Come work as a Communications Leader, Vancouver Acute with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health (VGH) is looking for an intermediate to senior level communications professional to support all aspects of internal and external communications for the Vancouver Acute Community of Care, which operates Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. Vancouver Acute includes the highest concentration of our employees, medical staff and services. Working alongside a communications specialist, you will provide strategic communications leadership to VGH, Western Canada’s leading academic and teaching hospital; two high-volume emergency departments; a Level 1 Trauma Centre; BC’s largest rehabilitation centre; and award-winning medical programs.

The role requires everything from big-picture planning to execution of all tactics that make for a successful communication campaign or initiative. The ideal candidate is a dynamic self-starter capable of prioritizing competing deadlines and confidently delivering sound communication advice to operational leaders. Equally important, the individual has a good sense of humour, loads of empathy, a willingness to pitch in to support colleagues, and lots of experience in creating simple, yet effective communications that connect with leaders, frontline employees and medical staff.

The Communications Leader proactively identifies opportunities for internal and external communication, as well as potential communication risks, and serves as a trusted advisor, demonstrating a positive attitude, critical thinking skills, creativity, diplomacy and amazing written and oral communication skills.

Reporting to the Regional Manager of Corporate Communications, the Communications Leader is accountable for developing, planning and implementing strategic communications with a focus on the information and engagement needs of employees and medical staff in the Vancouver Acute Community of Care as well as the patients they serve. The position provides leadership and consultation in all aspects of communications to advance strategic priorities while maintaining and strengthening the health authority’s reputation with both internal and external stakeholders. This role is also responsible for managing a communications specialist.

WHO WE ARE

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents living in Vancouver, Vancouver's North Shore, Richmond, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Sunshine Coast, and the Central Coast (Bella Bella and Bella Coola.) At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. At our core, we are a people-focused organization where entrepreneurial spirit runs deep, and opportunity exists for all those who see themselves in the transformation of health care as we know it.

As a Communications Leader, Vancouver Acute with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Provide strategic communications consultation, planning and evaluation for senior leaders to proactively achieve strategic priorities, manage reputation risks, support change and transition initiatives, and positively impact corporate operations and employee engagement.
• Advise senior leaders and physicians on best use of communication tools and practices to achieve operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure employees and physicians are aware and understand corporate goals and objectives through strategic use of established and emerging communications channels.
• Provide advice and guidance and communications direction both internally and externally to ensure the successful implementation of communications strategies.
• Identify and responds to incidents and emerging issues with background information and messaging and develops strategic external communications with various stakeholders including news media, government, foundations, community stakeholders and other publics.
• Provide overall leadership and direction to designated team members using effective management techniques (e.g. coaching, mentoring, skills and leadership development, performance management).
• Conduct research and evaluations, including surveys and focus groups, to benchmark and measure the effectiveness of the organization’s communications strategies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant degree, particularly communications, marketing or journalism.
• Seven to ten (7 to 10) years of progressive experience in public relations and change leadership, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Industry-recognized accreditation preferred.
• Past experience in organizational or corporate communications is a must and experience with issues management and change management would be a significant asset.

• Provide strategic communications consultation, planning and evaluation for senior leaders to proactively achieve strategic priorities, manage reputation risks, support change and transition initiatives, and positively impact corporate operations and employee engagement.
• Advise senior leaders and physicians on best use of communication tools and practices to achieve operational priorities.
• Work with senior leaders and managers to help employees and medical staff understand corporate goals and objectives through strategic use of established and emerging communications channels.
• Provide advice, guidance and communications direction both internally and externally to support the successful implementation of communications strategies.
• Collaborate on master project list and provide day-to-day assignments and feedback to the local communications specialist to achieve corporate communications objectives.
• Identify and respond to incidents and emerging issues with background information and messaging and collaborate on strategic external communications with various stakeholders including news media, government, foundations and community stakeholders.
• Conduct research and evaluations, including surveys and focus groups, to benchmark and measure the effectiveness of the organization’s communications strategies.
• Knowledge of the health-care industry and/or public sector experience is a significant asset.
• Experience partnering and engaging with Indigenous communities and local First Nations is an asset.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a great place to work and delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure special measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed.

We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2022.

Please note that a resume is required to apply to this posting.

Hours of Work may vary due to project requirements.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.

***Employees of VCH must apply via the Internal Application Process. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for How to Apply instructions. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.