Healthy Communities Coordinator

**Job Description**:
In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health) patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Grounded in an understanding of the social determinants of health, the Healthy Communities Coordinator will support and coordinate staff to work with community and other Island Health staff to identify and assess local needs, review available resources, and mobilize community action to promote individual and community health and well-being.

The Healthy Communities Coordinator will use a population health and community development approach to assess, promote, protect health, to prevent disease, reduce injury and to support community health and wellness by supporting staff who work in a wide range of community settings.

The Healthy Communities Coordinator will support Healthy Communities staff to support specific interventions and health promotion activities related to healthy eating, food security and nutrition, physical literacy and activity, mental health and wellness, harm reduction and reduction.

The role may also support staff to identify opportunities for participation;, to mobilize and to respond during community need or health crisis.

The Coordinator will lead, plan, coordinate, and evaluate Island Health's Healthy Communities Programs.

Travel may be a requirement of this position. Transportation arrangements must meet the operational requirements of the Vancouver Island Health Authority in accordance with the service assignment and may require the use of a personal vehicle.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education, Training And Experience**:
Bachelor's Degree in an allied health related discipline from an approved post-secondary institution.

At least five (5) years' of relevant experience which includes proven examples of community development work, health promotion, project management, policy development, and interdisciplinary partnering.

Two years of relevant experience working with school districts or other community partners to support program transformation and the development and planning of health promotion and health equity initiatives, including monitoring and evaluation.

Two years experience supervising or coordinating staff.

Knowledge of community health and wellness programs and services, their interrelationships, and their function in promoting community health and wellness; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Valid BC Driver's License.

**Skills And Abilities**:

- Good understanding of the principles and values of health promotion (healthy public policy, supportive environments, strengthen community action, develop personal skills, reorient health services) and basic health promotion (enable, mediate, advocate).
- Understanding of nutrition and food security, food systems and sustainable food practices as they relate to and influence population health.
- Demonstrates understanding of the role of policy in school health and how school health policy is developed in Canada.
- Demonstrates understanding of public health assessment and surveillance, school health surveillance and monitoring as it relates to planning, policy analysis, program evaluation, advocacy and research.
- Demonstrates understanding of the process and roles of partnership, collaboration and community development and advocacy to improve the health and wellbeing of the school population through wellness.
- Ability to organize, set priorities with demonstrated knowledge of project management methodology. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrated ability in public speaking and advocacy.
- Demonstrated knowledge of social determinants of health and their impact on health outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative, and with limited supervision while maintaining collaborative relationships with community partners.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a multidisciplinary team. Demonstrated ability in facilitation and community capacity building. Physically able to carry out the duties of the position.
- Operate a personal computer with a variety of windows based software.

**Job Requirements**: