Nuxalk Nation Director of Health & Wellness
Director of Health & Wellness
Good Day! Come live, work and play in the beautiful Bella Coola Valley, one of the most gorgeous places on Earth. If you are an adventurous soul, this is an opportunity for you. Embrace the rich culture of the welcoming Nuxalk people. Hiking, fishing, rafting, exploring, photography, wildlife – we have it all.
Discover why the “Freedom Road” and the “Hill” have an exceptional story to tell. Our Valley has many cultural landmarks and storied areas of importance. This pristine Valley welcomes you to a place where great waterfalls abound and mighty rivers are home to all the Salmon species plus Steelhead, trout, and char. Come see a Grizzly. Make a home in a place where the mountains touch the sky.
This role delivers innovative, high-quality health and wellness services while being responsible for the strategic planning, development, and overall leadership of the Nuxalk Nation’s Department of Health & Wellness. This multi-faceted service area provides residential, in-community, and in-home support and one-on-one or group coaching, servicing the community in primary healthcare, home and community care, maternal/child health, health promotion, child and family services, mental health and wellness, family development, addictions, counselling, early childhood development, traditional medicines, youth services, complex care housing, and restorative justice.
Key roles and responsibilities
The duties listed are provided as examples of the area of responsibility and are not intended to create responsibility limits but to help understand the scope of the position.
Leadership
- Strategically plan, organize, implement, maintain and evaluate Health & Wellness department services so that they are culturally relevant, safe and effective.
- Provide hands-on involvement at all levels of service delivery; connect with the community and staff to be aware of service barriers, challenges, and successes.
- Promote Nuxalk Nation concepts and traditions regarding wellness and healthy ways of being
- Advocate for the health and wellness needs of the community
- Coordinate intervention, directly or indirectly, in emergencies, trauma and crises
- Promote a healthy lifestyle grounded in cultural traditions to health & wellness staff and community members
- Act as a mentor and positive role model for staff and support the development of annual work plans
Compliance
- Ensure programs and services comply with relevant regional and national legislation and organizational policy, processes and procedures.
- Ensure reporting standards meet the requirements of funding bodies
- Ensure reporting to CAO, Chief and Council is adequate and concise
Operations
- Work and negotiate with local and regional partners to identify gaps in health & wellness services and develop, implement and evaluate new services designed to meet gaps.
- Lead and provide day-to-day supervision of health & wellness staff, contractors and consultants
- Foster a cooperative and collaborative working environment through team activities, personal leadership, including the management/resolution of conflicts and promoting lateral kindness.
- Act as the staff and community’s “go-to person” for complex and unresolved health and wellness issues
- Ensure Health & Wellness Emergency Management, preparedness planning and pandemic planning are in place and well communicated for the community served.
- Identify and act on current and emerging community health and wellness priorities
- Serve as a liaison, connector and convener between the community and its health & wellness system partners
Administration
- Develop, implement, and evaluate culturally relevant and safe policies, processes, and procedures, including amendments as needed.
- Ensure financial management of programs and services, including compliance with all financial accountabilities and funding requirements.
- Manage the budget and financial reports of Health & Wellness programs and services, including efficient utilization of the funding.
- Access and apply research and innovation to community health and wellness policies/programs.
- Proactively build and nurture collaborative and respectful working relationships with First Nations in BC, health and wellness partners, and government agencies.
- Utilize these relationships to assist Nuxalk in achieving its health and wellness goals and objectives
- Ensure the CAO, Chief and Council have a base knowledge of community health and wellness issues; demonstrate and illuminate the value of health and wellness programs and services.
- Create, implement, evaluate and monitor Nation-based community health and wellness plans, incorporating input from the community and other health system stakeholders.
- Write official correspondence on behalf of Nuxalk as required
- Acts as a signing officer and oversight for approval of all Health & Wellness expenditures
- Proactively seek diverse funding sources to sustain health and wellness programs, including grants and funding opportunities.
Education
- master’s degree in human services, Health Sciences or a related field
- Willingness to complete the First Nations Health Directors Association Certification Program
Key Skills & abilities
- Minimum five (5) years of recent and relevant leadership experience working in a First Nations health setting, including developing, implementing, delivering, monitoring, and evaluating health and wellness programs and services OR an acceptable combination of education, training, and experience.
- Demonstrate a true understanding of Nuxalk ways of knowing and being, the political, cultural, and spiritual protocols of the Nuxalk community.
- In-depth knowledge of health/wellness challenges, relevant historical factors and trauma, e.g., residential schools, intergenerational trauma, colonization, , and opportunities specific to the communities served.
- Demonstrate fluency, or willingness to learn, local Nuxalk language
- Eagerness to develop solid and cooperative relationships with internal and external partners to foster understanding, collaboration and partnership.
- Current knowledge of the First Nations health system in BC and the tripartite relationships between Canada, BC and the FNHA.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Privacy Act and legislation applicable to the First Nations Health Departments, British Columbia’s Employment Standards Act, and other legislation.
- Robust experience developing and maintaining departmental budgets by analyzing data, recognizing trends and patterns, and synthesizing financial data into meaningful terms.
- Strong ability to contribute to the organization’s strategic performance, linking long-range vision and mission to daily work
- A solid leader interested in developing individual and group goals, aligning goals with organizational objectives and building commitment from staff to this direction.
- Knowledge of the services, structures, legislation, regulations and processes regarding First Nations health and wellness in BC, including on- and off-reserve jurisdiction issues and decisions.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Travel to other related locations will be required
- Respond to after-hours and emergency calls
- Required to work some non-standard hours to attend meetings or events; extended hours are required
- Operates under minimal supervision with limited direction and feedback
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Clean criminal records
- Valid class 5 BC Driver’s
- Own a vehicle in good operating condition and with appropriate vehicle insurance
WHAT YOU GET
- A 35-hour work week; Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM with a lunch Salary ranging from $90,000 to $110,000 per annum.
- A generous benefit
- Ongoing professional development
- Closing Date: Open until position
- For further information, please contact Hannah Jones se.assistant@nuxalknation.ca








