Regional Director, Quality and Patient Safety

Vancouver Coastal Health • Vancouver, BC

1d • CA$67 - CA$96 • Hybrid

About The Position

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeking a Regional Director, Quality and Patient Safety to provide strategic and operational leadership for quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, and patient and staff experience initiatives across Vancouver Acute. This is a significant leadership role focused on driving quality, patient safety, and healthcare transformation within a large and complex acute care system. As a senior leader within the Vancouver Acute Community of Care (CoC) leadership team, the Regional Director will operate in a matrix environment, collaborating closely with operational, medical, professional practice, and executive leaders. The role is responsible for advancing an integrated, evidence-informed approach to clinical quality and patient safety, ensuring organizational goals and accreditation requirements lead to measurable improvements in clinical practice, operational performance, and patient outcomes. A key aspect of the role involves leading the Patient Safety portfolio, including oversight of serious patient safety events, investigations, organizational learning, escalation pathways, executive reporting, and system-wide improvement initiatives. Success requires the ability to engage effectively across all levels, from frontline teams to the Board, within a complex matrix structure. The Regional Director will lead a multi-site, multidisciplinary team and represent VCH on provincial and national quality, patient safety, accreditation, and healthcare transformation initiatives. This work is underpinned by VCH’s commitments to Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Planetary Health.

Requirements

• Masters’ Degree in a related health profession.
• Ten (10) years’ recent, related experience in clinical quality and patient safety in a complex health care environment including progressive clinical practice, education, research, project management and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated Strategic & Operational Leadership
• Demonstrated experience leading quality and patient safety portfolios within large, complex healthcare organizations.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into operational practice and sustainable improvements.
• Demonstrated experience operationalizing quality and patient safety priorities within complex acute care environments.
• Experience working successfully within matrix leadership structures where influence, collaboration, and shared accountability are critical to success.
• Expertise in quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, and evidence-informed healthcare practice.
• Experience leading patient safety programs, including serious event reviews, safety investigations, organizational learning, escalation pathways, and executive reporting.
• Strong systems-thinking, problem-solving, and change leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and influence from frontline teams through to executive leadership and Board stakeholders.
• Strong facilitation, collaboration, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Compassionate, emotionally intelligent leadership style with the ability to navigate complex and sensitive situations.
• Demonstrated commitment to Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
• Ability to lead with cultural humility and apply inclusive approaches to decision-making and service delivery.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities with the ability to interpret complex information, identify trends, and support evidence-informed decision-making.
• Advanced understanding of healthcare systems, health service operations, policy development, accreditation requirements, and the broader healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

• Leads quality improvement, patient safety, accreditation, and experience strategies across Vancouver Acute.
• Operationalizes quality, patient safety, accreditation, and experience priorities by partnering with operational and clinical leaders to embed improvement initiatives into day-to-day care delivery.
• Provides strategic leadership and accountability for the Patient Safety portfolio, including serious event review, organizational learning, and system-level improvement.
• Leads accreditation readiness activities and supports achievement of Accreditation Canada standards and Required Organizational Practices.
• Serves as a member of the Vancouver Acute Community of Care leadership team and contributes to strategic and operational planning across the portfolio.
• Builds strong partnerships with operational leaders, physicians, professional practice leaders, executive teams, and external stakeholders.
• Works within a matrix leadership environment to align quality and patient safety priorities with operational, clinical, medical, and organizational objectives.
• Represents VCH on provincial and national quality, patient safety, and accreditation initiatives.
• Oversees quality and patient safety performance measurement, reporting, evaluation, and improvement planning.
• Uses data, research, and health system trends to inform strategic recommendations and support Board, executive, and operational decision-making.
• Supports executive and Board reporting related to quality, patient safety, accreditation, and organizational performance.
• Leads and develops a multidisciplinary Quality & Patient Safety team.
• Provides consultation and guidance regarding quality, patient safety, accreditation readiness, and emerging organizational risks.
• Supports operational leaders in addressing quality concerns, patient safety risks, and improvement opportunities across Vancouver Acute.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and psychological safety.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health, and dental and municipal pension plan.
• Employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities.
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families.
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers.
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director