Associate Legal Counsel, PHSA Legal Services
PHSA Corporate
Vancouver, BC
Role Summary
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, Executive Director Labour Employment and Medical staff 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 programs and services including BC Emergency Health Services, BC Cancer, BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Children’s’ & Women’s’ Hospitals, and oversees 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.
What you'll do
Specific Portfolios:
- 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.
Key Accountabilities
- Develop 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.
- Respond to a variety of legal issues that affect the healthcare industry and the clinical/business operations of PHSA.
- Review, research, interpret, and prepare legal opinions that may have significant impact to PHSA, its programs, agencies and affiliates.
- Advise on new and existing legislation applicable to healthcare and impact to PHSA, programs, services and staff.
- Draft, review, amend and revise 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.
- Anticipate and identify legal issues within complex scenarios and relationships, and advises managers and directors on legal strategies and solutions to mitigate legal risk.
- Consult and coordinates with external counsel (where retained) in drafting correspondence, legal submissions and materials for hearings and ancillary legal proceedings.
- Represent PHSA at various hearings, court and/or tribunals and presents arguments.
- Maintain partnership with senior leadership, operational areas and corporate services to ensure a coordinated and consistent PHSA response on legal matters.
- Maintain 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.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within PHSA Legal Services contexts found in the foundational documents including 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 and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Role Specific Qualifications:
- 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.
Core Competencies
- 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.).
Skills & Knowledge
- Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with the legislative and regulatory framework governing healthcare. Knowledge of commercial transactions, information technology, intellectual property, administrative and privacy law. 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.
- Demonstrates a 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.
- Demonstrates 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.
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 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
- 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: $118,923 - $170,951 - 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: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Requisition # 199039E
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 – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including 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 and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on May 27,2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.
If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.
If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].
