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.

BCMHSUS is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people - Be compassionate - Dare to innovate - Cultivate partnerships - Serve with purpose. Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA and BCMHSUS are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments' unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey—one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of April 11, 2025. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday - Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.