Manager, Equity & Belonging

Click here to apply as an internal applicant.

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 227397 
Department/Program: Equity and Belonging, Health Equity, Safety and Wellness 
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: October 2026
Union Status: Management, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $53.5887 - $65.6462 /hour
Closing Date: October 26, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This is not a designated position; however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application. 

Where there are no qualified candidates who hold the full seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience in promoting health equity and diversity, consideration may be given to candidates who don’t meet that level of experience.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.
The Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Director, Health Equity, Safety and Wellness, the Manager, Equity and Belonging applies population health and community development principles to identify and address the root causes for disparities in the care provided at IWK Health to equity and Indigenous populations. This involves consultation with IWK staff, partners and community organizations that represent diverse populations and informing next steps for implementing the provincial diversity and inclusion framework, and IWK’s strategies and associated metrics as well as supporting public engagement to inform priority initiatives. 

 
Under the direction of the Director, Health Equity, Safety and Wellness:

The Manager is responsible for developing metrics, the consultation, creation, implementation and promotion of diversity and engagement strategies, policies, guidelines, standards, programs, and services that are aligned with IWK Health’s equity, diversity, Inclusion, reconciliation, and accessibility goals. The Manager ensures that the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Accessibility (EDIRA) lens is applied to everything done at IWK Health from patient care to employee engagement and retention.

The Manager is responsible to provide timely and accurate direction, advice and recommendations to key internal and external partners on matters pertaining to the advancement of key delivery elements of the diversity and inclusion framework, as well as strategic priorities of the organization and the system. The Manager supports the cultural Health Consultants and the Mi’kmaw Indigenous Health Consultant to advance EDIRA strategy initiatives and action reconciliation plans related to patient and family experience, staff support, cultural awareness and safety, access to services and Indigenous and cultural practices. The Manager works with system partners to ensure that the organization meets the requirements of the provincial Action for Health Plan and the Health Equity Framework by engaging with community and developing and implementing an action plan. 

The Manager works with system partners to ensure that the organization meets the requirements of the Accessibility Act and provides timely and accurate direction, advice and recommendations pertaining to the advancement of key delivery elements of the provincial Accessibility Action Plan, as well as strategic priorities of the organization and the system in relation to IWK’s accessibility programs and projects.

Hours of Work

Monday – Friday; 0800-1600 this role is eligible for flexible and hybrid work schedule

Your Qualifications

Graduate degree in health administration, social sciences, public health, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience in promoting health equity and diversity, within a complex multi-union environment or unionized health care and or public sector organization experience.

Demonstrated knowledge of current practices and trends in diversity and belonging.

Diversity, equity, and belonging practitioner with knowledge of Truth and Reconciliation calls to action, African Nova Scotian call to action, Indigenous engagement and relations, 2SLGBTQIA+ health, Access by Design 2030, Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan, etc.

Demonstrated knowledge of anti-racism, cultural safety, and social determinants of health.

Strong facilitation, leadership, and change management skills.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.