Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Public Affairs Leader, Public Health, plays a key role within the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Communications, Equity and Partnerships team and is primarily responsible for providing strategic communications support to the VCH Public Health department, as well as the broader Public Affairs portfolio.

In this role, the Leader will provide internal and external communications support to the VCH Public Health department. In practice, the Leader will help identify, plan and execute storytelling opportunities as well as external announcements; triage and respond to media enquiries; liaise with internal and external partners; develop key messages and communications materials; identify and prepare VCH spokespeople; monitor key trends, challenges and opportunities related to Public Health communications. The Leader will also provide similar support to the boarder Public Affairs portfolio, as capacity allows.

Reporting to the Regional Manager, Public Affairs, this is both a strategic and tactical role that has exposure to a wide variety of complex local and regional initiatives. The Leader will be joining a supportive, inclusive, results-oriented team with a purpose-driven mission to promote the health and wellness of our communities. The Leader will support initiatives that help directly advance the organization’s vision, values and pillars.

This work is aligned with VCH’s people-centred values and focused on advancing Indigenous Cultural Safety, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion and planetary health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant degree, particularly communications, marketing or journalism. Five (5) to seven (7) years’ progressive experience in public affairs, public relations, government relations, strategic communications, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Past experience in the public sector, a unionized workplace and / or the healthcare industry would be an asset.

ROLE SPECIFIC EXPERTISE

- Demonstrated skill and experience in journalistic writing and editing skills to compose briefing materials, news releases,



key messages and communication strategies for a variety of target audiences in a clear and concise manner.
- Demonstrated ability to create and execute strategic communication plans with measurable objectives and results.
- Ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities, garner resources to manage the response to them, while demonstrating tact, diplomacy and composure.
- Ability to be creative in developing new approaches to resolving issues and enhancing organizational reputation.
- 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.
- Ability to respectfully and effectively work with senior leaders and other partners in a wide variety of settings across the organization.
- Is practical, with an open, team-oriented approach to establishing good working relationships with internal and external groups/partners in routine and controversial situations.
- Demonstrated ability to set priorities and be results-oriented. And remain calm, alert and high functioning under stressful situations.
- Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive issues with skill, good judgment tact and diplomacy and to carry out the duties of the position with a high degree of ethical and professional behaviour.
- Demonstrated problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

SHARED VALUES

You care for everyone

- You are compassionate, empathetic,



and sensitive to the needs of others.
- You are respectful, treating people as equals, and valuing others’ perspectives and differences.
- You are appreciative of others’ efforts and give them praise when it’s due.

You are always learning

- You are open minded, always receptive to different perspectives and ways of doing things.
- You are curious and ask questions to find a deeper understanding.
- You share your expertise and mentor others by sharing your knowledge and experience.

You strive for better results:

- You are accountable, and take responsibility for what you say, what you do, and who you engage in achieving better results.
- You are a solution finder, empowered to solve the challenges we face in healthcare.
- You take ownership for growth and development and personal development, always seek feedback and opportunities to improve how we do things.

Details

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.

Unless otherwise noted on the posting, internal job postings close at 8:00 AM Pacific Time on the listed Closing Date. Please submit your digital application via the Internal Career Portal prior to the Closing Date & Time.

Nursing & LPN successful applicants will be notified by email.

We regret that only short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

This is an internal job posting for Vancouver Coastal Health employees only.

📌 Public Affairs Leader (Vancouver)
🏢 Vancouver Coastal Health
📍 Vancouver