Director, Special Projects

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities.

We are seeking a driven and results-oriented Director, Special Projects with an expert and innovative approach to Project Management, and a passion for health care. The Director, Special Projects will report to the Vice President, Medicine, and work collaboratively across Medical Affairs & Medical Staff Services to establish and advance strategic solutions while promoting operational initiatives that span the Fraser Health region.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring & Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe manner.

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families:

Reporting to a Vice President, the Director, Special Projects performs a key leadership and project management role for strategic and operational project(s) across Fraser Health Authority (FHA). These project(s) involve large-scale reviews of practices, procedures and systems leading to the enhanced integration of services, better service delivery, improved customer satisfaction, development of new programs, and the delivery of cost-efficiencies for FHA and partner organizations. He/she provides leadership in the development and implementation of detailed project charters and plans, decision support, health planning, and the assessment of the climate for change. The Director provides direction to project resources to ensure that the project scope of work is completed on time and on budget. He/she leads others toward the achievement of project goals through effectively communicating the project vision, coordinating resources, advancing priorities, and promoting collaboration and commitment of key stakeholders. The Director supports project work groups and committees and is the key point person for achieving integration of project findings/recommendations. Key contacts are with senior leaders across FHA, as well as stakeholders at all levels to consult, negotiate and ensure commitment to project goals. Liaises with external agencies such as the Ministry of Health for planning and reporting purposes.

1. Leads the development and implementation of innovative and creative approaches, opportunities, initiatives, and projects for delivery of high quality, value added and efficient services, to support long term strategies and effectively address customer needs and expectations.
2. Creates project plans and promotes effective project management including establishing project charter, objectives, timelines and critical path, collaboration with stakeholders, engagement of appropriate resources, facilitation of project activities, progress monitoring, problem resolution, and recommendations to senior management team.
3. Provides best practice expertise to FHA and partner organizations through strategic and operational planning, research, evaluation, forecasting/model development, complex feasibility studies, and business cases associated with large-scale reviews of practices, procedures and systems.
4. Ensures that effective processes are in place to assess project risks, identify risk mitigation strategies and monitor risk throughout the life cycle of the project.
5. In collaboration with the Contract Management Office, assumes responsibility for project management of specific initiatives from conception through to implementation and post-transition, including preparing and issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), reviewing responses, recommending consultants to be retained, supervising consultants' contracts as appropriate, and ensuring adherence to project timeframes and budget.
6. Develops and successfully manages project budgets within the context of operational demands and environmental and resource constraints.
7. Leads and manages multidisciplinary project teams, sets priorities, assigns work and monitors to ensure teams meet deadlines and objectives.
8. Fosters effective relationships across FHA to maintain sponsorship support for project initiatives and activities, keep relevant stakeholders aware of project status, and create partnerships and opportunities for development of new projects.
9. Develops and strengthens external linkages with community, various levels of government, education institutes, other health regions, and other health related organizations to promote the exchange of information and ideas.

Master's degree in Health Services Administration, Business Administration or related masters degree, with more than 10 years' recent, related experience that includes hospital budgeting, managing strategic and operational projects, and facilitating and managing consultation processes with a wide range of stakeholder groups (including the public, senior and middle management, physicians and staff). Current registration with relevant professional College/Association, if applicable. Demonstrated commitment to on-going learning and professional development. Exposure to clinical operations would be an asset.

COMPETENCIES:

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

Professional/Technical Capabilities

• Fosters collaboration and effective working relationships with stakeholders that promote cooperative goals and contribute to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
• Inspires a shared vision and aligns performance goals and objectives for team and individuals to ensure match with strategy while maintaining group cohesiveness, motivation, commitment and effectiveness.
• Applies superior conflict management skills and expertise to persuade and negotiate effective resolution of issues/disputes.
• Displays comprehensive knowledge of project management principles and methodologies and ability to coach team members on these skills.
• Uses sound business acumen to manage the fiscal resources of assigned projects/services in a manner that is financially responsible and consistent with overall goals of the organization.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of available resources for projects and applicable stakeholder groups, provides feedback and detailed analysis on project processes and makes recommendations as required.
• Utilizes initiative, vision, independent thinking and creative problem-solving abilities to implement project plans and realize project completion.
• Employs excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively present information to relevant stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Works independently and effectively under time pressure to meet deadlines, balance work priorities and resolve problems in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultural safety and humility and its application in health care settings.