Reporting to the Provincial Director, Community, Culture and Connection, the Lead, Indigenous Wellness, Foundry is responsible for providing leadership for planning, organizing, implementing, maintaining and evaluating culturally relevant and safe policies, programs and services at Foundry.

This position proactively builds and nurtures collaborative and respectful working relationships and partnerships with First Nations, Metis and Inuit young people and their families, nations, Indigenous leaders, communities and organizations to ensure in-depth involvement in the design and delivery of culturally relevant and safe policies, programs and services for Indigenous youth and their families accessing Foundry services.

This position is responsible for leading the implementation of the vision, goals and activities set out in the Cultural Safety and Humility Framework for improved wellness, cultural safety and reconciliation including organizational development and capacity-building.

This position develops, plans, implements and evaluates knowledge exchange activities and products for a variety of internal and external audiences including Foundry centres, provincial and national governments, policy makers, youth, families, and non-profit sector leaders in BC, Canada and internationally.

Stemming from a strong foundational background and cultural experience with one or more of Canada’s Indigenous groups, the Lead, Indigenous Wellness provides expert counsel and advocacy, in advancing commitments to cultural safety, and truth and reconciliation, to improve wellness for Indigenous peoples from throughout BC.

The Lead, Indigenous Wellness oversees a team, which includes the Coordinator, Indigenous Engagement, charged with the development and implementation of Indigenous wellness and partnerships. Responsibilities include providing supervision of staff and monitoring and evaluating budgets.

Skills

• Demonstrated creativity and initiative in designing, leading and evaluating Indigenous wellness projects and developing partnerships both internal and external to the organization. Knowledge and experience in methodologies, planning, delivery, evaluation and reporting on engagement, public participation and stakeholder consultation processes.
• Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous health and wellness issues; socioeconomic determinants of health and wellness, participatory community-based engagement from a traditional context; traditional protocols; Indigenous community organizations and services and research literature and trend on Indigenous health, wellness, cultural safety and reconciliation.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the PHC’s signatory to the Declaration of Cultural Safety and Humility.
• Demonstrated ability to build cooperative and consultative partnerships with senior staff and leaders in external organizations. Knowledge of PHC and Foundry strategic priorities and key unresolved issues in order to identify partnership and engagement opportunities.
• Demonstrated project management and coordination skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop policy or projects for an Indigenous organization
• Demonstrated professionalism, tact, good judgment and diplomacy in interactions with senior leaders, both internally and within the community.
• Ability to problem-solve effectively using initiative, resourcefulness and thoughtfulness in decision-making.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Proficient computer skills and working knowledge of office and database software.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Education

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in Indigenous Studies, Leadership, Public Administration, Organizational Development, Health or other Master’s degree, plus five (5) to seven (7) years’ of recent leadership or organizational development experience or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training. Previous experience working with Indigenous organizations/societies/groups/Nations is an asset. Previous experience working in a health care context is an asset.

Duties

• Working with the Provincial Director, Community, Culture and Connection, provides leadership and expertise to identify and actively promote Indigenous wellness and reconciliation priorities, policies and practices within Foundry Central Office (FCO) and the Foundry Network (FN). This is accomplished through establishing partnerships with Indigenous organizations, leaders, Elders, researchers (locally, provincially and nationally); conducting cross-jurisdictional scans to identify existing tools and resources; socializing and implementing PHC and Foundry policies on cultural safety and cultural humility; and creating dialogue with staff, youth and families through formal and informal means.
• Facilitate partnerships and relationship building with provincial, regional and local Indigenous communities, nations and organizations for informed planning and decision making with and for Indigenous youth, families and communities accessing services at Foundry.
• Lead the implementation of the Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Framework at the FCO and across the Foundry network including strategies for the development of organizational policies, guidelines and standards, advisory structures and Indigenous wellness services and supports to ensure First Nations, Metis and Inuit young people and their families access culturally safe services at Foundry.
• Informed by the Cultural Safety and Humility Framework, Indigenous partners, Foundry staff, youth and families, identify opportunities for and implement organizational development and capacity building training and other education activities including anti-Indigenous racism, colonial history and cultural safety and humility for FCO and the Foundry network, youth and families
• Enhance, promote and engage participation of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Elders, communities, nations, families and youth in the planning and development of Foundry services and policies through fostering reciprocal relationships, and the creation of structures to effectively promote their involvement in decision-making.
• Creates documents including briefing notes, presentations, discussion papers, correspondence and other materials to provide advice to Foundry senior leadership and BC and Canadian governments for advancing cultural safety, wellness and reconciliation at Foundry and Integrated Youth Services in other jurisdictions.
• Informed by Foundry’s Cultural Safety and Humility Framework, develop knowledge products and resources such as fact sheets, templates, guidelines and standards to guide implementation of strategies and wise practices for relationship building, cultural safety and culturally relevant services at FCO and the FN (centres and virtual services).
• Develops, plans, implements and evaluates knowledge products (presentations, guides, reports, learning sessions) for knowledge exchange and mobilization for FCO, Foundry network, youth and families and partners in BC, nationally and internationally as required for improved wellness, cultural safety and reconciliation in Integrated Youth Services. Coordinates, schedules and facilitates these knowledge exchange and educational activities virtually or in-person for a variety of audiences including Foundry centres, provincial and national governments, policy makers, youth, families, and non-profit sector leaders in BC, Canada and internationally.
• Coordinate and facilitate committees and working groups to advance overarching goals and activities of the Cultural Safety and Humility Framework as required. (these will be developed over time and will also include youth and families).
• Maintain own knowledge and understanding of current Indigenous health, wellness, reconciliation, cultural safety and integrated youth services issues, policy, best practices, trends, innovation and research by reading related industry journals and literature and reviewing existing and new relevant legislation, policies and reports that seek to advance Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation in BC and Canada.
• Recruits, mentors, coaches and develops team members and promotes cooperative working relationships within the team and across other Foundry departments. Provides leadership and direction to own staff, coaches and mentors staff; encourages staff development; monitors and evaluates staff to ensure effective performance of duties.
• Monitors the program budget and realigns as required based on variance and regular reporting in conjunction with the Provincial Director, Community, Culture and Connection.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.