Program Director, Patient Care Services
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Prince George, BC
Are you passionate about supporting health care in Prince George and making a difference in this community? Join BCMHSUS as Program Director for the new Prince George Mental Health and Substance Use 72 bed Program that will be dedicated to providing compassionate care and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. If you’re excited to contribute to a project that will have a lasting impact on heath care in Prince George we’d love to hear from you!
What you’ll do
- Develops strategic plans, goals and annual objectives for the portfolio providing leadership and support to staff in developing individual program plans including the development and implementation of proposals for new or expanded programs or redistribution of resources. Ensures these plans are consistent with and complement the organization’s overall strategic plan. Develops and deploys mechanisms for monitoring program performance and monitors progress in achieving performance. Communicates BCMHSUS’s strategic direction incorporating Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and BCMHSUS vision, values and strategic direction and ensures integration into practice.
- Works directly with the Medical Director, to ensure the development, implementation and evaluation of quality management initiatives and processes across site activities to measure and monitor quality. This includes such methodologies/tools as benchmarking, evidence-based practice, measurement outcomes, and consumer/stakeholder relations.
- Prepares, oversees and is accountable for the annual operating budget for the assigned portfolio, including capital equipment requests, the establishment of fiscal priorities, and allocation of resources. Monitors expenditures within established budgets, identifies efficiencies, and promotes optimal use of resources. Makes recommendations on current and future program and service adjustments.
- Provides human resource leadership and direction to staff in all aspects by developing an organizational model within an interprofessional context that supports professional practice leadership. Provides leadership and mentorship to Clinical Services Managers and staff through coaching and modeling key behaviours/strategies, encouraging dialogue and providing guidance to facilitate resolutions to human resource issues; provides personnel and labour relations support including hiring, annual performance reviews, termination, handling grievances and planning for essential services.
- Ensures human resource plans within the portfolio address recruitment and retention issues. Creates, implements and evaluates an effective workforce plan for the portfolio in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders that ensures the availability of adequate staff within the context of operational demands and environmental and resource constraints. Leads service development and planning activities through work groups and projects, and monitors progress and outcomes. Initiates, recommends, implements and evaluates objectives, policies and procedures and standards of practice related to patient and family care together with various resources including nursing leadership and professional practice Leaders.
- Creates an environment of evidence-based practice that encourages participation in research, fosters personal growth, and supports opportunities for teaching and education of students and staff. Recommends opportunities for staff involvement in professional and team research. Identifies reviews and provides approval of research proposals for studies which are to be conducted in the Program.
- Works directly with PHSA communications on required internal and external communication for the portfolio.
- Represents the program internally as a senior leader and subject matter expert. Provides leadership for a variety of committees with the accountability to negotiate and commit the portfolio to a course of action.
- Represents the organization and portfolio externally. Responsibilities include knowledge generation, translation and dissemination on a national, provincial, regional and local level. Collaborates and facilitates provincial networks where consensus building and coordination of multiple stakeholder groups is critical; generating consensus among diver stakeholder groups.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
What you bring
Qualifications
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Masters’ Degree in a relevant health care profession and a minimum of ten (10) years of recent related clinical and progressive leadership experience, including at least three (3) years in a managerial/leadership role; current registration/membership with a professional college.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BCMHSUS 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, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act 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. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- 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
- Strong skills in operations management.
- Innovative leadership skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams and to promote teamwork.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects.
- Demonstrated understanding and experience with quality assurance process, operational planning and program development.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as 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, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, 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: $130,864 – 188,116/year. 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: Prince George, BC
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0830 - 1630
Requisition # 201962E
What we do
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.
BCMHSUS is a program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
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 July 31, 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].
