Director, Risk Management

Come work as a Director, Risk Management with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Director, Risk Management to join the team. Reporting to the Regional Director, Risk Management, the Director is responsible for providing leadership in management of clinical and operational risk. The position promotes and leads on the use of evidence-based risk management strategies and tools to promote and improve patient care. Represents Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) in liaising with external legal counsel assigned by the health care protection program (HCPP), and other external agencies in investigating and managing claims involving patients/clients or the organization. The Director will work with staff and physicians and support operational leaders in identifying, assessing, analyzing and implementing mitigation strategies to mitigate the identified risk to VCH, staff, physicians and the clients and families we serve. The Director provides leadership to the Senior Executive Team and is responsible and accountable for the development of the organization's integrated clinical risk management program and initiatives in a manner that fulfills the mission and strategic goals of VCH, while complying with provincial and federal laws and accreditation standards related to safe patient care and risk management across the organization.

The Director works in collaboration with the Director of VCH Patient Care Quality Office as requested in reviewing responses to patients or their complainants from a risk management perspective. The Director will work in collaboration with the Director of Patient Experience for VCH to ensure the patient's perspective is included in supporting the delivery of health care with the highest quality of care whenever possible.

This work is framed within VCH's commitments to our pillars of Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Planetary Health.Apply today to join our team

Please note this position will require travel to Vancouver General Hospital, Richmond General Hospital and Vancouver Community.

As a Director, Risk Management with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Lead, develop, manage, implement, and evaluate corporate and clinical risk management systems. including building a risk-smart workforce and environment that allows for innovation and responsible risk-taking while ensuring legitimate precautions are taken to protect public interest, maintain public trust, and ensure due diligence.
• Promote and support the development of a culture of safety; identifies opportunities and implements strategies for improvement and provides oversight of proactive and reactive risk management activities and education including risk assessments, root and system cause analysis, failure mode effects analysis, and critical incident review processes.
• Provide advice and direction to CEO and Senior Executive Team, senior medical and operational executives, medical and clinical staff to protect the assets and reputation of the organization not limited to: Patients, staff, medical staff, facilities, and finances.
• Promote policy, contractual and regulatory/legislative compliance. Manage/mitigate risks regarding critical incident including documentation, disclosure, communication, media exposure, notification, and retention of evidence.
• Provide expert senior level risk management advice and guidance to corporate and operational departments and senior leadership on a wide variety of risk management, legal issues, including those with a high-risk profile within business requirements. Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares advice.
• Mitigate professional practice/conduct and liability issues. Directs, consistent with best practices and trends, the development of required risk management education and policy.
• All other duties as required.

Education & Experience

• Master's Degree in a health-related discipline or a juris doctorate, plus seven to ten (7 to 10) years' recent, related experience in progressively senior leadership roles with responsibility for leading risk management issues management activities, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of healthcare issues as well as specialized knowledge in risk management, privacy, change management, information management, complaints management, and policy development.
• Effectively and proactively coordinates strategies, systems, and processes to reduce risk, minimize critical incidents, complaints and claims and collaborates with others to improve the care delivered by VCH.
• Expertly applies technical and analytical expertise to assess and support risk and situation management activities, and to establish and support the implementation of risk management strategies to support the organization.
• Oversees, assists with, and/or conducts timely risk assessments in response to requests and consults with the appropriate operational leaders concerning issues with clinical risk or operational risk requiring immediate attention.
• Applies superior judgment and political expertise to communicate sensitive information, and effectively persuade and negotiate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Interprets and implements legal and other regulatory obligations and responsibilities of VCH in the context of relevant legislation, regulations, common law and other changing standards with support of in-house legal counsel.
• Demonstrated critical thinking, analytical skills encompassing an organization-wide perspective.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, innovative leadership and systems improvement skills.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with people across all disciplines and settings, in addition to the integrity, trust and professionalism that the role requires.
• Experience developing and implementing and training on policy, procedures and corporate practices.
• Experience in project management in a leadership position.
• Demonstrated history of positive collegial relationships with management, support staff, Health Authority-based providers and leaders, and clinicians.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key internal and external partners to promote and enhance services provided with sensitivity to diversity and indigenous lens.
• Practices the recognition, inclusion and support of all types and aspects of diversity at all stages of engagement, with an understanding of the issues faced by people from equity-deserving groups.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complicated or highly technical matters in a way which is clear, concise and understandable.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative in understanding the needs of others and taking action to achieve helpful results. Computer proficiency with a variety of relevant software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

As per the current Public Health Orders, as of October 5, 2023, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have received a single dose of the most-recent, updated COVID-19 vaccine. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Orlando Cerrato, Manager, Executive Talent Acquisition at

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

Equity, diversity, 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 2023.Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. 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.