Director, Health Equity, Safety & Wellness (Designated)

The Opportunity

This new portfolio brings together teams involved in Equity and Belonging, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness, and Respectful Workplace.

Built on the foundations of equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation & accessibility (EDIRA) and psychologically and physically safe workplaces, the Director and team will develop a strategy and action plan grounded in evidence-informed approaches and global/ regional best practices and will oversee resources and programs related to employee wellbeing, physical and psychological safety, and EDIRA.  This work will require collaboration and co-creation with internal, health system and community partners. 

The Director’s first responsibility will be to bring together their team and develop a vision for this new portfolio.  This involves consultation with IWK team members, system partners and community organizations that represent diverse populations and informing next steps.  The Director will oversee and action IWK Health’s EDIRA and health and wellness strategies, support active EDIRA committees, working groups and affinity- groups, and develop metrics for evaluation.  

Supporting an active EDIRA strategic planning process, the Director will work with their team and partners to evaluate the current state, identify and address gaps, set priorities and develop culturally appropriate policies, programs, supports and education. The Director ensures that the EDIRA lens and psychological safe principles are applied to everything we do at IWK Health.

Working with all the directors, the policy owners, and the policy office, the Director will ensure IWK’s Administrative and clinical policies and practices align with a safe and welcoming workplace experience for all, address systemic biases in our employment and patient impacting practices, and ensure we have proper reporting, investigation and resolution supports to address respectful workplace issues, including bullying, harassment, violence and anti-racism.
This role also works closely with the Director of Quality and Patient Safety & Experience and other clinical leaders to ensure any patient and family experiences that identifies harm as a result of discrimination or inaccessibility is addressed from an organizational perspective.

The Director acts as catalyst for change management, by being a change leader who promotes cross-functional collaboration and uniting teams across the organization. 
 

Hours of Work

75 hours bi-weekly 

Your Qualifications

First and foremost, we are seeking an experienced leader who has demonstrated their ability to bring people and organizations together around a common vision, an openness to learn together and the desire to create safe and welcoming spaces for all.  This is a role that requires humility as well as the organizational skills to create action from intent and meaningful outcomes from aspirations.  

• Minimum of seven to ten years' experience in health care or related sector, with a focus on workplace health, safety & wellness, EDIRA or related fields. Minimum three years’ demonstrated experience in a leadership role required. 
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a health discipline, health administration or related field of study is required, with a strong desire for Master’s level education or willingness to pursue.   Advanced diplomas, certificates or training in the above areas are considered assets. Equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered. 
• Minimum three years’ demonstrated experience in a leadership role required.
• Hands on experience informal or informal leadership roles in a complex multi-union environment or unionized health care sector experience. 
• Proven experience successfully leading organizational and culture change, ideally related to EDIRA, healthy, respectful and welcoming workplaces or related areas is desirable.,  
• Strong preference for a leader who has experience in healthcare or related sector, training and experience in clinical/occupational health & wellness and/or a track record of building coalitions and advancing culturally informed care and service in a similar environment.
• Demonstrates high degree of independent decision-making, self-direction, motivation, change management knowledge and team building/leadership skills.
• Effective interpersonal and leadership skills with proven communication, negotiation, and conflict management skills.
• Proven ability to identify innovative solutions and recommendations that support system transformation.
• Demonstrated fiscal, financial, and human resource management for their portfolio.
• Results oriented, with excellent facilitation, communication (verbal and written), and relationship building skills.