Department Head, Radiation Oncology - BC Cancer – Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, Planned Regional Centre)

DEPARTMENT HEAD, RADIATION ONCOLOGY
BC Cancer – Nanaimo Regular, Full-Time (1.0 FTE) Nanaimo, BC

Shape the future of cancer care on Vancouver Island

BC Cancer is one of the world's renowned cancer organizations. Working in close partnership with regional health authorities and community sites, BC Cancer supports patients across the province to access high-quality cancer care closer to home.

BC Cancer is advancing plans for a new regional cancer centre in Nanaimo, expanding access to cancer care across Vancouver Island. This role offers a unique opportunity to help shape the development of Radiation Oncology services at a growing regional centre. The Department Head will provide leadership in clinical planning, program development, workforce growth, and the delivery of world-class, patient-centred cancer care for patients across the Island region.

The Opportunity

In accordance with the established vision and values of BC Cancer and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), the Department Head, Radiation Oncology provides medical leadership, strategic direction, and oversight to support the planning, development, delivery, and continuous improvement of Radiation Oncology services.

Reporting to the Executive Medical Director, BC Cancer - Nanaimo (or designate), the Department Head works closely with site leadership, provincial program leaders, regional health authority partners, and Medical Affairs to support clinical planning, workforce development, quality improvement, and operational excellence.

What You'll Do

Provide leadership for the Radiation Oncology department and represent Medical Staff perspectives in local, regional, and provincial discussions.
Establish and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and clinical standards.
Lead departmental planning aligned with current and future service delivery requirements.
Support quality, safety, and performance improvement initiatives.
Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, engagement, and development of medical staff.
Promote research, teaching, academic partnerships, and knowledge translation activities.
Collaborate with regional health authority partners and provincial stakeholders to support integration and alignment of cancer services.
Contribute to operational planning, program development, and strategic initiatives that support ongoing growth and excellence in patient care.
Provide leadership for departmental quality assurance activities, including quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, outcome monitoring, and the promotion of professional standards of medical care.
Oversee departmental operational and resource planning, including workforce planning, budget development, and effective utilization of departmental resources.
Foster an equitable, inclusive, respectful, anti-racist, and culturally safe workplace that supports professional development, engagement, and excellence in patient care.
Participate in medical staff credentialing, appointment, reappointment, and performance review processes, and provide recommendations in accordance with PHSA Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules.

Qualifications

Applicants must be eligible for licensure in British Columbia and must have obtained their Fellowship in Radiation Oncology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or hold an equivalent qualification, by the time of appointment. The successful applicant will receive a clinical appointment with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Radiation Oncology. Canadian Immigration regulations accord preference to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The successful applicant will hold medical staff privileges with the Provincial Health Services Authority and Island Health (Nanaimo Regional General Hospital).

Commitment and Compensation

This leadership role is supported through an annual administrative stipend of $15,000, in addition to the compensation associated with a 1.0 FTE Radiation Oncologist position. The Department Head role is structured as approximately 0.5 FTE clinical practice and 0.5 FTE administrative leadership responsibilities, allowing the successful candidate to maintain an active clinical practice while providing departmental leadership.

Core Competencies

Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.

Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we do

BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia. We are committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. BC Cancer provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia in partnership with regional health authorities to deliver a range of cancer services, which include prevention, screening and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. It operates six regional cancer centres in Surrey, Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria, Abbotsford and Prince George, along with two research centres that conduct research into the causes and cures for cancer.

BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). For more about us, visit www.bccancer.bc.ca
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.

Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.

Salaried Physicians enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources. Salaried Physicians also receive annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.

Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.
To apply, please send a letter expressing your interest along with your curriculum vitae to:

Shelley Dutchin
Physician Recruiter, Talent Acquisition
[email protected]

Applications will be reviewed immediately, and the position will remain open until it is filled.