Executive Director, Sanya’k̓ula, People & Culture

Sanya’k̓ula, People & Culture, Executive Director   Sanya’k̓ula, People & Culture Vancouver, BC Pursuant to Section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Sanya'k ?ula (Indigenous Recruitment and Employee Experience) [email protected] for support, advice, and guidance on the PHSA hiring process. In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including patient, employee and Indigenous Cultural Safety, are priorities and responsibilities shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. The Executive Director, Sanya’k̓ula, is responsible for the Sanya’k̓ula program and reports directly to the Vice President (VP), People & Culture (P&C) with matrix reporting to the Vice-President, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety (IH&CS) and is a member of the P&C senior leadership team (SLT). The Executive Director (ED) is accountable for leading Sanya’k̓ula and for providing executive-level leadership to further the overall enhancement, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the designated Program and overall PHSA IH&CS strategic direction. The position provides strategic Indigenous thought leadership to planning by practicing ‘Speak Up culture’ and supporting work to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination at systemic, structural and interpersonal levels to make impactful change and to enhance cultural safety for prospective and current Indigenous staff. It also provides leadership and management expertise in senior Indigenous specific anti-racism and cultural safety practice and programming, and in developing leading-edge strategies that effectively support the delivery of the highest quality services to the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia, utilizing a distinctions-based approach. What you’ll do  Inform the direction of the portfolio with a critical Indigenous-specific anti-racism approach encompassing an understanding of the harms experienced by Indigenous people in settler colonial institutions, the structure of whiteness embedded in health care, and lived experience as an Indigenous person to contextualize the impacts. Provide Indigenous thought leadership, strategic leadership, and expertise to advance Indigenous Health (IH) strategies across People & Culture, while maintaining a dotted-line relationship to the Vice President, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety. In partnership with the PHSA Indigenous Health team, People & Culture senior leadership, and corporate partners, leads the planning, development, implementation, administration, management, and evaluation of Indigenous Health programs, services, strategies, goals, and objectives, ensuring alignment with PHSA's strategic plan, Ministry of Health priorities, government legislation, provincial standards, agreements, and broader organizational priorities. Develop and align short and long-term plans, establish portfolio priorities, forecasts emerging issues and risks, and recommends strategies to address complex challenges. Promote Indigenous-specific anti-racism, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility education, and systems transformation initiatives that constructively disrupt white supremacy and eliminate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination within healthcare. Provide strategic consultation, leadership development, and coaching, navigates barriers and resistance to change, and make decisions with broad organizational impact to support sustainable transformation and improved outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. Hold the portfolio ecosystem accountable for clear measurable priorities to demonstrate progress against the In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care report recommendations and recommendations from other foundational documents. Advance Indigenous Health and wellness from a rights-based perspective consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as affirmed by the provincial Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Action Plan. Lead staff in growing partnerships with internal and external partners and facilitates consensus to plan and deliver on specific programs and services. Develops, builds and maintains mutually beneficial working partnerships, and represent the portfolio, PHSA and their interests across various audiences and interest holder groups. Collaborate and liaise within the Program or Service, PHSA and various external groups including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, regional health organizations and health authorities, Ministry personnel, the First Nations Health Authority, provincial/national associations, and across provincial networks. Ensure shared decision making and uplifts Indigenous voices to ensure inclusion. Negotiate both internally and externally to the Program or Service and PHSA on a formal basis, enter into contracts and letters of understanding on behalf of PHSA, and make decisions involving complex and diverse issues. Compile, analyze, summarize, and communicate data to support program initiatives. Evaluate whether program objectives/milestones are met. Ensure organization, Board, Ministry, and other reporting requirements are maintained such as identifying and tracking metrics. Implement Wise Practices, practice-based and western evidence-based interventions. Collaborate with People and Culture to provide lived employee experience perspectives. Provide advocacy and support for higher-level Indigenous leadership positions and hiring of Indigenous staff. Support Indigenous staff and leadership with safety, wellness, and professional development. Oversee the portfolio team to successfully deliver IH programs, and to embody and support PHSA purpose, vision, values and Coast Salish Teachings. Provide leadership to staff through coaching, guiding and modeling key behaviours/strategies, encouraging dialogue and providing guidance and advice to facilitate resolutions to work issues. Build and mentor the portfolio leadership team and assists team members to define shared and individual goals, meet target dates, and ensure alignment of team goals with client needs. Foster team spirit, trust and mutual respect. Recruit, develop and recognize staff; outline expectations, determine training requirements; and evaluate individual and team performance in collaboration with appropriate internal stakeholders and leaders. Define a vision and guide individuals and groups towards the vision; motivate teams towards attaining their maximum potential and encourage professional development. Develops and monitors an annual budget including operating, project/temporary funding, and budgets related to any delegated initiatives. Monitors overall portfolio budget performance, plans and adjusts operations and/or staffing to meet projections and annual targets, and approves expenditures and prepares summaries for fiscal reporting in collaboration with the portfolio’s program leaders. What you bring Qualifications Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in a related discipline supplemented by a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively more senior experience with a minimum of five (5) years at a leadership level. Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility. Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts, underpinned by significant expertise in Indigenous-specific mandates. This includes a clear understanding of and commitment to eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination. Additionally, it involves embedding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility, and an advanced expertise and unwavering dedication to engaging with diversity, centering equity, and advancing inclusion (DEI). Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within Sanya’k̓ula, People & Culture 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, Anti-Racism Data Act, BC Human Rights Code - 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 and Indigenous Cultural Safety. Demonstrates action-oriented practices addressing Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as confronting/addressing broader issues of racism and discrimination. Exhibits strong DEI and anti-racism competencies/skills to lead by example fostering a culture of continuous learning, equity, inclusion and belonging. 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.). Skills & Knowledge Ability to inform the direction of the portfolio with a critical Indigenous-specific anti-racism approach encompassing an understanding of the harms experienced by Indigenous people in settler colonial institutions, the structure of Whiteness embedded in health care and lived experience as an Indigenous person to contextualize the impacts. Demonstrated knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Lived experience, knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in B.C. Leadership capabilities in the areas of leading self, engaging others, driving change, achieving results, developing coalitions and system transformation are required. Solid understanding of wise/best practices and policies for areas of specialty. Expertise to define and guide individuals and groups towards a vision while maintaining group cohesiveness, motivation, commitment and effectiveness. Demonstrated ability to influence change and decision-making at senior levels of an organization. Able to respond to the needs of partners while being aware of the impact of actions on a system. Ability to influence system improvements within the programs and services of PHSA including direct health service delivery. Demonstrated ability to innovatively solve problems with a global perspective, make decisions and facilitate resolution of issues. Sound acumen to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with business partners as well as other external stakeholders, including MOH and senior leaders of other health organizations, throughout high profile endeavours. Excellent communication skills including the ability to facilitate and persuade others. Proven ability to negotiate and mediate resolutions to complex situations. Excellent organizational skills including the ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and coach staff. Demonstrates a solid commitment to the value of continuous learning. Ability to deal effectively with all levels of staff. Ability to approve, develop and oversee an annual budget. Demonstrated deep understanding of their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Able to articulate and share this journey to motivate and inspire others. Demonstrated knowledge of the social, economic, political realities of settler-colonialism and impacts on Indigenous peoples in social and health contexts as well as knowledge and understanding of, and commitment to upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments in the foundational documents: 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, 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 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more. 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: $143,969 - $206,956. 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: 1333 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9 Closing Date: Applicants accepted until position is filled Hours of Work: 08:00-16:00 Monday-Friday Requisition #: 205050E   What we do 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 – Create equity – Be courageous. Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code. One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected]. Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including 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 and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study. Attention current employees of PHSA: You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca. The internal job posting expires on October 9, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting. If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days. If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].