Lead, Indigenous Engagement

Position Summary
Who are we looking for?
Interior Health is looking for a permanent full time Lead, Indigenous Engagement to join our team in a role focused on meaningful change and collaboration within Indigenous health initiatives. You’ll work closely with Indigenous communities and health leaders to design strategic programs, foster impactful partnerships, and drive culturally safe healthcare solutions. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead change, advocate for Indigenous perspectives, and contribute to meaningful improvements in health outcomes.

The worksite location for this position is flexible and can be located anywhere within the Interior Health region. Travel is a requirement for this position.

Some of the Benefits of Joining Interior Health:

• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employer paid training/education
• Employer paid vacation
• Medical Service Plan
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Municipal Pension Plan
• Work-life balance

Salary Range:

Salary range for the position is $88,990 to $127,923. 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?

In accordance with established vision and values of the organization, the Lead, Indigenous Engagement will set design strategy, standard and direction for programs that fall within the Indigenous Engagement portfolio; collaborate with other portfolios to ensure the seamless integration of client-centered services. Assessing and identifying critical issues and opportunities in health care, the incumbent will develop strategic recommendations for leadership to advance key Indigenous initiatives. Crucial to the success of the position is the ability to analyze and consolidate Ministry and IH objectives, develop strong engagement with Indigenous communities and health leaders, and lead change initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for Indigenous people in the interior.

This position will lead and manage a variety of strategic initiatives, support IH program and operational leadership in engaging with Nation and community partners to facilitate ongoing collaboration and effective implementation of joint priorities.

The Lead will be expected to see the “big picture” by:
• Keeping pace with changes by scanning the environment for the relevant trends and developments affecting the portfolio’s programs.
• Demonstrating the ability to identify strategic issues and collaborate with appropriate partners across IH to assess the situation and alternatives.
• Keeping apprised of Topical IH, Strategic Provincial and Federal initiatives, and providing advice to IH leadership.
• Building collaborative integrative alliances across IH that can champion and build momentum for strategic change.
• Supporting partners including strategic plans execution, strategic process improvements, and communication.
• Monitoring input and enhancing performance metrics, continual and annual performance improvement, and planning of program strategic direction.
• Responding to changes in the global health care environment and participating in various ad-hoc projects as directed including guidance on process and methodology.
• Possessing a depth and breadth of knowledge to successfully implement strategies across the continuum of programs within the organization.

What will you work on:
1. Leadership

Taking direction from objectives and strategies and leading planning and program development that includes and consolidates:
• Researching Canadian and international standards
• Existing and emerging regulatory direction
• Evidence-based practices
• Emerging innovative practices into core and supplementary planning documents for a diverse range of programming areas across all IH portfolios in collaboration with Indigenous partners.

2. Innovation

Using a wide range of skills and abilities, the incumbent is responsible for generating innovative solutions and designing complex integration frameworks that affect multiple programs and services by:
• Conducting environmental scans that identify gaps and/or issues within assigned areas of specialty or in support of the larger portfolio and making recommendations for change, risk mitigation, quality improvement, etc.
• Collaborating with Indigenous community partners and IH content experts to identify, design, and address gaps that exist.
• Researching, developing, and implementing plans to address emerging priorities of care for issues where no current program or structure exists.

3. Program Planning/Interpretation of Policy

The Indigenous Health Program strives to create meaningful patient-centered care in programs and services that produce positive patient outcomes. Lead and support the development of processes, procedures, and systems to support population level assessment and evaluation of a range of programs and services that promote successful seamless integration including:
• Regular monitoring, improvement and planning using continuous quality improvement methodologies by program area of expertise.
• Participating in the development of Indigenous Health work planning and reporting processes to support improved health outcomes in collaboration with community and IH partners.
• Monitoring and responding to changing health status needs. Collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data to monitor program outcomes and identify emerging issues and trends.
• Providing meaningful input into business alignment plans.
• Identifying the need for, promoting, and facilitating research within the Health Authority.

4. Engagement and Liaison

Fostering and maintaining effective relationships with a broad range of internal partners, First Nation and Métis community health leaders and urban Indigenous service providers, to further the achievement of Nation, Health Authority, and Ministry of Health goals, objectives, and performance measures including:
• Liaising with internal partners, interested parties, programs, and portfolios.
• Representing the Indigenous Health program, vision, or direction on internal committees.
• Liaising with First Nation, Métis, and urban Indigenous health leaders regarding current and emerging program direction.
• Providing leadership to local First Nation and Métis Letter of Understanding (LOU) committees comprised of Nation and IH administrator and managers.
• Representing IH on external committees at the regional and provincial level as IH representative.
• Mentoring; educating; community capacity building; and increasing understanding, support, and acceptance of future directions.

5. Continuum of Care and Integration

Drawing upon a breadth and depth of knowledge, the incumbent will promote a continuum of care within Population Health by:
• Assisting in the development of priorities for Integration.
• Ensuring competing priorities are mediated.
• Ensuring programs with Population Health are linked, and where possible, established as a continuum of care.
• Fostering collaborative working relationships that are solution-focused.

6. Program Specialists

Provides guidance and leadership for Indigenous Health-related initiatives within the Population Health portfolio and across the organization including:

• Leading implementation of emerging Indigenous initiatives across IH.
• Establishing standards and benchmarks.
• Developing and monitoring Indigenous-specific policy.
• Developing and or approving education modules for a wide array of programming areas.
• On-going monitoring and evaluation of Indigenous programs and initiatives.

7. Functional Integration Resource Management

Responsible for ensuring the strategic alignment and functional integration of resources that promotes quality patient-centered care and seamless delivery of service between IH portfolios and Indigenous partners. This includes:
Promoting linkages between acute, community and tertiary integration by:
• Analyzing structure and service design linkages and recommending changes.
• Designing inter-disciplinary teams and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Promoting re-alignment of resources.
• Exchanging knowledge of gaps in service.
• Establishing and participating on Local and Regional Working Groups.

Promoting alignment with Nation, Métis, and urban Community Partners by:
• Developing goals and monitoring progress towards joint health plans.
• Supporting joint tables and priority planning activities.
• Ensuring that contracted services are aligned with the overall vision and direction of the Population Health Portfolio.
• Establishing standards and measurable outcomes for contracted services.

In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to the manager or supervisor immediately.
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!

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 Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training, and Experience:
• Master’s degree in a clinical discipline or related field.
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of recent, related experience in the field of Indigenous health policy and/or program development.
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.