Associate Legal Counsel, PHSA Legal Services

Associate Legal Counsel, PHSA Legal Services

PHSA Corporate

Vancouver, BC

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA's Agencies/Divisions/Services, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Associate Legal Counsel reports to the Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Director, Legal & Privacy at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). PHSA is a complex organization that has responsibility at a provincial level for healthcare services across British Columbia. It includes a number of branch societies and agencies including BC Emergency Health Services, BC Cancer, BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Children's' & Women's' Hospitals, and overseas a large number of provincial programs, administered at a regional level by regional health authorities. The Associate Legal Counsel possesses strong leadership abilities to provide general legal support and advice to leaders at all levels within PHSA and its programs, agencies and affiliates. The Associate Legal Counsel reviews and drafts agreements, conducts legal research and prepares legal opinions, analyses legislation and case law, and advises on all aspects of legal risk and liability issues relevant to PHSA's operations. The Associate Legal Counsel also represents PHSA in negotiations and disputes, and oversees external counsel, where engaged.

Specific Portfolio:

• Labour and Employment - this position has primary responsibility to provide legal advice on matters relating to Human Resources (HR) and performance management of Medical Staff. This includes matters involving physician contracts, medical staff privileges, workplace issues involving medical and non-medical staff, administrative law and regulatory compliance, employment and labour law, and risk management related to labour and employment. This position also manages litigation and matters before administrative tribunals arising from performance management issues related to both medical and non-medical staff.

What you'll do

• Develops an in-depth understanding of the business requirements and provides expert legal support and guidance to PHSA departments and leaders, managers and members of the in-house legal team on a wide variety of legal matters/issues to enable effective decision-making.
• Responds to a variety of legal issues that affect the healthcare industry and the clinical/business operations of PHSA.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares legal opinions that may have significant impact to PHSA, its programs, agencies and affiliates.
• Advises on new and existing legislation applicable to healthcare and impact to PHSA, programs, services and staff.
• Drafts, reviews, amends and revises legal documentation, including contracts, proposals, policies, and strategy papers, and negotiates with external parties on behalf of PHSA and its programs, agencies and affiliates. Provides guidance on implications and courses of action.
• Anticipates and identifies legal issues within complex scenarios and relationships, and advises managers and directors on legal strategies and solutions to mitigate legal risk.
• Consults and coordinates with external counsel (where retained) in drafting correspondence, legal submissions and materials for hearings and ancillary legal proceedings.
• Represents PHSA at various hearings, court and/or tribunals and presents arguments.
• Maintains partnership with senior leadership, operational areas and corporate services to ensure a coordinated and consistent PHSA response on legal matters.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep up-to-date with industry trends, developments, revised legislation and new regulations.

What you bring

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Law Degree from an accredited University supplemented by a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of recent, related experience. Current member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia or eligible for membership within a specified period.
• Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with the legislative and regulatory framework governing healthcare. Broad knowledge of privacy legislation. Demonstrated ability to lead, plan, direct, manage and implement. Ability to facilitate the resolution of issues. Expert ability to analyze, research, evaluate and interpret legal issues. Exemplary ability in legal writing and drafting legal documents, and in the preparation of correspondence, summaries and reports. Demonstrated ability to provide legal opinions and advice taking into account and understanding the needs of others to achieve helpful results. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences, including the ability to negotiate and persuade others. Strong interpersonal skills. Exhibits integrity, trust and professionalism. Excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills. Computer proficiency with a variety of relevant software applications
• Labour and Employment - Recent experience in employment and labour issues obtained at a law firm or in a similar in-house role. Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with employment law, human rights law and administrative law. Experience advising on medical staff issues would be highly regarded.

Skills & Knowledge

• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That's why we're focused on your care too - offering health, wellness, development programs to support you - at work and at home.

• Join one of BC's largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations - offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Regular, Full-time

Salary Range: $113,195 - $162,718 /year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate's relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 1333 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 0830-1630 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition # 154212E

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

What we do

The Provincial Health Services Authority ( PHSA ) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people - Be compassionate - Dare to innovate - Cultivate partnerships - Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA is committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments' unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey-one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of October 25, 2023. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday - Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.

Category

Health Care