Genetic Counsellor, Hereditary Cancer Program
BC Cancer
Vancouver, BC
The Genetic Counsellor operationally reports to the Clinical Coordinator, Genetic Counselling and has a matrix reporting to the Practice Lead, Genetic Counselling. Working with direction form Medical Leaders, the Genetic Counsellor participates in a team approach to provide genetic counselling to individual patients and their family members. Additional duties include providing public, professional and academic education and participating in clinical research.
What you’ll do
- Developing and completing patients’ medical and family history by conducting interviews with patients and their family members.
- Explaining the hereditary cancer pattern in the patient’s family and the cancer risks associated with that pattern.
- Recommending cancer screening based on the family history and standard HCP guidelines.
- Explaining genetic susceptibility testing and the associated potential benefits and harms and schedules genetic testing as appropriate.
- Contacting genetic counselling centres outside of British Columbia to organize genetic counselling and testing for out-of-province family members as required.
- Referring patients to health professionals such as social workers, surgeons and oncologists as necessary.
- Documenting a variety of patient information including personal and family medical history, risk assessments, cancer surveillance strategy and progress reports and outcomes.
- Requesting medical records and tissue blocks from hospitals and physicians as required.
- Participate in the academic training of medical students and the training of residents, fellows and graduate students such as students in the UBC Masters Program in Genetic Counselling on rotation in the Program through methods such as giving lectures, leading small group sessions, teaching counselling skills and supervising patient counselling sessions.
- Contribute to the design, review, maintenance, and evaluation of the HCP database software (Progeny) by performing duties such as identifying additional data fields and standard search criteria.
- Contribute to the development of Program policies and procedures through methods such as reviewing and discussing current research, policies and procedures in place in other HCP programs and providing input for the drafting of policies and procedures for review by the team.
What you bring
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an accredited master’s program in Genetic Counselling.
- Minimum of two (2) years of recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Board eligible or Board Certified with the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors and/or the American Board of Genetic Counselling
- 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 BC Cancer 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.
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 leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- Knowledge 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:
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, other professional staff, and the general public.
- Work independently and co-operatively as part of an interdisciplinary team
- Accept responsibility, make decisions and teach.
- Operate related equipment including ability to use a variety of word processing and database software.
- Physically carry out the duties of the position.
- Understanding of hereditary cancer syndromes, genetic testing and clinical guidelines.
- Familiarity with design and conduct of quantitative and qualitative research.
- Demonstrated skills in CPR techniques.
- 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: Temporary, Full-Time (Until December 31, 2026)
Wage: $44.85 - $56.02 per hour.
Location: 750 West Broadway Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1K1
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of work: Monday – Friday; 0800-1600, 0830-1630, 0900-1700
Requisition Number: 201958E
What we do
BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.
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
August 3, 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]. 