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With both regional and geographic responsibilities this position will support the Thompson Cariboo region and the worksite location may be located in Kamloops or Kelowna.

Medical Health Officers (MHOs) are responsible for assessing, monitoring, and reporting on the health status of persons living in the Interior Health (IH) region. They are also responsible for administering various BC statutes and regulations relevant to protecting the health of the population. MHOs provide strategic and tactical support to senior leadership in the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of public health programs both regionally and within each of our local health areas. They provide clinical consultation and advice to health professionals in both acute and community settings, and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to support healthy public policy. Reporting to the Chief MHO with oversight from the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), MHOs are designated by the Lieutenant Governor of BC under Order in Council.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Assess, monitor, and report on the health status of the population, and provide advice and recommendations to senior executive and the board of directors relevant to health promotion and disease prevention.
• Administer various BC statutes and regulations including but not limited to the Public Health Act, the Drinking Water Protection Act, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, the Environmental Management Act, and the Community Charter.
• Provide clinical consultation and advice to health professionals in both acute and community settings across specialty services including communicable disease, infection control, facility licensing and environmental health.
• Provide strategic, tactical, and operational advice to senior leadership across specialty portfolios including aboriginal health, mental health, substance use, harm reduction, maternal child health, primary care transformation, and health emergency management.
• Work collaboratively with management in developing, planning, implementing and evaluating population and public health programs both regionally and within each of our local health areas.
• Engage and build partnerships with various external stakeholders at the provincial, regional and local level including government ministries, municipal councils, school boards, and non-profit community agencies.
• Promote health equity and reduce health disparities by supporting inclusive healthy public policy and service delivery in a manner this is sensitive to both political and social contexts.
• Are active Medical Staff with admitting privileges under the IH Regional Department of Public Health, and are subject to provincial and regional Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules in both acute and community settings.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Qualifications, competencies, and professional capacities as outlined in the Provincial Health Officer’s Standards of Practice for BC Medical Health Officers (2017), and the BC Medical Quality Initiative Public Health & Preventive Medicine Privileging Dictionary (2019).
• Superior skills in epidemiology and data analytics to support the interpretation and dissemination of public health data to inform and evaluate public health planning.
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, provincial policy, practice standards, and clinical guidelines to ensure well-informed evidence based decision-making.
• Experience developing coalitions, cultivating strategic partnerships, defining a common Purpose, reaching consensus, and negotiating to conclude a process.
• Ability to communicate with clarity, integrity, and sensitivity to build trust with government partners, non-governmental agencies, media, peers and the public.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, problem solving and innovative abilities to develop effective strategies and ensure support and attainment of goals.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.