Specialist, Disaster Preparedness

**Specialist, Disaster Preparedness (DR3)**

BC Emergency Health Services

BC (Hybrid)

Regular, Full Time

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is hiring a newly created position, **Specialist, Disaster Preparedness (DR3).**

**Role Summary**

The DR3 Preparedness stream focuses on establishing the necessary capabilities and resources to handle potential disasters.

This stream prepares our staff, stations, and systems to be ready and aware, turning preparedness into a proactive action for both the anticipated and the unexpected disaster risks.

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA and BCEHS, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA and BCEHS. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

**What you’ll do**

The Specialist, Disaster Preparedness (DR3) reports to the Manager or designate and provides advice and guidance to BCEHS leadership, management, and staff on emergency management for an assigned program portfolio. The Specialist works closely with BCEHS leadership, advising on emergency management matters, in alignment with legislation, and leads operations during emergency events.

The Specialist consults with a range of internal and external partners, including partners from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), Health Authorities (HAs), Indigenous communities, and First Nations Health Authority, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), and government representatives at municipal, regional, provincial and federal levels, to ensure appropriate integration of DR3 planning activities with similar activities across the provincial healthcare system.

The Specialist contributes to the development of the budget, drafts briefing notes, business cases and proposals and participates in the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as Clinical Safety Plan (CSP), Clinical Mitigative Action Plan (CMAP), Business Continuity Plan(s) to support the strategic priorities for the assigned area of responsibility, and the regional and provincial health emergency management portfolio,

The Specialist develops, recommends, and implements integrated emergency management plans, leads site/sector emergency plans ensuring alignment with corporate and provincial plans and ensures alignment with legislation such as Bill 31, and established policies and procedures. Organizes exercise programs, education, training, and responses to emergencies.

**What you bring**

**Qualifications**

A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management and / or a related field such as social sciences, geography, business administration and five (5) years’ recent related experience in a large institutional or campus environment, including two (2) years’ experience managing business continuity and / or emergency management programs in a large complex multi-site environment.

This position requires **on-call** shifts as needed. Travel will be **required** as needed.

**Skills & Knowledge**
- Demonstrated knowledge of emergency management and business continuity issues in a healthcare setting.
- Demonstrated knowledge of standards (e.g., CSA Z1600, HSO 9002), provincial legislation (Bill 31), national and international frameworks (e.g., Emergency Management Strategy for Canada, United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).
- Demonstrated knowledge of the standards, systems and response agencies related to emergency management.
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiations skills including the ability to present to a wide range of partners in a diverse community.
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external partners.
- Ability to develop and deliver education, training, and exercise programs and / or workshops.
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
- Ability to exercise judgment to resolve problems / issues.
- Ability to organize and prioritize work and adapt to changing program and BCEHS needs.
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible in adapting to and working with a variety of situations, individuals and groups and respond to changing organizational priorities.
- Demonstrates a commitment to learning and self-development, partaking in professional development opportunities and acquiring new knowledge and skills.

**Indigenous Cultural Safety and Diversity**
- Knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies, including knowledge, and understanding of Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility, Indigenous-specific racism and anti-racism.
- Awareness of and commitment to learning