Program Manager, Indigenous Health

About SickKids

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

As an organization, SickKids has much to learn about the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as how the diverse cultures, educational backgrounds, and histories of our staff shape the care we deliver. A reconciliation statement on the hospital's history with Indigenous peoples was a starting point in 2018 for SickKids' reconciliation journey. As work continues, we are committed to collaborating with partners to identify, prioritize, and implement improvements to ensure accessible, culturally appropriate services for Indigenous children and families in our local environment, and across the province.

The Indigenous Health Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for SickKids' Indigenous Health Program, a core direction of the Health Equity and Inclusion Strategy.The role advances culturally safe care and experiences for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, while fostering an inclusive environment for Indigenous staff across clinical, research, education and corporate areas.

Grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, the Program Manager translates strategy into sustainable programs, policies, partnerships, educational products and experiences, cultural supports and spaces. The Program Manager works relationally with Indigenous staff, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community partners, hospital leaders and teams, and provides leadership across the three Indigenous Health objectives in the launched Health Equity and Inclusion Strategy: enhance cultural safety education; amplify cultural support and spaces; and build reciprocal partnerships.

About this Position

The Indigenous Health Program Manager will apply Indigenous-centred experience and knowledge in the following:

1. Lead ongoing implementation and monitoring of the Indigenous Health strategic direction within the five-year Health Equity and Inclusion Strategy, aligned with SickKids 2030, including oversight of strategic objectives, key results, performance indicators and associated reporting requirements.
2. Nurture relationship with Elder-in-Residence and collaborate with the Indigenous Health Navigator to understand concerns regarding Indigenous Cultural Safety and barriers to care. Advise key staff and support conversations aimed at ensuring adequate resolution of such concerns.
3. Oversee organization-wide Indigenous cultural safety education in partnership with the Indigenous Health Interprofessional Education Specialist, including foundational learning, micro-learning embedded into clinical workflows, smudging policy education, simulations, and practical resources for frontline teams.
4. Lead the development and stewardship of culturally meaningful spaces and resources, including the Indigenous Medicine Garden, interim and future Indigenous healing spaces, Indigenous art installations, and patient- and family-facing guides.
5. Lead or advise the development, revision, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures and guidelines that affect Indigenous patients, families, staff and partners, including smudging ceremonies, land acknowledgement practices and Indigenous honoraria.
6. Provide Indigenous health expertise and guidance to corporate, clinical, education, research, quality, safety, human resources, legal, communications and redevelopment initiatives, including Project Horizon planning.

Overall Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of annual objectives annual objectives and key results within the Indigenous Health strategic pathway of the Health Equity and Inclusion strategy, including working collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams to set and evaluate goals.
• Support the development and sustainability of Indigenous Health Program infrastructure, including role design, recruitment, onboarding, work planning, team integration and capacity planning.
• Facilitate regular connection and community-building opportunities for Indigenous staff and create mechanisms for priorities and insights to inform the Program.
• Build and sustain reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, patients, families, staff, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Traditional Healers.
• Partner closely with the Indigenous Health Navigator and clinical teams to strengthen culturally safe care, referral pathways and communication protocols.
• Provide strategic direction to the Indigenous Health Interprofessional Education Specialist and collaborate with the Learning Institute, Simulation Program, Medical Education, Nursing and clinical programs.
• Prepare and contribute to formal reports, presentations and updates on strategic objectives, key results, program impact and progress for SickKids Foundation, senior management and executive leadership, and relevant external organizations and partners.
• Oversee the development and implementation of practical resources for clinical teams, including quick-reference materials and service descriptions.
• Lead ongoing stewardship of the Indigenous Medicine Garden and related teachings, harvesting, communications and access protocols.
• Guide development of interim and permanent Indigenous healing spaces in collaboration with Facilities, Project Horizon, clinical teams and Indigenous partners.
• Oversee Indigenous art and environmental initiatives, including artist relationships, contracts, installation planning and cultural integrity.
• Advise Human Resources on Indigenous recruitment, hiring, retention, identity substantiation and culturally relevant supports, training and pathways.
• Represent SickKids in the Toronto Academic Health Sciences Network Indigenous Health Action Network and contribute to shared regional priorities and products.
• Lead planning for Indigenous Days of Significance and community-building activities for Indigenous staff, ensuring activities are respectful, appropriately resourced and connected to broader program priorities.

Core Competencies

• Relational leadership: Nurture, grow, and evolve relationships to cultivate trust and meaning in collaborations and partnerships. These relations will include Indigenous communities, SickKids leadership, and other SickKids departments.
• Strategic Planning: Ability to develop long- and short-term goals or directions with tangible pathways (programs or short-term goals). Application of Indigenous-centred evaluation frameworks to monitor and evaluate progress and impact of programs or short-term goals.
• Program and change leadership: Moves complex, cross-enterprise initiatives from concept through implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Analysis and Meaning-Making: Synthesizes diverse evidence, lived experience, policy, operational realities and community guidance to support sound decisions.
• Adaptability: Responds to shifting needs while protecting relationships, cultural integrity, resources and long-term sustainability.
• Facilitation and communication: Communicates complex or sensitive matters clearly and respectfully with clinical, corporate, executive and community audiences.
• Collaboration and Decision Making: Considerate of diverse perspectives, able to work with people from diverse backgrounds, and able to provide direction by making decisions and advance shared outcomes.

Skills or Experience Required:

• This position requires lived experience and praxis. The incumbent must be First Nations, Inuit or Métis.
• Demonstrated experience leading Indigenous health, community, health equity, public policy, education or related programs in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience working respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and/or Traditional Healers.
• Strong knowledge of the history and enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) in Canada and the ongoing impacts of colonial legislations such as The Indian Act on Indigenous people and communities.
• Strong knowledge of a diversity of Indigenous approaches and perspectives on health, healing, and wellness.
• Knowledge of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Section 35 of the Constitution Act, and other relevant health and human-rights frameworks.
• Experience with Indigenous-centred program evaluation methodologies and/or knowledge generation.
• Knowledge of the impacts of self-determination on Indigenous experiences of health and wellness and its role in the development of Indigenous focused health and wellness programs.
• Extensive knowledge of Indigenous organizations and community resources in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)
• Superior interpersonal, collaboration, facilitation, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives

Education:

An undergraduate degree in public policy, community development, social work, public health, Indigenous studies, or other relevant discipline is required. A master's degree is preferred.

NOTE: We also take potential into consideration. If you don't have this exact experience, but you know you have what it takes, be sure to give us more insight through your application and cover letter.

Here's What You'll Love:

• This position is eligible for employee benefits coverage. The full benefits package will be discussed at the time of offer.
• A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.
• A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
• For more on why you'll love working at SickKids, visit our careers site.

Employment Type:

• Temporary, 12-month contract with the possibility of extension
• 35 hours/week

Our Commitment to Diversity

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

Accessibility & Accommodation

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

How To Apply

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Every application is reviewed by a human recruiter and all hiring decisions are made by people. In some cases, AI-assisted tools are used to help review applications based on job-related qualifications.

All positions posted on the SickKids Hospital's Careers Site represent current vacancies, unless otherwise posted in the job description.