Corporate Director | Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Education (ICS & ARE)

Position Summary
Who are we looking for:

Are you passionate about leading systemic change that supports Indigenous self-determination, addresses anti-Indigenous racism, and promotes culturally safe care? Interior Health invites you to be a catalyst for reconciliation as the Corporate Director, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Education. In this role, you will collaborate with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across the Interior region to design and implement transformative education programs rooted in Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and lived experiences. Guided by Indigenous ways of knowing and doing, this role invites you to make a lasting impact-one rooted in respect, self-determination, and a shared vision for a healthier future. Join us in creating a health system where every Indigenous person feels safe, respected, and valued.

The location for this role is flexible within the Interior Health Region of British Columbia. Relocation allowance may be provided, apply today to join our amazing team.

Some of the benefits of joining Interior Health:

• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employee & Family Assistance Programs
• Employer paid training/education opportunities
• Employer paid vacation
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Municipal Pension Plan
• Work-life balance
• Relocation Allowance may be provided

Salary range for the position is $128,298 to $184,428. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

How will you create an impact:

Interior Health (IH) is committed to reconciliation and takes ownership of the systematic change required within the health system to eradicate Indigenous racism, support nation self-determination, share decision making with Indigenous partners and improve health outcomes for Indigenous people living in the Interior region of British Columbia. It is with gratitude that we acknowledge the traditional territories upon which we deliver health services including the lands of the Dakelh Dene, Ktunaxa, Nlaka’pamux, Secwepemc, St’at’imc, syilx and Tsilhqot’in peoples. We are deeply committed to working with First Nation and Métis partners to plan and deliver culturally safe care, including the foundational element in the development and delivery of Indigenous Specific Anti-Racism education and Cultural Safety & Humility training to our network of employees and medical staff.

In accordance with the established vision and values of the organization, the Corporate Director, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Education (ICS & ARE) is responsible for leading the strategic planning, development, implementation and evaluation of Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility training and Indigenous-specific Anti-Racism Education for all IH employees and medical staff. Driven by a deep knowledge of the British Columbia Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and Action Plan, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the In Plain Sight (IPS) Report, and the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, alongside the historic and ongoing impacts of the injustices brought upon Indigenous peoples through the residential school system and legacy of intergenerational trauma that continues today, the Corporate Director advises on best practices and action plans to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism through education and training.

The Corporate Director interprets and translates provincial mandates, IH-wide directions, and portfolio priorities into operational strategies, while working collaboratively with leaders across Clinical Operations to build and strengthen a culturally safe, respectful, and racism-free organization. The Corporate Director provides leadership to a core team and works closely with leaders at various levels throughout the organization to advance to advance education and training and enable culturally safe care.

What will you work on:

• Accountable for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of an IH Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility and Anti-Indigenous Racism Education plan that will be a guide for staff and medical leaders across IH. Ensures consistency with the Interior Health Indigenous Health and Wellness Strategy and guiding documents such as the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, IPS Report, and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.

• Accountable for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of an IH Indigenous Cultural Safety & Humility and Anti-Indigenous Racism Education plan that will be a guide for staff and medical leaders across IH. Ensures consistency with the Interior Health Indigenous Health and Wellness Strategy and guiding documents such as the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, IPS Report, and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.

• Integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and doing by ensuring meaningful engagement with all Interior region First Nations, First Nations Health Authority, and Métis Nation BC in the planning and development of cultural safety and humility and Indigenous-specific anti-racism education and training offering to IH employees, per recommendations in the IPS Report and BC cultural safety and humility Accreditation Standards. IH education and training opportunities will have an Interior region focus, highlighting the unique and distinct Nations and communities within the interior region.

• Leads and oversees the update and delivery of the training curriculum; establishing a sustainable approach for training delivery; and evaluating and reporting on outcomes. Ensures the effective promotion, execution, and evaluation of related training programs.

• Lead the development of program-specific (i.e. Emergency Department, MHSU, Primary Care, etc.) CSH training and Indigenous-specific ARE in collaboration with Operational and Corporate leaders.

• Develops and nurtures effective relationships with Interior region First Nation and MNBC communities, health leaders and organizations by initiating and maintaining reciprocal communication. Partners with Interior region First Nation and MNBC to integrate Nation-based and developed education and training opportunities into the IH Indigenous education plan.

• Builds influence and trust with leaders, medical staff, employees, partners and other interested parties through effective communication and negotiation in support of the portfolio activities. Meets regularly with IH leaders to identify and review related work. Functions as the corporate resource and internal point of contact for ICS&ARE initiatives and strategies.

• Work across the Indigenous Partnerships portfolio to identify strategies that build leadership capacity towards improved wellness, cultural safety, and reconciliation.

• Leads and supports capacity-building strategies including advisory structures, governance recommendations, education, community and partner engagement, and other best practices.

• Establishes and contributes to the development of consultative, advisory and/or steering structures within IH (and with external partners) that support genuine, meaningful, and sustained Indigenous community engagement.

• Identifies and supports the involvement of Indigenous representation (internal and external) to participate on working groups and provide consultative advice to project design and execution.

• Engages and collaborates with local, provincial, and national leaders in Indigenous CSH & ARE to inform strategy and practice. Gains an understanding of trends and developments and how they impact IH, clients, and partners.

• Participates on local and provincial committees and represents IH with Indigenous Health leaders and partner organizations, including health authorities, local government, provincial government, and community organizations.

• Leads the completion of business cases, operational reviews, needs assessments and environmental scans to identify viable organizational objectives, directions, and options.

• Undertakes priority analysis, action planning, partner engagement, strategy/project implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of key indicators.

• Keeps current with evolving Indigenous health trends and practices, and shares knowledge and supports to integrate evidence-based practice in the delivery of safe quality care/services.

• Identifies and ensures the expedited resolution to problems or barriers to enable successful completion and sustainment of initiatives. Understands and develops contingencies to manage the related risks of initiatives.

• Provides reports on activities, including project(s) updates, annual reports, committee(s) updates and other reports as required.

• Recruits, selects, hires, and manages staff and contractors as needed. Monitors and conducts performance evaluations, recommends training and development, undertakes disciplinary action if required including termination, and ensures mission-driven recognition strategies are in place.

• Manages within approved budgets and makes resource recommendations.

• In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, maintain a healthy and safe work environment through complying with and implementing applicable Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, responding to requests from WSBC, identifying hazards and communicating risks, ensuring compliance with employee training, conducting effective incident investigations, and implementing required corrective actions.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Lived and Living Experience
• Lived and living experience as an Indigenous person.
• Lived and living experience with First Nation, Métis and/or Inuit populations and demonstrated knowledge of, or a commitment to learn, First Nation, Métis and/or Inuit health care needs, services, and issues as well as knowledge of culture, protocols, traditions, and ideology of Indigenous people and organizations in the Interior region of British Columbia.

Education, Training and Experience
• A Masters degree, preferably in Indigenous Studies, Education, Business or Health Administration with specific education in the areas of administration/leadership, healthcare systems, and/or project management.
• A minimum of 10 years recent, related leadership experience including in a healthcare role with experience in developing and implementing Indigenous anti-racism education programs, system planning, and change management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HR processes, legislation, relevant collective agreements, and principles of union/management relationships, with all aspects informed by a commitment to Indigenous-specific anti-racism and Cultural Safety & Humility.
• Or an equivalent combination of lived experience, education, and training.

LEADS Capabilities:
Demonstrates all LEADS Capabilities, in particular:
• Leads Self/Cultural Agility - self-awareness, demonstrates character; noticing and adapting to cultural uniqueness to create a sense of safety for all.
• Engages Others/Empathy - fosters the development of others, communicates effectively, builds effective teams, listens with heart rather than reacting.
• Achieves Results/Process Orientation - sets direction, strategically aligns decisions with vision, values & evidence, accepting that use of process orientation and a ‘good relationship’ are concrete deliverables.
• Develops Coalitions/Building a Trust-Based Relationship - builds partnerships & networks to create results, demonstrates a commitment to customers & service, navigates socio-political environments, building personal relationships in addition to professional ones, participating in open exchanges of experiences and culture.
• System Transformation/Credible Champion - demonstrates systems/critical thinking, strategically oriented to the future, champions & orchestrates change, remains self-aware and maintains effective relationships, shows courage and conviction in advocating for change for the betterment of Indigenous people.

Skills and Abilities:
• Awareness of and commitment to learning, understanding and implementing the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019) and Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls calls for justice, and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Ability to anticipate and respond to changing priorities or unforeseen opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage challenging and competing demands within a limited time frame.
• Ability to work collaboratively with and provide leadership to diverse groups and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to creatively problem-solve with a global perspective to incorporate the organization’s systems and strategies when developing viable solutions to problems.
• Ability to ensure decisions and program direction supports the goals of the organization.
• Effective interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to deal with all levels in the organization as well as external groups.
• Effective communication skills including the ability to facilitate, negotiate, and persuade others both internal and external to the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to establish courses of action for self and others that are results-oriented.
• Knowledge of current healthcare issues and trends.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to build strategic partnerships and alliances.
• Ability to influence change and manage conflict.
• Ability to provide leadership, guidance, and direction to others including managers and staff.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Interior Health strives to create an environment where you enjoy the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. Together, we create great workplaces. Apply today!