Executive Director (1.0 FTE)

Kilala Lelum; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An Indigenous health cooperative in Vancouver seeks an Executive Director to lead strategic initiatives and operations. The role demands experience in culturally responsive care, financial management, and community partnership. Ideal candidates should have a Master’s degree and substantial leadership experience, especially in Indigenous health. This position offers a chance to significantly impact health equity in underserved communities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in leadership roles, preferably in Indigenous health or community services.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities and understanding health impacts of colonization.
• Knowledge of Indigenous healing practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to advance Kilala Lelum’s mission.
• Oversee operations, human resources, and program development.
• Foster relationships with Indigenous communities and health authorities.
• Ensure effective delivery of Indigenous medicine and community programs.

Skills

Culturally responsive harm reduction

Strategic planning

Financial management

Grant writing

Community engagement

Education

Master’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration, or Social Work

Job description

Kílala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative is an Indigenous-led health cooperative dedicated to providing culturally safe, trauma-informed, and holistic primary care to urban Indigenous communities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge and values, we integrate Western and traditional healing practices to support wellness, equity, and “decolonizing” healthcare for the betterment of all the people we care for.

As we do our work, we are guided by our values of equity and wellness, respect, kindness, Indigenous culture, love, Elder leadership, and, especially important, laughter.

Our Board of Directors

We are governed by a volunteer board of seven directors, who are elected by members of the stakeholder community at the Annual General Meeting. The directors work collaboratively with the Executive Director to set Kílala Lelum’s vision and strategy, and oversee and support Kílala Lelum management.

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) will provide strategic leadership to advance Kilala Lelum’s mission, vision, and values while overseeing operations, human resources, partnerships, and program development. Kilala Lelum cares for over 2000 members, employs over 120 staff, and has an annual operating budget of over 10 million dollars. The ED works collaboratively with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, clinical and program leads, and community partners to ensure culturally safe, high-quality health services.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Work with the Board to develop and implement Kilala Lelum’s 5 – 10 year+ vision, mission, and strategic priorities.
• Develop and refine organizational policies, structures, and service models in alignment with Indigenous health best practices.
• Ensure compliance with funding agreements, legislation, and reporting requirements.

2. Operational & Program Management

Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring effective delivery of Indigenous medicine, primary care, cultural programs, and wraparound services.

Lead program evaluation, quality improvement, and expansion of Indigenous health initiatives.

Supervise team leads (medical, nursing, administrative, cultural, outreach, and community programs).

Develop and manage budgets, funding proposals, and financial reporting.

Secure sustainable funding through grants, partnerships, and fundraising.

Optimize resources to support staff, Elders, and community needs.

4. Community & Partner Engagement

Foster relationships with Indigenous communities, particularly the Host nations (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations), health authorities (VCH, FNHA), UBC, and other stakeholders.

Support the development of the First Nations Aboriginal Primary Care Network (FNAPCN) and partnerships with Indigenous primary care clinics in Vancouver.

Advocate for Indigenous health equity and integrate community feedback into services.

Represent Kilala Lelum in partnerships, fundraising, and advocacy initiatives.

5. Cultural Safety & Team Leadership

Promote a workplace grounded in cultural humility, lateral kindness, and trauma-informed care.

Lead and support Elders, Knowledge Holders, and cultural staff in integrating traditional healing practices, knowledges and medicines into our ways of caring.

Mentor staff, conduct performance reviews, and nurture a collaborative team environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate brings proven success in comparable leadership roles, demonstrating the following competencies :

An accomplished primary care leader – experienced in best practices in culturally responsive harm reduction, primary care and multidisciplinary team service functions, policies, programs, and services.

An adept watchkeeper – experience building and maintaining relationships with funders, overseeing resources in an organization with a $10MM+ annual budget.

Strategic Thinking – strong creative strategic planning, financial management and grant writing skills leading to short and long-term practice planning.

Cultural leader – knowledge of Indigenous healing practices, cultural protocols, health disparities and the Downtown Eastside community; respect and commitment to Indigenous cultural growth and culturally safe practices in the clinical setting.

Accountability – accomplished in delivering commitments, goals, and compliance requirements for programs, services and initiatives, working through teams leads; commitment to decolonizing health systems and advancing TRC Calls to Action.

Teamwork – a trusted partner to health authority, primary care network, Host nation leaders, leadership peers and Elders,

collaborating on strategic, financial and operational planning; provides key insights from the community, programs and services perspective to make good decisions.

An inspirational people leader – a supportive and open-minded leader who works effectively at all levels of the organization; a coach and mentor to direct reports.

Service orientation – available and open to feedback, excellent communicator and advocate, responds in a timely manner to all requests for support, guidance, conflict resolution, and input.

Style – brings a calm and collected demeanor, creative and accountable, a quick learner, clear communicator, a bridge-builder, solutions seeker, decisive and not afraid to address issues.

Early Accountabilities

In the first 6-12 months in this role, you will :

Establish trusted relationships with all stakeholders : Kilala Lelum Board, Leads and Managers, Elders, staff, health authorities, primary care partners and community.

Collaborate with Kilala Lelum colleagues to support the needs and expectations of the Board, including timely reporting on all programs, services and initiatives.

Assess the organization’s current programs, practices and services to identify opportunities for enhancement and expansion.

Assess the organization’s current strategic plan and start the development process for our 6 – 10 year plan.

Provide focused support for new initiatives, such as peer employment and lower barrier care at the Doris Fox Lelum.

Review current Kilala Lelum HR manual, policies, community agreements and make improvements; ensure dissemination among team.

Support the short and long term financial and resource sustainability of current programs and services.

Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Experience

Master’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Social Work, or equivalent lived / professional experience.

5+ years in leadership roles, preferably in Indigenous health, community services, or non-profit management.

Experience working with Indigenous communities and understanding of colonization’s health impacts.

Preferred Qualifications

Indigenous ancestry and deep cultural competency with urban Indigenous communities.

Experience in primary care, mental health, or harm reduction services.

Compensation

Salary negotiable, based on experience.

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, résumé, and references to [e-mail]. Indigenous candidates strongly encouraged to apply. Ideal start date is January – February 2026.

Model of Care

Our model of care represents our united vision of trying to promote health equity and wellness for our members on the DTES. We work to achieve this by providing culturally safe, trauma-informed and Elder-led services, which reflect the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As we do our work, we are guided by our values of equity and wellness, respect, kindness, Indigenous culture, love, Elder leadership, and, especially important, laughter. Each staff member and community member involved at our centre plays an important role in achieving our vision.

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