Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Job Description:
In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health) patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Vice President, Indigenous Health, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and with accountability to the Island Health Senior Executive and Board of Directors for setting the direction and driving the organizational strategy for DEI, the Director, Diversity, DEI is responsible for enabling, implementing, monitoring and evaluating DEI strategy into the organization’s daily operations. The Director is responsible for bringing an equity lens to Island health, which means drawing attention to the inclusion of marginalized populations that are often under-represented and/or discriminated against within organizational systems. The Director is responsible for developing, managing, and promoting DEI strategy through enabling equity through a range of activities including activities to engender inclusion of diversity across programs, services and teams. This position will support staff and front-line employees and leaders to assess how policies, practices, and decisions differentially impact various groups based on a range of identity factors including race, culture, sex, gender identify and expression, and sexual orientation and take action to promote equity.

This position is the key point of contact with program/department leaders across the organization, partnering to educate, advise, guide and champion behaviours to support and incorporate DEI into core organizational systems and practices, achieving improved results from both a patient/resident/client perspective as well as organizationally.

The Director, DEI is responsible for developing a three-year strategy and action plan grounded in evidence-informed approaches and global best practices and will oversee leadership development resources and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, including hiring and search practices aimed at developing a representative and inclusive organizational culture. The Director will have broad oversight of DEI communications, strategic coaching, curriculum, training, programs and support for leaders throughout Island Health on sustaining and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts including the organization’s ability to attract retain and develop more diverse and inclusive leadership and staff, and enhance organizational equity.

The Director will partner closely with a variety of leaders across Island Health programs including Medicine, Medical Affairs, Quality and Patient Safety, Patient and Staff Experience, Indigenous Health, Clinical Operations, Professional Practice, Clinical Learning, and Communications as well as provincial and national counterparts to advance DEI and belonging for providers and patients/residents/clients. The Director serves on a variety of steering committees across the organization to bring the diversity, equity and inclusion lens to the governance work of Island Health. The Director will also work closely with equity-seeking groups to advance equity of voice and representation in DEI planning, implementation and evaluation.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training And Experience

A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Sociology, DEI Leadership, Social Justice, Law, Policy or other DEI specific credentials, supplemented with over ten (10) years’ related experience including experience in leading research teams, developing curriculums and implementing equity-focused organizational change and working with equity seeking groups, community engagement, equity-building methodologies and integration of community voice into policy, procedure, strategy and planning.

Demonstrated experience setting up and overseeing an organization’s Ombudsman’s Office is an asset.

Skills And Abilities

Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a diverse, complex, sometimes ambiguous and decentralized organization to provide leadership for cultural change.

Ability to influence and operate in a matrix organization.

Ability to be resilient, flexible and creative in approaching complex problems including the ability to integrate complex theoretical knowledge and frameworks, implement action and evaluate change.

Ability to assess interventions, measure effectiveness and design tools to evaluate success.

Advanced skills in change management education and consultation.

Outstanding listening, collaboration and team building skills that facilitate coordination and cooperation with the demonstrated ability to lead with both courage and humility.

Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of project management principles and methodologies and ability to coach team members on these skills.

Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and problem solving abilities to lead a variety of complex, diverse and integrated services and initiatives and to achieve desired results within critical timeframes.

Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including management and staff at all levels, government agencies, other health authorities, and external stakeholders and others as applicable.

Demonstrated experience in the effective management and resolution of discrimination and harassment complaints, as well as with patient/client/resident complaints.

Demonstrated experience in conducting research studies or publishing papers in academic journals.

Demonstrated excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing, with a variety of audiences internally and externally to the organization. Ability to translate complex ideas for diverse audiences, attending to power, privilege, and inclusion in languae and communication.

Personal commitment to cultural safety, cultural humility, anti-oppressive practice, and attending to power and privilege.

Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

LEADS in a Caring Environment Framework: https://www.leadscanada.net/site/framework

Job Requirements:
https://jd.viha.ca/JD4837.pdf