Job Description

Interior Health is looking for a Legal Substances Coordinator to join the team on a full time relief basis from our Kelowna location.



This position is expected to last until April 2027.

What we offer:

Employee & Family Assistance Program Employer paid training/education opportunities Employer paid vacation Medical Services Plan Employer paid insurance premiums Extended health & dental coverage (Potential) Municipal Pension Plan Work-life balance

About the job:

In accordance with the established vision and values of the organization, the Legal Substances Coordinator develops, implements and evaluates legal substance reduction and prevention programs.


In collaboration with the Manager, other team members and key internal and external partners, the Coordinator researches and integrates health promotion and disease prevention evidence and best practice to facilitate effective and efficient policy and practice to reduce legal substances use rates in the IH region. The position plans, organizes, implements, and evaluates local population health approaches that address the risk factors related to legal substances (i.e. alcohol, cannabis, tobacco). The program is based on a population health approach, and emphasizes the principles of health equity, advocacy and health promotion.

Typical duties and responsibilities:

Assists in the development, implementation and evaluation of legal substances reduction programs by reviewing current research and best practices, in order to reduce the burden of legal substances related disease for IHA communities and members. Takes a lead role in IHA wide legal substances reduction strategies and projects. Advocates on behalf of IHA communities and members for evidence-based legal substances policy within IHA and by various levels of government, community organizations, school districts and non-governmental organizations. Advises, recommends and provides consultation on legal substances policies and legislation to Federal and Provincial governments upon request. Provides content for briefing notes and reports to the Medical Health Officer, Senior Executive Team, and Interior Health Board on legal substances-related issues and programs to support them in making informed decisions on legal substances-related issues. Builds community capacity and develops collaborative approaches for the integrated advancement of population health initiatives related to legal substances. Achieves this by developing strategic partnerships and chairing or participating as appropriate on local, regional, and/or provincial committees or working groups targeting legal substances reduction issues and initiatives. Assesses need for as well as creates/obtains/provides effective legal substances reduction materials and resources for use by clinical staff teams, community workers, schools, the public and specific target populations. Provides information via a variety of communication vehicles to health care providers and communities members (such as local governments, school coordinators, aboriginal health workers, community groups) regarding legal substances prevention. Develops and delivers effective presentations, seminars and programs to local governments, community partners, IHA leadership, professional clinical staff and physicians. Uses media and other strategies to communicate tobacco and vapour reduction messages to increase knowledge and positively affect attitudes and behaviors in regards to legal substances reduction. Contributes to the development of contracts, pilot projects and ongoing projects, which are funded by IHA or through grants, in order to maximize the capacity of the IHA to reduce the burden of legal substances related disease. Seeks sources of funding at the community/regional/provincial/federal level to support additional legal substances reduction activities by developing grant proposals. Collaborates with appropriate staff outside of IHA such as BC Ministry of Health and Health Canada staff in the development of provincial, regional and local programs and policies. Develops program documents such as policy manuals, guidance documents and technical reports. Collaborates with operational programs to support treatment procedures, and provides input regarding policies for legal substance cessation programs Advises local governments, community agencies and school districts with regard to establishing legal substances-related policies and programs. Participates in the orientation of staff and students by methods such as providing established orientation pathways and mentorship, demonstrating work procedures, collegial sharing of knowledge and answering questions, as required. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree in a health field or social science field with content in health promotion, population health, program evaluation, and/or community capacity building. Minimum of two years recent relevant experience with a focus on facilitating integrated and system wide approaches. Equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.




Valid BC Driver's License.

Skills and Abilities:

Teaching: Ability to teach clients and others both one-on-one and in groups.

Knowledge Integration: Integrates best practice and current research evidence to support professional practice decisions and actions.



Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, the public, medical staff and the members of the interdisciplinary team using, oral written and computer communication means. Demonstrated ability to effectively resolve conflict.



Critical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to integrate and evaluate pertinent data (from multiple sources) to problem-solve and make decisions effectively. Applies the problem solving process demonstrating critical thinking and decision-making skills using a systems approach.



Management: Demonstrated ability to organize work, set objectives and establish priorities. Manages time and resources, implements activities to promote cooperation among the interdisciplinary team, and collaborates across disciplines.




Leadership: Demonstrates creative planning for change and innovations, implementation of IH policies or other protocols, and ongoing professional development of self and others. Ensures continuous quality improvement of programs.




Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork, ability to establish effective working relationships with others and a commitment to excellence in the provision of client service.




Equipment: Demonstrated computer skills including the use of Hedgehog.net and Windows based programs. Demonstrated data analysis skills including appropriate data analysis and reporting tools. Demonstrated ability in the use of e-mail and word processing. Ability to operate other related equipment as required in the specific practice area.



Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.