Medical Office Assistant, Cowichan Valley

FNHA Overview

The First Nations Health Authority is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative, and dedicated team members and leaders.

The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.

The First Nations Health Authority is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce. Preference will be given to individuals who identify as First Nations from a Nation located on Vancouver Island or the surrounding areas. All interested First Nations, Inuit or Métis individuals are encouraged to apply. The First Nations Health Authority has a mandate to increase First Nations representation in the workforce. Applicant skills, perspectives and lived experience may be matched for this role, or other opportunities within the FNHA.

FNHA is proud to have been named one of BC’s Top Employers for 2026. Learn more about why we were selected here .

Title: Medical Office Assistant

Salary: $60,820 -$76,024 - $83,627 per year (pay range explained below)

Contract: This position is a term with the FNHA ending 2/4/2028 with a possibility of an extension. When the term position ends with the FNHA, it is intended that this position will be offered as a permanent role with the Vancouver Island Region Primary Care Centre,

Hours: 8:30-4:30 (core hours 9am-3pm Mon-Fri)

Location: Greater Cowichan Valley- with travel to local communities

About The Role

The Coast Salish First Nations Led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) aims to bring culturally safe, primary care services closer to home for First Nations People in British Columbia. These services are delivered equitability through a Hub and Spoke model, working in Nation Health Centers. The Hub site for this posting is in the Cowichan Valley. The Spoke sites are as follows:

• Huli’tun Health Society (Lyackson & Halalt)
• Cowichan Tribes
• Penelakut Tribe
• Ts’uubaa-asatx Nation
• Ditidaht First Nation

The Medical Office Assistant provides administrative support to the day-to-day operations of the Centre. The role coordinates staff and resources through the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) according to program workflows. The role functions as a member of a collaborative and comprehensive health care team ensuring the provision of safe, ethical and culturally appropriate care to clients and their families.

FNPCI Initiative

The First Nations-led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) aims to improve access to primary health-care services for First Nations people across BC in a way that is culturally safe and closer to home. The FNPCI is part of the province’s primary care strategy, which is integrating team-based care in communities throughout B.C. and changing the way primary care is delivered with the creation of primary care networks in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities.

To meet the health and wellness needs of First Nations people, it is very important that primary care is culturally safe and culturally informed where Indigenous ways of knowing and being are woven into services.

One of the main objectives of the FNPCI is to develop new First Nations Primary Health Care Centres in rural and urban locations across the province. The centres will provide access to culturally safe, quality primary health care services for First Nations people and their families. The aim is for clients to feel safe, welcomed, valued, respected and heard when they access care services at one of these centres.

About You

Education & Experience

• Medical Office Assistant Certificate Program from an accredited Community College would be an asset
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in a medical practice with advanced knowledge in encounter coding, data and administrative processes, human resource management principles and practices, and current scheduling practices, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in EMR is required

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrates ability to utilize and understand Medical Terminology, in particular terminology related to substance use and mental health
• Demonstrated knowledge of MSP Billing Practices and Fee Codes, medical issues and terminology, applicable regulations through the relevant healthcare provider colleges required
• Experience working with a First Nations Health Service Organization or experience working with First Nations people and communities is an asset
• Current valid BC Driver's License
• High level of comfort working with technological applications including EMRs, Zoom, Microsoft Suite
• De-escalation and supportive communication
• Must have proven ability to maintain professional conduct and confidentiality in the care of patients

Please refer to Job Specification section of the Job Description for more details

Working at FNHA

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits, including:

• Municipal Pension plan with an employer contribution of 9.31%
• 3 weeks’ vacation, which increases with service to 4 weeks, plus 5 personal days, 1 volunteer day, and 14 public holidays including National Indigenous People’s Day, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Easter Monday and Boxing Day
• Access to group health benefits and a Health Care Spending Account through Canada Life on day 1 of employment
• And more!

Leading with culture, all FNHA employees complete San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. We support our family to be leaders in wellness and all staff members develop a yearly wellness plan as part of their performance partnership and goal-setting.

The Pay Range is the minimum and maximum annual salary based on full time equivalent hours.

Incumbents are typically hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on their knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in relation to the role requirements.

The top 10% of the pay range is for the incumbents who are industry experts in the job with the combination of exceptional experience and competencies needed to perform all duties and responsibilities at a superior capability level. Internal employee compensation will be determined as per the FNHA Employee Total Compensation Policy.

How to apply

If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button.

Closing date: Open until filled

Interviews: Will be held mid to late September.

FNHA may invite members of partner organizations to work with FNHA on an interview panel to interview and select job candidates. Members of the interview panel might include non-FNHA staff such as members of the First Nations Health Council, First Nations Health Directors Association, First Nations Community partners, or other public partners. By applying for this job posting, you acknowledge and consent to your application, resume, and references being shared with all members of the interview panel. This personal information will be held in strict confidence and protected according to the Personal Information Protection Act.

For more information about us, please visit:

For information about Cultural Safety and Humility (fnha.ca) and for information about Land Acknowledgements

If you have any inquiries or issues please contact FNHA Recruitment at ***email_hidden***

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