Title: Senior Director Health Services, British Columbia and Yukon
Employee Working Location: Hybrid (Southern Vancouver Island or Mainland BC, Canada)
Employment status: Permanent full time
Salary band: $100,186 – $125,232/year

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) – one of the most inspirational not-for-profit organizations on this planet and an awardee on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers 2022 – is seeking a Senior Director Health Services British Columbia and Yukon to join its team.

We are guided by our Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. We help people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and support them in strengthening their resilience.

Starting with the hiring process, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We encourage all qualified persons who share our values and want to contribute to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace to apply.

The incumbent will work collaboratively with programs and geographies to support and shape the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) Health Services line activities. The Senior Director Health Services (SDHS) will develop trusting relationships within respective internal and external networks to understand the health needs within assigned geographical/program areas and leaders to set the strategic vision for Health Services.

In this role, you will: 

Responsibility 1: Provide strategic leadership and direction on Health (including Health in Emergencies and Community Health) in the geography.

• Lead the continuous evolution, development, and execution of Health Services to position CRC in assigned geographies/programs and across Canada as a partner of choice.
• In collaboration with Geo and national health Leadership, contribute to CRC Health Framework/Strategic direction and the development of Health Services
• Critically evaluate and advise CRC leadership and partners in the design and ongoing adaptation of health services, operational tools, communications, and training.
• Contributes to public health analysis and service-related decision-making within the assigned geographies and programs.
• Identify opportunities for CRC health services that are relevant to our partners including “blue sky” engagements to maintain skills and engagement of HiE specialists and assets, working in proximity with Geo VP’s and CRC Health stakeholders.
• Identify strategic, long-term opportunities and mandates for CRC health programming in support of community needs related to COVID-19, other emergency health crises, natural emergencies, community health, Opioid Harm Reduction, Prevention & Safety, Indigenous Health, and other CRC health areas/services.
• Oversee the adaptation, development, and evolution of CRC evidence-based package of services, guidelines, tools and standards in assigned geographies and programs.

Responsibility 2: Lead readiness, development and delivery of CRC Health in Emergencies interventions and programs.

• In collaboration with leadership teams, adapt the HiE service lines and readiness for health related emergencies and hazards within assigned geographies and programs including building proactive relationship with geographic health authorities, First Nations Health Authorities and developing (with coordination with other CRC Geo teams and national HiE team) anticipated menu of HiE services for a variety of complex scenarios.
• Lead the technical support of HiE scale-up responses in assigned geographies to ensure excellence in delivery.
• Oversee the technical and/or operational aspects of HiE operations including ERU, Emergency Health Services (public health and clinical), MHPSS and other integrated health services in connection with the CRC Emergency Management (EM) services and collaboration with Indigenous Health team   .
• Contribute to the development and updating of assigned geographical risk registers and mitigations.
• In coordination with the National Health and Safety Committee, advise assigned Geo VPs, and CRC leadership in the adoption and ongoing monitoring of IPC protocols for CRCS personnel.
• Deploys self and/or Health Team to field operations within the geography and potentially across Canada to provide technical oversight, expertise, and evaluation in the delivery of health in emergencies response services and ensures protocols are in place to prevent the exposure and transmission of COVID—19 and/or other emergency health risks.
• Coordinate with the CRC Medical Director, quality, risk, Ops and legal teams to ensure quality assurance and clinical accountability mechanisms and monitoring processes are in place.
• Collaborate closely with the Indigenous People / Indigenous Health team and support the links with Create Safe Environment (CSE) strategy to ensure all assigned  Geo HiE services are relevant, appropriate, and in line with the CRC Indigenous Peoples Framework and the guiding principles.

Responsibility 3: Lead the design, implementation, and support/guidance of Community Health programming (including HELP and Friendly Calls)

• Develop, and implement a plan to identify, evaluate and make recommendations on opportunities and gaps in the community health space that align with CRC’s strategic directions with a focus on social determinants of health and activities that promote community and individual health, well-being, and resilience.
• Work closely with the Geographic VPs to establish strong relations with key stakeholders, potential partners and funders in the health, social and community sectors by building awareness of the breadth of CRC’s expertise and service offerings.
• Effectively link interoperability and optimize expertise across HiE and CH in stakeholder engagement, as well as strategic and operational planning.
• Develop the operational and financial plans to support the approved strategy, including the planning and implementation of pilot projects.
• Align plans with other change elements underway, particularly in the use of technology and volunteer engagement.
• Work closely with the pan-Canadian health team to understand and align to national strategy including strategic partnerships, research, innovation, impact evaluation and quality management.
• Prepare project status reports, briefing notes and presentations to inform leadership and other stakeholders of the progress to plan, impact, etc.
• Support the negotiation of the desired future with health authorities.

Responsibility 4: Strategic Relationships and Representation within CRC, with assigned geographic health partners and other stakeholders.

• Support the negotiation and advance the technical discussions with key health partners at P/T in the Geo’s to position CRC as a partner of choice in areas related to Health Services in an Emergency and/or Community Health.
• Define, develop, and oversee the relevant relationships, agreements and alliances with different organizations, academia and government and health sector stakeholders at P/T/ Municipal / community levels around health opportunities and initiatives.
• Represent CRC at various forums and meetings with partners (internal/external) to provide technical or subject matter expertise on health service lines development, implementation, and delivery.
• Support the submission of abstracts, moderate and present in key Health/Emergency Management conferences to profile the work of CRC and its partners.

Responsibility 5: People Leadership

• Lead a high performing Health team (including as relevant, HELP, Public Health in Emergencies, HiE, and Community Health in assigned geographies. Set priorities, connection with Geo leadership, EM and Indigenous teams, and national health teams and other relevant teams to ensure managerial and technical oversight and support to the Geo teams.
• Support an effective, collaborative team within a matrix structure in an emergency response/service line, organization working closely with Health and Emergency Management teams at geo and national levels.
• Facilitate the development of a shared understanding between geographies, programs, emergency and health teams on how to balance the objectives of achieving technical excellence with the realities of program implementation in very complex and challenging environments including matrix management

What we are looking for: 

• A degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, or related health fields.
• A post-graduate degree in a related medical or public health (e.g., Public Health, Community Health, Mental Health, Indigenous Health) is a strong asset.
• A certificate in an area related to leadership, coaching, business administration, health management is an asset.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive health leadership experience in a relevant role.
• 5 or more years’ experience in health programs in areas related to emergencies, epidemic / pandemic, Indigenous health, community health, primary health care.
• 5 or more years’ experience leading and developing strong multifunction teams with a proven ability to lead teams through times of change / transformation and maintain a client/service driven approach.
• Sound people leadership experience, building and engaging cross functional staff in a complex matrix environment and developing talent proven experience managing a team of diverse professionals.
• Strategic thinking with experience developing, implementing, and monitoring strategic plans.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the Canadian and Federal, Provincial, Territorial Health sectors and an established network of working relationships with provincial and territorial health organizations.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, interpersonal, negotiation, conflict resolution, presentation and influencing skills to interface effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong understanding of programing cycle, concept, planning, implementation, evaluation, reflection and delivery of lessons learned.
• Strong business acumen, problem solving and effective management skills including strategic and operational planning, budgetary processes, resource allocation, evaluation, change management and strategic planning.
• Resilience and adaptability to changing circumstances and an evolving environment.
• Demonstrated strength in strategic perspective and ability to think and act at the organization-wide level.
• Proven experience in building organizational capability and facilitating growth of the talent pool.
• Strong ability to impact through engagement and influence, strength in encouraging others to act.
• Successful experience of collaboration for improvement; establishing partnership building opportunities externally.
• Ability to focus on stakeholder accountability and align systems to deliver service excellence.
• Successful experience in leading operations and making decisions despite ambiguity.

Working conditions:  

• This role is considered partially virtual and the majority of the work is performed in a home office environment.
• May include long to moderate hours sitting and using computers and office equipment.
• Ability to work non-traditional hours on short notice.
• Ability to work in stressful and often ambiguous conditions.
• This position may require domestic travel to support operations and/or attend meetings, conferences, workshops and meetings as required.
• Must be able to be Medical Cleared for travel in accordance with established CRC Medical criteria in positions where travel will be required.
• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).
• At this time, the CRC has temporarily suspended our Covid-19 vaccination policy and does not require but continues to strongly encourage full vaccination of all our personnel.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible – those who apply after the selection process has started may be held for a second review if needed OR reviewed for alternative roles. We appreciate the time and effort it takes to apply and thank you in advance.

If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please notify us as soon as possible. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.