Medical Health Officer

Position Summary
Who are we looking for:

Are you looking for a new and rewarding senior leadership challenge in healthcare? Interior Health has an exciting opportunity for Medical Health Officer. The location for this role is flexible within the Interior Health Region of British Columbia. We are looking for people who want to make a difference in the communities in which they live, work and play. 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
• Medical Service Plan
• 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 $262,017 - $327,521. 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:

Medical Health Officers (MHOs) are responsible for assessing, monitoring, and reporting on the health status of persons living in the Interior Health (IH) region. They are also responsible for administering various BC statutes and regulations relevant to protecting the health of the population. MHOs provide strategic and tactical support to senior leadership in the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs both regionally and within each of the local health areas. They provide clinical consultation and advice to health professionals in both acute and community settings and work collaboratively with internal and external partners to support healthy public policy.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief MHO with oversight from the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), MHOs are designated by the Lieutenant Governor of BC under Order in Council.

What will you work on:

• Assess, monitor, and report on the health status of the population, and provide advice and recommendations to senior executive and the board of directors relevant to health promotion and disease prevention.
• Administer various BC statutes and regulations including but not limited to the Public Health Act, the Drinking Water Protection Act, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, the Environmental Management Act, and the Community Charter.
• Provide clinical consultation and advice to health professionals in both acute and community settings across specialty services including communicable disease, infection control, facility licensing and environmental health.
• Provide strategic, tactical, and operational advice to senior leadership across specialty portfolios including indigenous health, mental health, substance use, harm reduction, maternal child health, primary care transformation, and health emergency management.
• Work collaboratively with management in developing, planning, implementing, and evaluating population and public health programs both regionally and within each of the local health areas.
• Engage and build partnerships with various external partners at the provincial, regional, and local level including government ministries, municipal councils, school boards, and non-profit community agencies.
• 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.
• Promote health equity and reduce health disparities by supporting inclusive healthy public policy and service delivery in a manner that is sensitive to both political and social contexts.

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
Education, Training, and Experience
• Medical Degree (MD) with current (or eligible for) full registration and licensure to practice medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.
• Fellowship in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Sciences or equivalent post-graduate training.
• Two years of experience in progressively more complex and senior medical administrative or public health leadership roles
• BC Driver’s License for travel as required within and between our geographically distributed communities.

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 - communicates effectively; listens with heart rather than reacting.
• Achieves Results/Process Orientation - takes action to implement decisions, assesses & evaluates results, follows culturally respectful processes that also produce results.
• Develops Coalitions/Building a Trust-Based Relationship - builds partnership and networks to create results, demonstrates a commitment to customers and service, 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
• Superior skills in epidemiology and surveillance to support the interpretation and dissemination of public health data to inform and evaluate public health planning, programming, and policy.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, provincial policy, practice standards, and clinical guidelines to ensure well-informed evidence based decision-making.
• Experience developing coalitions, cultivating strategic partnerships, defining a common
purpose, reaching consensus, and negotiating to conclude a process.
• Ability to communicate with clarity, integrity, and sensitivity to build trust with government partners, non-governmental agencies, media, peers, and the public.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, problem solving and innovative abilities to develop effective strategies and ensure support and attainment of goals.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.