Lead, Indigenous Patient Experience, Cultural Safety and Partnerships
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Prince George, BC
Pursuant to Section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry.
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) is excited to be expanding specialized mental health and substance use services in Northern British Columbia through the development of a new program in Prince George. BCMHSUS is committed to providing high-quality, culturally safe, trauma-informed care that is free from Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination, and that supports individuals on their wellness and healing journeys. Recognizing the unique strengths, cultures, and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people across Northern British Columbia, meaningful engagement and partnership are foundational to the success of this initiative.
The Indigenous Engagement Lead will play a critical role in shaping the development of this new program and service. The successful candidate will establish and maintain strong relationships with First Nations, urban Indigenous organizations, Métis partners, and other Indigenous service providers across Northern British Columbia. Success in this role will rely on consistent presence in community, relationship continuity, and the ability to engage in ways that reflect local protocols and priorities.
Drawing upon a deep understanding of Indigenous-specific anti-racism, cultural safety, and the impacts of colonization, the Indigenous Engagement Lead will lead and/or support developing and implementing a comprehensive Indigenous engagement strategy that informs design, program and service delivery, workforce planning, and organizational practices. The Lead ensures feedback from communities, clients, and partners is meaningfully reflected in program design, decision-making, and evaluation, with clear mechanisms for reporting back. The position will also provide strategic advice and subject matter expertise to support the development of policies, procedures, and protocols that advance equitable and culturally safe care.
Working collaboratively with BCMHSUS teams, health authority partners, the First Nations Health Authority, Indigenous communities, and other key stakeholders, the Indigenous Engagement Lead will help ensure the project reflects the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples across the North. This includes engagement with the 55 distinct First Nations communities throughout the region, as well as urban Indigenous populations and Métis chartered communities. The successful candidate will work alongside clinical, operational, administrative, and project teams to embed Indigenous perspectives throughout planning and implementation and support the creation of services that are responsive, culturally safe, and free from Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination.
What you’ll do
- Lead development, implementation, and evaluation of BCMHSUS Indigenous Health Action Plan, ensuring alignment with PHSA’s Indigenous Health team, the Calls to Action of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the findings and recommendations of In Plain Sight, with the aim of improving patient experience and health care outcomes for Indigenous people accessing BCMHSUS services. Manages the promotion, monitoring and evaluation of the Plan, ensuring effective systems, practices, policies and timelines are met.
- Provide strategic and operational leadership to correctional health centres, adult mental health and substance use services, and forensic psychiatric services, with the aim of identifying and addressing existing barriers for Indigenous people accessing BCMHSUS services.
- Provide leadership and education on principles of Indigenous cultural safety, patient experience, community engagement with health professionals, leaders, and researchers across BCMHSUS, with the aim of transforming service delivery, research, and organizational culture. Identifies educational needs that support program and organizational objectives. Facilitates seminars and workshops. Develops educational tools. Uses effective management techniques (e.g., coaching, mentoring, skill and leadership development, performance management) to support the achievement of outcomes and operational requirements.
- Identify critical barriers and issues impacting BCMHSUS and PHSA’s commitment to providing culturally safe and person- and family-centered care to Indigenous patients, clients, and families by assessing outcomes, gathering formal and informal data, recommending corrective actions, and leading and supporting actions.
- Identify and evaluates new initiatives, partnership opportunities, new developments and trends in Indigenous health services planning through literature review, contact with peers at other organizations, professional associations and attendance at seminars, workshops and conferences.
What you bring
Qualifications
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration, Social Justice, Transformative Organizational Change or relevant health care discipline with a minimum of five (5) years recent, related experience in project management as well as facilitating and managing consultation processes involving a wide range of stakeholder groups, including Indigenous health organizations.
- 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
- Experience or working knowledge of health systems and policy, organizational change, anti-Indigenous racism, resistance to change, population health, illness prevention, health promotion, mental health and substance use, knowledge exchange and change management.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of Indigenous centred, culturally safe, trauma and violence-informed care and harm reduction, particularly in tertiary, inpatient, and/or secure setting
- 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: $90,770 - $130,481 per annum. 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: 830-1630
Requisition # 200521E
What we do
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.
BCMHSUS 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 and BCMHSUS are 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 June 26, 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].
