Mental Health & Addiction Indigenous Cultural Advisor

NL Health Services; Newfoundland and Labrador; On-site; CAD 78,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare service provider in Newfoundland and Labrador seeks an Indigenous Cultural Advisor to improve mental health care for Indigenous peoples. This management position involves collaborating with various Indigenous communities, ensuring culturally safe programs, and guiding policies to enhance addiction services. Candidates should have a relevant degree, extensive experience in healthcare, and a strong understanding of Indigenous issues and practices. This role is based at the Mental Health and Addictions Centre in St. John's, advocating for recovery-oriented care.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Indigenous studies, health, social science, public policy or related field.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience in healthcare.
• Experience in mental health and addictions is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and leadership for culturally safe mental health services.
• Collaborate with Indigenous communities and MHA leadership.
• Create policies for improving mental health care for Indigenous peoples.

Skills

Experience working with Indigenous communities, groups, and organizations.

Knowledge of Indigenous histories and cultures in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Understanding of trauma informed care and recovery-oriented care.

Ability to integrate Indigenous knowledge into mental health care.

Strong organizational and time management skills.

Education

Post-secondary education in Indigenous studies or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Zone: Eastern Urban Zone
Location: Mental Health and Addictions Centre (MHAC) - St. John's
Mental Health and Addictions Indigenous Cultural Advisor
Mental Health and Addictions - Acute and Tertiary Care Program
(Subject to Classification Review)
Permanent, Full-Time
MGMT
28618POS

Hours: 70 bi-weekly (8-hour days)

Salary: HL-22 (CAD 78,059.80 - CAD 101,465.00 per annum)

Competition Number: VAC0019685

Posted Date: 2025-12-19

Closing Date: 2025-12-26

The Mental Health and Addictions Program offers health promotion and prevention, urgent and emergent, rehabilitation, and continuing care services to children, youth and adults in acute care, community, and correctional health settings. Services range from assessment, counselling, detoxification, treatment and follow-up to rehabilitation, housing, case management and leisure programming. We are located at various hospital and community sites, in urban and rural settings, throughout the eastern region.

Our program vision is one of person-centered care. One that is recovery-oriented, trauma informed, grounded in the principles of harm reduction and supported by a system committed to employee psychological health and safety. The Mental Health and Addictions Program is committed to creating a holistic and welcoming environment that is conducive to recovery, which will allow for seamless transitions to and from our community-based services.

Job Summary

The Indigenous Cultural Advisor is a management position in the Mental Health and Addictions Program. The Indigenous Cultural Advisor is responsible for building a culture of safety and quality and providing advice and leadership to support the design and delivery of culturally safe programmes/services and policies on a provincial basis across the continuum of mental health and addiction services to improve mental health and addictions care for Indigenous peoples across the province. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with different Indigenous communities and partners across the province, as well as MHA leadership and/or staff to provide functional direction and advice on integrating Indigenous knowledge, values and cultural practices into mental health and addiction programmes, policies and services.

This position will report directly to the Regional Director of the Mental Health and Addictions Acute and Tertiary Care Program, located in the Eastern Urban Zone.

Job Demands

By applying for this job, you acknowledge an understanding that regular requirements and demands of this job include (but are not limited to):
Occasionally moves or lifts office supplies and technology between 1-5lbs.
Occasionally drives to attend in-person meetings with staff or external partners.
Regular daily sitting at a desk and computer to perform work and attend meetings is required.
Regular focus on multiple projects and shifting between projects is required.
Fine finger/precision work is required on a regular basis.

Qualifications

Education
Post‑secondary education in Indigenous studies, health, social science, public policy or other related field.

Experience
Minimum of 2 years of related experience working in a community and/or healthcare environment.
Experience in mental health and addictions is required.
Experience in a management/leadership role is an asset.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Experience working with Indigenous communities, groups, and organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of the diverse Indigenous histories and cultures that exist across Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Knowledge and understanding of the First Voice, Urban Indigenous Community Action Plan, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, as well as the ability to use these documents to guide necessary changes in the delivery of mental health and addictions care on a provincial basis.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the NL provincial mental health and addictions system, as well as programs and services.
• Knowledge and understanding of person‑centered care, trauma informed care, harm reduction, and recovery‑oriented care from an Indigenous lens, and within a mental health and addictions context.
• A demonstrated ability to apply and integrate Indigenous knowledge, values and cultural practices into mental health and addictions care across the province.
• Knowledge and experience coordinating, developing, implementing and/or evaluating programs and/or policies related to mental health and addictions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coordinate and develop education and awareness training/content for MHA leadership and staff on stigma, racism, and the history and ongoing impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples in NL.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, and the ability to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous and non‑Indigenous, groups, communities, organizations and partners to enhance mental health and addiction services provided to Indigenous peoples across the mental health and addictions continuum of care.
• Ability to manage budgets and utilize funds allocated in accordance with prescribed policies and guidelines.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate meetings and groups and deliver presentations and/or educational content.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
• Knowledge and experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite of applications.
• Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in and/or lead working groups, committees and/or coalitions to enhance MHA care for Indigenous peoples in NL.

Other

• Preference will be given to qualified candidates who are Indigenous.
• A satisfactory record of work performance and attendance is required.
• Current registration with relevant professional association and/or licensing body is required, if applicable.
• This position will be located in the Eastern Urban region and will work out of the New Mental Health and Addictions Centre (MHAC).