About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to provide a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care. What began as a personal mission has grown into one of Western Canada’s leading senior living and continuing care providers.
Today, Optima Living offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health, and Memory Care across Alberta and British Columbia. Our innovative approach includes Spark, Your Wellness, Your Way; our proprietary brain health and care model. As the only Top 10 Canadian senior living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, we proudly serve more than 4,300 residents.
Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy and a focus on innovation, we are redefining aging with purpose creating communities where seniors live with dignity, connection, and joy.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Regional Manager of Operations, the General Manager will provide overall leadership and management of both Riverside and Chiiliwack Lifestyles communities, ensuring high-quality care and services while maintaining full regulatory compliance. This role oversees all aspects of operations, including resident experience, financial performance, human resources, and service delivery, while fostering a safe, supportive, and values-based environment for residents, families, and team members.
All duties and responsibilities are carried out in alignment with Optima Living’s mission, vision, and values, promoting person-centered care by respecting the uniqueness, dignity, and self-determination of residents to promote maximum personal and functional independence. These duties are performed within the framework of established organizational policies and procedures, industry best practices, while adhering to applicable regulations and standards.
Responsibilities
Leadership and Operations
- Plans, organizes and directs the daily operation of the community through an onsite
- leadership team to ensure that the highest quality of care and services are maintained.
- Supports and collaborates with functional managers to maintain efficient operations with the objective that the entire organization runs as an effective unit.
- Supports the delivery of quality health care services, helping to meet or exceed program goals.
- Works with regional operations and community leadership to implement effective community management systems and allocate resources efficiently to support optimized operations.
- Ensures safe and efficient operation and procurement of all necessary supplies and services.
- Drives results through community leadership.
Community Engagement
- Promotes and implements community level vision, mission, values, and organizational strategies.
- Fosters a person-centered, inclusive culture that upholds dignity, safety, and well-being and recognizes those who embody our Optima Living values.
- Builds strong relationships and maintains open, respectful communication with residents, families, and team members.
- Offers support and assistance to the Resident and/or Family Council and/or leads resident and family townhalls.
- Supports the Community Relations Coordinator in providing tours of the community as needed.
Safety & Quality Assurance
- Ensures the community provides a safe and supportive environment for its residents and team members including overseeing the Health & Safety committee and its responsibilities.
- Ensures all resident, family and team member concerns and incidents are properly reported, documented and actions taken.
- Implements and maintains the Emergency Preparedness Plan ensuring the community, resident and team member activities are conducted in accordance with regulatory standards.
- Ensures the proper maintenance of all residents, team members and organizational records in accordance with policy and legislation.
- Ensures Infection Prevention Control Committee initiatives and actions are implemented at the community.
Regulatory Compliance
- Maintains current knowledge of all applicable healthcare regulations.
- Ensures compliance with applicable regulations and the standards of accrediting bodies, by continually monitoring the community’s activities and initiating changes as required.
- Participates in internal and external audits, inspections, reviews and surveys by regulatory and accreditation bodies.
- Completes all reporting requirements.
Budget and Financial
- Develops the community operating budget in conjunction with senior leadership and functional managers.
- Monitors financial performance, ensuring the community operates within its budgetary limits.
- Ensures proper billing, accounting, and record-keeping procedures are in place.
Human Resources
- Maintains staffing levels and oversees recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of community functional managers and team members.
- Fosters a respectful, collaborative workplace culture while building strong teams to support employee satisfaction and retention.
- Ensures team growth through mandatory training, performance reviews and improvement strategies, and succession planning through coaching and development.
- Facilitates conflict resolution and grievances and leads workplace investigations in coordination with community functional managers, Human Resources, and regional support as needed.
- Supports community functional managers with benefits eligibility, probation tracking, wage increases, and incentive programs.
- Oversees employment documentation and payroll updates; investigates and resolves payroll discrepancies and related inquiries as applicable.
External Relations
- Represents Optima Living in the local community to educate the public and build a positive reputation for the organization.
- Liaises with various governing bodies including the BC and AB health authorities, WorkSafe, Union Representatives.
- Forges strong positive partnerships with our external stakeholders and suppliers to advance organizational priorities.
- Works with the Director of Care and Community Relations Coordinator to assess requirements and suitability of resident prospects and the completion of documentation.
General
- Maintains strict confidentiality of resident medical and personal information in accordance with privacy legislation.
- Ensures adherence to infection control policies and procedures through audits, observations, and investigations.
- Completes orientation upon hire and annual mandatory education as assigned.
- Supports new team members through their orientation process.
- Respects and upholds the Resident Bill of Rights and the Assisted Living Rights of Residents (for BC only).
- Performs other duties as required to support operational needs.
Qualifications & Experience
- Completion of a recognized post secondary program is as asset.
- Minimum of two (2) years management experience.
- CPR and First Aid certification is an asset.
- Proven experience in the implementation of policies and procedures.
- Demonstrates the ability to analyze data and Financial Statements establishing targets and driving results.
- Thorough working knowledge and understanding of the day-to-day operation of a multi-faceted community is required.
- Strong organizational planning, directing and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage priorities effectively.
- Energetic and supportive leader who drives team engagement and morale while consistently leading by example.
- Demonstrates innovative and systematic thinking with a strong commitment to customer service.
- Skilled at working under pressure and balancing interruptions, tight timelines, and multiple deadlines.
- Ability to prepare and respond effectively to emergency situations.
- Knowledge of Labour and Employment Standards, including union and collective agreements, is an asset.
- Experienced in crisis intervention.
- Ability to manage and resolve difficult and challenging situations effectively and respectfully.
- Communicates in an approachable and respectful manner with the temperament to deal tactfully and cooperatively in all interactions.
- Strong written communication skills with the ability to present professional documents with clarity.
- Physical and mental ability to carry out the duties of the position including adherence to provincial health legislations.
- Ability to safely operate equipment according to established protocols.
- Strong computer literacy skills required.
- Flexibility to work a variety of shifts including weekends and evenings and respond to on-call duties during off-hours.
- Willingness to travel to regional offices and stakeholder locations as required.
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- Conditions of Employment
- Clear Police Information Check
- Clear Vulnerable Sector Check
- Successful completion of all mandatory Provincial Health Requirements
- Active CPR and First Aid Certification
