Director of Policy and Practice, New Westminster
About Community Living Society
Community Living Society (CLS) is a not-for-profit organization with a $40M annual budget providing customized, flexible, and creative supports to people with disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Headquartered in New Westminster, CLS and its 550+ employees provide services to nearly 500 adults annually throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
Founded in the late 1970s by family members of children with disabilities, CLS has remained dedicated to person-centered practice and planning to identify and implement supports that empower people with a disability to live unique, self-determined, and fulfilling lives. By providing an array of programs, including staffed homes, supported and independent living, community inclusion, Home Share and employment services, CLS acts as a bridge for people with a disability to make new friends, learn life and vocational skills, live more independently, and achieve personal goals. Funded primarily by Community Living British Columbia and the Acquired Brain Injury Program through the Fraser Health Authority, CLS strives to support individuals to design and pursue meaningful lives in community.
To learn more about CLS, see their website, here.
The Opportunity
CLS’ previous Director of Policy and Practice was recently promoted to the COO position—as a result, we are now recruiting a new Director of Policy and Practice.
Reporting to the COO, with effective organizational skills and planning, the Director, Policy and Practice will oversee the Quality Assurance program (including regulatory compliance related to service delivery, CARF Accreditation, etc.), the organization’s health and safety and emergency management practices in alignment with the organizational strategy.
Additionally, this role will steward the development and implementation of new and updated policies ensuring their alignment across the organization. Through developing sound working relationships and communication strategies with all necessary stakeholders, this role will work collaboratively with all levels of the organization.
This position oversees the role of the Quality Assurance Manager.
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Policy and Practice’s main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Policy Management
Supports Directors, HR, and the Executive, with the development and maintenance of organization-wide policies and procedures to ensure consistency, compliance, understanding, and relevance across the organization.
Collaborates with relevant Directors, Leaders, and HR in the development of new or revised policies and ensures appropriate implementation and communication plans are in place.
Conducts regular reviews of the organization’s policies and procedures and makes recommendations for improvement as required related to best practices and accreditation standards.
Occupational Health and Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Accountable for the organization’s health and safety and emergency preparedness programs and prevention and follow-up procedures (e.g., development, required reviews and documentation), in association with Directors, Managers and Finance department.
Development of the Annual Health and Safety Report for the organization and review and audit of emergency preparedness equipment.
Promotes a safety culture within teams and the Society as a whole, through awareness/education campaigns.
Strategizes with the operations team and communicates to the organization regarding ongoing health and safety responses such as snow days, preparation for heat, floods, etc.
Accountable for drill and inspections scheduling, organizational completion of appropriate drills, workplace inspections and inspections reports, for corrective actions.
Ensures proper procedures, reports, documentation, information flow, analysis, and communication are carried out specific to work-related injuries and incidents across the organization.
Oversight of emergency and First Aid supplies, maintenance and distribution including Ready to Go bags and all program emergency supplies and oversight and coordination of Emergency Preparedness external provider.
Oversight of the Emergency On Call Program. This includes planning, assessment, review and training.
Co -Chair of the CLS Joint Health and Safety Committee as the employer co-chair. This includes planning, assessment, and review.
Implementation of ongoing and new organization Health and Safety initiatives and those identified by the JOHSC committee.
Quality Assurance
Ensures that CLS has a coordinated approach to responding to all regulatory requirements related to service delivery (e.g. Licensing, CLBC monitoring, etc.), including systems to monitor compliance and respond to information.
Conducts investigations regarding non-compliance with regulatory or funder requirements.
Ensure CLS maintains compliance with all relevant Accreditation standards.
Ensures that CLS has a coordinated and fulsome preparation process for CARF surveys.
Training and People Management
Contributes to the organization’s culture by modeling the CLS values and supporting other Leaders and employees to align their actions to the mission and vision.
Manages and oversees the Quality Assurance Manager including delegating workflow, communicating goals, and following up on internal / external inquires.
Monitors the quality of work and provides feedback on the degree to which operational standards are met.
Coaches, leads, and supports the professional development of direct report(s), identifying training opportunities where available.
As appropriate, oversees team members and advises on policy and health and safety issues.
Identifies and delivers training consistent with the accountability of the role.
Essential Qualities & Experience
The ideal candidate will come with applicable policy and quality assurance experience within a comparably complex CARF or similarly accredited/regulated organization—preferably with contracted regional/provincial program or service deliverables in community living or other related services, such as housing, seniors’ living, employment, health/mental health, disability, or family services. Not-for-profit and community living experience is an asset, though not required provided candidates can demonstrate alignment with CLS’ mission and values and evidence of directly transferrable skills.
Our client inclusively welcomes credibly experienced leaders to apply for the role, but will prioritize candidates who possess the following attributes:
Relevant post-secondary degree and a minimum of 5-8 years of related experience is required.
Strong knowledge of policy development and strong experience in high level writing skills are required.
Strong understanding of and commitment to the principles and values associated with community living for people with disabilities.
Sound working knowledge of applicable government legislation, ministry regulations, and accrediting body policies.
Demonstrated results in managing and leading teams through change.
Excellent process, technology, organizational, written, and verbal communication, interpersonal and public relations skills are essential.
Commitment to principled and values-based decision making and building collaborative team relationships.
A Criminal Record Search, Doctor’s Note of Health and valid Class 5 Driver’s License are required.
Compensation & Search Process
This position is a key leadership role and will come with a salary range of $90,000-$97,000, in addition to excellent benefits and contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan.
The search process may include conventional longlist, shortlist, and committee interview stages. We will request for finalists to offer comprehensive and recent references and to complete a background check.
We expect to complete our first review of applications by May 22, 2024.
Diversity and inclusion are valued at CLS. They are proud to offer equal employment opportunities, and they actively encourage equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces. They seek leaders who represent, at all job levels, the diversity of the people they serve, and they encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, individuals of all genders and sexual orientations, origin and ethnic affiliations, disabilities, ages, and religions.
Accommodation will be provided by CLS and Mosaic Executive Search throughout the recruitment, selection, and assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities.
Applications (cover letter and curriculum vitae) or nominations for the Director of Policy and Practice opportunity with CLS should be submitted in confidence to: info@mosaicsearch.ca
You are also welcome to email any related questions to:
Dave Namkung (dave@mosaicsearch.ca) or Alana Briggs (alana@mosaicsearch.ca)
