Description
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Public Health Promotion/Prevention, the incumbent is responsible for the operational and functional management of the Healthy Communities unit, including all components related to the human, material, and resource management of the team. They contribute to the strategic development of these areas and lead the planning, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, and reporting of all related activities.
Aligned with the health promotion and prevention core functions of public health, the incumbent leads the Healthy Communities portfolio and is responsible for advancing health promotion and prevention initiatives across a broad range of population health priorities. These may include, but are not limited to, youth wellbeing, mental wellness, resiliency, sexual health, nutrition, injury prevention, substance use prevention, and other emerging public health priorities identified through community needs, evidence, and regional planning processes.
The incumbent plays a pivotal role in identifying key orientations, challenges, and priorities for this team, promoting a culture that values evidence-based decision making and an Indigenous strength-based approach. They are implemented collaboratively through culturally safe, community-driven practices that support the population of Eeyou Istchee in achieving Miyupimaatisiiun.
Collaborating closely with internal and external partners, the coordinator will additionally act as a liaison and support point for all relevant management by ensuring effective communication, coordination, and follow-up for matters involving program planning and research of the Healthy Communities unit.
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
1. Strategic Leadership & Governance
• Support the Assistant Director of Promotion/Prevention in all functions and regional mandates pertaining to Public Health Healthy Communities team.
• Contribute to the identification of strategic orientations, potential challenges, objectives and priorities of the Healthy Communities unit.
• As a core member of the Public Health Management Committee, participate in shaping public health strategic direction and contribute to the development of its Regional Action Plan (RAP) in accordance with the CBHSSJB Strategic Regional Plan (SPR) and the Programme national de santé publique (PNSP), by identifying strategic orientations, key priorities, potential challenges and objectives to improve health and wellbeing across Eeyou Istchee.
• Participate in management meetings and contribute to the strategic development of the Public Health department.
• Monitor emerging public health issues, population health trends, evidence, and community priorities, and provide strategic advice and recommendations to support decision-making and planning.
2. Planning & Program Development
• Contribute to the development, implementation and follow-up of the Public Health Regional Action Plan (RAP) as it pertains to the fields of Healthy Communities.
• Lead and provide guidance in the development of operational planning of the Healthy Communities team, including timeline and key milestones.
• Define the scope of assigned projects, elaborating goals and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders from CBHSSJB and partner organizations if required.
• Support the development of comprehensive program/project planning in collaboration with other professionals, in accordance with Indigenous strength-based approaches.
• Support the development of comprehensive public health initiatives, projects, and interventions in collaboration with partners, integrating Indigenous knowledge, community expertise, and evidence-informed practices.
3. Program Implementation & Coordination
• Lead and operationalize the planning, coordination, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of health promotion and prevention initiatives, interventions, campaigns, and projects for the Healthy Communities team, ensuring integration across public health core functions and alignment with Cree values and priorities.
• Oversee the successful delivery of assigned projects, at the request of the Assistant Director of Promotion/Prevention, and programs across diverse channels and according to the target population.
• Ensure that Healthy Families approaches are developed and implemented in accordance with evidence-based practices and are culturally safe, community-driven and support the population of Eeyou Istchee in achieving Miyupimaatisiiun.
4. Partnerships, Collaboration & Representation
• Promote collaboration with individuals and organizations in planning and implementing programs and policies relating to promoting health and preventing disease of Healthy Communities in Eeyou Istchee.
• Maintain partnerships and communication structures that ensure coherence and alignment across internal teams and external collaborators.
• Represent the Healthy Communities Unit and CBHSSJB at regional, provincial, and national committees, working groups, and professional forums, as delegated by the Assistant Director of Promotion/Prevention.
• Facilitate the exchange, translation, and mobilization of knowledge to support informed decision-making and evidence-informed public health practice.
5. Team Leadership, Communication & Operations
• Promote ongoing, effective and open communication with employees through keeping staff members informed of decisions that impact them and/or their department.
• Ensure the planning of human resources for the long, mid and short terms.
• Directly supervises the planning, procurement, storage, and control of materials needed for the Unit to ensure efficient operations and meet operational needs, including overseeing inventory management, purchasing, logistics, and quality assurance.
• Support employee development, mentorship, succession planning, continuous learning, and the strengthening of competencies required to advance public health practice and Indigenous approaches to wellness.
6. Quality Improvement, Evaluation & Innovation
• Ensure a culture that values evidence-informed decision-making, Indigenous knowledge systems, reflective practice, and continuous learning to support Miyupimaatisiiun. Identify, evaluate, and foster opportunities for innovation, promising practices, and emerging approaches that strengthen health promotion, prevention, and population health outcomes. Ensure the development of tools, procedures, and all related documents pertaining to Healthy Communities and monitor continuous improvement mechanisms for the various processes.
• Contribute to an annual evaluation of Healthy Communities activities and of how to apply the lessons learned, with the various management committees and key teams.
• Promote the integration of Indigenous knowledge, cultural strengths, community expertise, and evidence-informed practices in the design, implementation, and evaluation of Healthy Communities initiatives.
• Support the use of evaluation findings, research, surveillance data, community knowledge, and lessons learned to inform decision-making, planning, and continuous improvement.
REQUIREMENTS
Education and experience
• Bachelor's degree in social sciences or a relevant health or human science field, with a Certificate or master's degree in Community/Public Health;
• Certificate or courses in health administration are an asset.
OR
• Bachelor's degree and pertinent Community/Public Health studies and/or experience, with at least 5 years of pertinent experience;
• Five (5) years’ experience in public health practice or another relevant domain;
• Certificate or courses in health administration are an asset.
Knowledge and abilities
• Good knowledge of the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec (MSSS) and Quebec Public Health programs, laws, regulations, INSPQ, orientations and trends especially for public health surveillance, protection, promotion and prevention;
• Good knowledge of public health current issues and trends, and program planning and supervision, including the development of policies and programs, and quality assurance systems;
• Knowledge of the strategic management, integrated programming, professional and organizational interdependence, information management, and evaluation;
• Excellent knowledge of health promotion issues as it relates to First Nations communities;
• Good knowledge of public health and its approaches in the Indigenous context;
• Good record in an appropriate level of public health or programming management;
• Good record in human, financial, and information resources management is an asset;
• Knowledge of Nishiiyuu Miyupimaatisiiun (traditional methods) healing practices is an asset;
• Ability to apply Eeyou (Cree) culture, values, traditions and teachings into programs and services;
• Knowledge of Cree culture and historical background;
• Ability to both manage the planning and development of new programs, and the maintenance and quality assurance of existing programs;
• Ability to effectively collaborate with all colleagues, as a team member and team leader;
• Ability in administrative and statistical computer applications;
• Excellent critical thinking, planning and organizational skills as applied to planning;
• Results-oriented, autonomous, flexible, and ability to multi-task;
• Excellent interpersonal communication, leadership and respectful teamwork skills;
• Excellent communication skills, both for written and oral presentations;
• Strategic problem solving and crisis management.
LANGUAGE
• Fluency in English;
• Fluency in Cree or French is an asset.
OTHER
• Willingness to travel extensively in all 9 communities;
• Availability to respond to urgent files during Public Health events or crisis.
