Manager, Communications and Engagement

Manager, Communications and Engagement

PHSA Corporate

Vancouver, BC

Communications work is important; who you do it for is even more important. This is an opportunity to be part of something that truly matters – shaping, creating and guiding communication that speaks to the needs of real people, in an industry that every British Columbian needs. Join us in making a difference for patients and care providers, and reap the rewards that come from meaningful work done alongside of great people.

We are recruiting for a Manager, Communications and Engagement to support a broad portfolio that intersects with many of our patient and family-serving clinical programs, and focuses on the full-scope communication opportunities within Quality, Professional Practice & Clinical Informatics and Medical & Academic Affairs. This position would be primarily based at the PHSA administrative office in Vancouver on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-wathuth First Nations. We are grateful to be able to work on these lands supporting care for patients and their families throughout the province.

About you

You are a self-starter who takes initiative to creatively identify and act on communications opportunities, respond quickly to issues, and advise on effective messages and strategies that are inclusive and culturally safe. You know how navigate a matrix environment, building relationships through collaboration and how to prioritize competing interests and requests. You are a supportive team player who views your role as helping and enabling your colleagues’ success, as much as securing support for your own. You are comfortable working directly with senior leaders, engaging in challenging conversations, delegating tasks and supporting team members and contactors in accomplishing their deliverables.

Role summary

Reporting to the Director, Communications and Engagement, you are a trusted and thoughtful partner working with leaders, medical staff and program staff to manage strategic planning and operational requirements of internal communication and engagement, communications planning and on occasion issues management and/or media relations.

Working with a number of senior leaders, including those in the PHSA Medical & Academic Affairs portfolio and the PHSA Quality, Professional Practice and Clinical Informatics portfolio, fellow communications leaders and other key partners, you are customer service-oriented and ensure clients’ communications services are aligned with the overall strategic direction of PHSA – achieving consistent quality standards, adhering to best practices and maximizing opportunities for staff and medical staff awareness, education and engagement. Grounded in principals of person-centred and trauma-informed care, you liaise with key contacts within PHSA, external partners, including Indigenous thought leaders, and other health authorities, to negotiate and facilitate consensus, provide information, guide and direct others.

You will be joining a high-performing team that cares about its members, has fun, and can find humour in almost any situation. Our team has humbly started a journey of reconciliation and you would participate in our efforts to dismantle colonial ways of thinking and acting.

What you’ll do

• As a leader within a high performing team, you develop, coordinate, direct and monitor communication plans and services to support PHSA’s strategic communication initiatives, campaigns and projects, and ensure alignment with overall PHSA strategic direction, purpose, vision and values.
• Counsel senior leaders and other staff on sensitive issues and strategies.
• Promotes the positive perception of PHSA amongst key partners through effective communications strategies.
• Ensures consistency and alignment amongst programs for cross-PHSA and provincial communications initiatives.
• Provide leadership to staff, team members and contractors through coaching, guiding and modeling key behaviours, encouraging dialogue and providing guidance and advice to facilitate resolutions to work issues. Assists team members to define goals, meet target dates and ensure alignment of goals with client need.
• Fosters team spirit, trust and mutual respect, encouraging collaboration across individual projects and teams.
• In keeping with our culture of collaboration and teamwork, the Manager participates in the PHSA media on-call roster.

What you bring

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a university degree in communications, journalism or a related field supplemented by seven years of experience in a large, multi-site, unionized environment.
• Demonstrated ability to research and write creative and compelling copy for a variety of applications, including online and print publications. Experience in multi-media storytelling, including social media and video production.
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute strategic communication plans, and to respond to the needs of internal and external partners in sensitive situations supported by acute awareness of the impact of actions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legislative policy development and processes of various levels of government, ability to meet tight deadlines, work under pressure, and handle highly confidential and sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.

Skills & Knowledge

• In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA, the other BC health authorities and the BC Ministry of Health, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and responsibility shared by everyone, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. The PHSA Communications & Engagement team is happy to support employees with hybrid work arrangements.
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls calls for justice, and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Supports team members on their learning journey, ensuring education strategy for team/department to implement Indigenous Cultural Safety at a practical level.
• Works collaboratively with appropriate Indigenous teams/departments to ensure ICS lens applied holistically.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

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 in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• 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: $96,429 - $138,617 /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: 1333 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 0900-1700 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition # 145479E

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

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 – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA is committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey—one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.