Department Head, Medical Oncology
BC Cancer – Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, Planned Regional Centre)
Nanaimo, BC
Shape the future of cancer care on Vancouver Island
BC Cancer is one of the world's renowned cancer organizations. Working in close partnership with regional health authorities and community sites, BC Cancer supports patients across the Vancouver Island region to access high-quality cancer care closer to home.
BC Cancer is advancing plans for a new cancer centre in Nanaimo to expand access to care across Vancouver Island. This role offers a unique opportunity to help shape the development, design, and implementation of services at a new regional centre, influencing clinical models, building teams, and supporting the successful delivery of world-class, patient-centred cancer care.
The Opportunity
In accordance with the established vision and values of BC Cancer and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), the Department Head, Medical Oncology provides medical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight to support the planning, development, and future operations of Medical Oncology services for the Nanaimo cancer centre.
Reporting to the Executive Medical Director (or designate), the Department Head will play a key role in clinical planning, workforce development, and program design, while also supporting operational readiness activities leading up to opening and beyond.
What you’ll do
- Provide leadership in the design, planning, and implementation of department services for a new cancer centre.
- Represent Medical Staff perspectives in site planning, redevelopment, and provincial discussions.
- Establish departmental policies, procedures, and clinical standards.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, and development of medical staff.
- Support quality, safety, and performance frameworks for future service delivery.
- Contribute to academic, teaching, and research integration.
- Collaborate with regional and provincial partners to ensure alignment and integration of services.
Core Competencies
Applicants must be eligible for licensure in British Columbia and must have obtained their Fellowship in Medical Oncology from the RCPSC or hold an equivalent qualification by the time of appointment. The successful applicant will receive a clinical appointment with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, and will have privileges through both the Provincial Health Services Authority and our partner health authority, Vancouver Island Health Authority, at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
- Awareness of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (the Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
You have:
- Demonstrated commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrated foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
Commitment and Compensation
This leadership role is supported through an annual administrative stipend of $15,000. The position also includes 0.5 clinical FTE.
What we do
BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.
BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
(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.
The BC Cancer (www.bccancer.bc.ca) is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. BC Cancer provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia in partnership with regional health authorities to deliver a range of cancer services, which include prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. It operates six regional cancer centres in Surrey, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Prince George, along with two research centres that conduct research into the causes and cures for cancer.
BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which plans, manages and evaluates specialty and province-wide health care services across BC. PHSA embodies values that reflect a commitment to excellence. These include: Respect people • Be compassionate • Dare to innovate • Cultivate partnerships • Serve with purpose.
PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to employment equity and diversity and hires on the basis of merit. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. 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.
For more information on all that the PHSA has to offer, please visit: http://careers.phsa.ca
For more information about BC Cancer, please visit: www.bccancer.bc.ca
