Climate Change and Planetary Health Lead

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations,and is home to six Métis Chartered Communities.

Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care. Learn more.

We are currently looking to fill a Full Time opportunity for a Climate Change and Planetary Health Lead located in the Tri-Cities, BC.

Reporting to the Manager Environmental Health Services, the Climate Change and Planetary Health Lead provides subject matter expertise, project management, and strategic leadership on issues relating to climate change and health.

Does this sound like you? Come work with us!

Joining the Fraser Health team offers you opportunities to work in a rapidly growing organization with health professionals who are excellent in their respective fields, career growth and advancement, a competitive compensation package (including four weeks of vacation to start, comprehensive health benefits, and pension plan), and the rewarding opportunity to make a difference every single day in health care.

Effective October 26, 2021 all staff for all positions across health care in British Columbia are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and there are no exceptions.

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

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

Reporting to the Manager Environmental Health Services, the Climate Change and Planetary Health Lead provides subject matter expertise, project management, and strategic leadership on issues relating to climate change and health. Working closely with the Medical Health Officer, Environmental Health and the Health Protection team, the Lead provides leadership in the implementation of climate change and health adaptation initiatives across Fraser Health (FH), and plans and conducts monitoring, reporting, and evaluation activities related to this work. Collaborates with Public Health staff to work with provincial ministries and community partners on issues involving climate change adaptation and health, including local authorities and non-governmental organizations. The Lead works with the Environmental Health Scientist and other FH staff to synthesize the rapidly evolving literature on climate change projections, health impacts, and adaptation options to ensure that FH senior leadership are informed, and will form research and knowledge translation partnerships to ensure that knowledge gaps are addressed. The Lead actively monitors and pursues funding opportunities to support FH’s pursuit of mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

1. Leads the implementation of Fraser Health climate change and health adaptation actions within the Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer. Works with the Manager, Environmental Health Services Health Protection, Medical Health Officer, Environmental Health, Environmental Health Scientist, and senior leaders to coordinate, plan prioritize activities, develop timelines, allocate resources and implement change management plans.
2. Coordinates the strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of priority climate and planetary health initiatives in Population and Public Health. Documents performance trends and recommends modifications to improve the climate change-related programs. Organizes and maintains an up-to-date database of priority initiatives relating to climate change and health, and supports broader organizational initiatives relating to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
3. Collaborates with the Medical Health Officer, Environmental Health team and Environmental Health Scientist on other work related to climate change and planetary health.
4. Assists Healthy Built Environment team with climate change evidence and actions, and supports community outreach efforts to contribute to a strategic and effective process.
5. Contributes to relationship building with external partners, and contributes to intersectoral action initiatives with municipal and First Nation staff, as well as those that provide health-related services and other allied services.
6. Supports Indigenous Health team in advancing climate change and health adaptation in Indigenous communities and populations throughout the health region. Advances partnerships with urban Indigenous and Metis organizations in collaboration with FH, Climate Action Secretariat, Ministry of Health, and others.
7. Collaborates with the Environmental Health Scientist, Fraser Health Public Health Observatory, and external organizations like BC Centres for Disease Control and Ministry of Health to advance surveillance and reporting for climate-sensitive health outcomes.
8. Coordinates and supports knowledge translation related to climate change and planetary health, including mapping, guidance resources, research summaries, conference and webinar presentations, and policy recommendations. Supports Fraser Health’s web and social media presence.
9. Supports the process by which PPH reports to Ministry of Health on climate change activities described in the bilateral agreement/mandate letter, as well as any created under the Climate Accountability Act (e.g., risk management for health services).
10. Supports Fraser Health response to other climate change and planetary health initiatives such as those lead by the Ministry of Health.
11. Represents Fraser Health on climate change committees, working and advisory groups.
12. Coordinates engagement with other health sector stakeholders including Health Canada, BC Ministry of Health, other regional Health Authorities, First Nations Health Authority, and the Provincial Health Services Authority.
13. Monitors funding opportunities, recruits partners, manages proposals, develops contracts, monitors performance of consultants, and responsible for reporting for on funded projects.
14. Scans and synthesizes literature and projects relating to climate change projections, planetary health, human health and health system impacts, vulnerability and risk assessment, adaptation options, equity, change management, implementation science, monitoring and evaluation, and intersectoral action. Summarizes findings for Fraser Health leaders, staff and community partners.
15. Coordinates updates to vulnerability and risk assessment, and strategic plan(s) at regular intervals.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Masters degree in a discipline related to Environmental Health, sustainability, and climate action, plus a minimum seven (7) years’ of recent, related experience, including environmental health promotion and knowledge translation experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

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:

• Working knowledge of climate change science, health impacts, equity, and adaptation strategies, including, but not limited to: air quality, water quality and quantity, extreme weather events and emergencies, emerging diseases, ecosystem impacts, including to food and water safety and security.
• Demonstrated ability to create respectful and effective relationships with Indigenous leaders, knowledge keepers, and representatives.
• Understand of existing initiatives relating to climate change in British Columbia, and the ability to build strategic relationships with those involved in these initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to professionally and respectfully engage with multiple stakeholders in meaningful dialogue through advisory committees, meetings and workshops. Ability to integrate feedback from stakeholders into project activities.
• Understanding of municipal and regional decision-making process, and ability to build effective relationships with staff members.
• Demonstrated effective verbal communication skills with a wide range of audiences, including oral presentations to a number of audiences.
• Demonstrated effective written communication skills with wide range of audiences, from compiling large amounts of information into written technical reports to translating knowledge into digestible information for community members.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate relevant information from a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines as required.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize large amounts of information and knowledge from a number of sources including scientific literature, government reports, and stakeholder consultations.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills, with the ability to organize, run and facilitate large and small meetings (i.e. workshops, focus groups) while synthesizing and compiling the dialogue in concrete ways.
• Highly motivated, self-starter, and able to work independently.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team as well as independently.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work, and work under time constraints to meet deadlines.
• Expertise in monitoring, reporting, and evaluation, including indicator development.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.