Regional Substance Use Lead, MH&SUS

At Fraser Health, we are driven by a clear purpose: to improve the health and well-being of the diverse communities we serve. Grounded in our core values of Respect, Caring, and Trust, and guided by a deep commitment to culturally safe, patient- and family-centered care, we are seeking an exceptional leader to step into the pivotal role of Regional Substance Use Lead, Mental Health & Substance Use (MH&SUS).

This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to influence system-wide transformation in substance use care—one that touches youth, adults, families, communities, and particularly First Nations, Indigenous, and other equity-deserving populations across the Fraser Health region.

Why This Role Matters

Substance use and concurrent disorders continue to be among the most complex and urgent public health challenges in our region. As the Regional Substance Use Lead, you will be at the forefront of designing and advancing Fraser Health’s response—ensuring people receive evidence‑informed, trauma‑ and resiliency‑informed, culturally grounded, and accessible care wherever they are in their journey.

You will advance systemic change by leading the implementation of new policies, legislation, and systems of care; shaping innovative programs; and supporting teams and contracted service providers so they can deliver high‑quality services that reflect best practice and community need.

Your work will directly influence how care is delivered today—and how it evolves for the future.

What You Will Lead

 System Transformation & Policy Leadership
You will coordinate and drive the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of substance use policies, treatment guidelines, and clinical practice pathways, ensuring alignment with emerging legislation, research, and best practice.

Program Development & Quality Improvement
You’ll champion innovation by developing new substance use resources, leading LEAN and quality improvement initiatives, evaluating service models, and ensuring that evidence-based, culturally appropriate approaches guide decision‑making across the region.

Strategic Partnership Building
You will collaborate with MHSU Leadership, Addiction Medicine & Substance Use Services, community partners, contracted providers, Indigenous programs, and provincial bodies—strengthening integration, improving communication, and ensuring seamless care across systems.

Culturally Safe, Trauma‑Informed, Equitable Care
You will elevate practices rooted in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility. Through strong partnerships with Indigenous Health, South Asian Health, people with lived experience, and community organizations, you’ll help ensure services recognize and respond to the cultural realities of the people we serve.

Consultation, Education & Clinical Support
As a regional clinical resource, you will guide leaders, staff, and service providers through complex substance use and concurrent disorder issues—supporting case reviews, advising on program improvements, and delivering training across the care continuum.

Performance Monitoring & Contract Oversight
You’ll ensure contracted substance use services meet performance expectations by monitoring key indicators, analyzing outcomes, and supporting corrective actions where required.

Who Thrives in This Role

This position is ideal for a leader who brings:

• A Master’s degree in a social or health sciences discipline
• At least five years of recent substance use experience and two years in service coordination or planning
• Expertise in harm reduction, trauma‑informed care, recovery‑oriented practice, and integrated substance use/mental health systems
• Strong understanding of culturally safe service delivery, especially for Indigenous and South Asian communities
• Deep knowledge of quality improvement, research methods, evaluation frameworks, and contract management
• The ability to lead with the Fraser Health Leadership Framework—being Clear, Caring, and Courageous

The Impact You’ll Make

This is not simply a leadership role—it is an opportunity to shape the future of substance use care region‑wide. You will:

• Improve patient outcomes
• Strengthen cross-sector collaboration
• Ensure culturally safe, trauma‑informed, equitable care
• Influence policy and service delivery at regional and provincial levels
• Support people through some of the most challenging moments in their lives
• Create lasting, meaningful change for the communities Fraser Health serves

If you are a visionary leader passionate about system transformation—someone who believes in person‑centered care, equity, compassion, and innovation—this role is your chance to help build a healthier, more connected future for all.

#LI-DNI

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

The Regional Substance Use Lead, MH&SUS, working in close collaboration with Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Leadership, and Director(s) of Addiction Medicine and Substance Use Services (AM&SUS), is responsible for the implementation of new policies, procedures, legislation and systems of care, by coordinating, planning, developing, implementing, revising and evaluating policies/guidelines including treatment policies, clinical practice guidelines and the delivery of programs for youth and adults; engages community organizations and Fraser Health (FH) staff by consulting on substance use and concurrent disorder issues and complex cases, in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members and clients. Through this work, supports systemic change that promotes health and wellness for all First Nations and Indigenous peoples within the Fraser Health Region.

Provides leadership to the MHSU managers and regional contracted substance use providers, in alignment with MHSU Leadership, by presenting FH substance use programs on regional and provincial substance use committees to ensure substance use and concurrent disorder issues are an integral component of the integrated service delivery process, and substance use service providers are meeting contractual and service obligations. Provides training and/or education to staff, caregivers and other community agencies on substance use and concurrent disorder programs. Ensures that service planning is provided within a cultural safety and humility framework, trauma and resiliency-informed approach, and results in evidence-informed and culturally appropriate practices.

Master’s Degree in social or health sciences related discipline or equivalent. Five (5) years’ recent related substance use experience, including two (2) years’ recent experience in service coordination and planning in a community setting or an equivalent 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

• Broad knowledge of clinical practice that includes comprehensive and integrated care methods for substance use and mental health programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented approaches.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the spectrum of substance use issues and its co-occurrence with mental health disorders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contracted substance use resources.
• Comprehensive knowledge of research methodology and processes, including analytical and evaluation skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the delivery of culturally sensitive services, in particular, Indigenous, South Asian, and other diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload in a dynamic environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.
 
People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.
 
We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive 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.
 
Together, we are the heart of health care.
 
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Please be on alert for recruitment scams. We are aware of several scams targeting individuals by falsely claiming to represent Fraser Health. Always take precautions when sharing personal details with unverified sources. Please note that we will never ask for money or payment, nor ask you to download or install an app at any point during our recruitment process.