PFM Executive Search Places Chief Project Officer for Fraser Health

January 2, 2020 – Vancouver, British Columbia-based PFM Executive Search has placed Sharat Chandra as chief project officer at Fraser Health for the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project. Partners Allison Rzen and Shaun Carpenter are leading the assignment for the search firm.

In his new role, Mr. Chandra will be responsible for leading the development, design, construction, completion and move-in of all three phases of the redevelopment project meeting all clinical, technical and operational risks and quality goals, said PFM Executive Search.

Mr. Chandra brings over a decade of experience in manufacturing and industrial project management. Before joining Fraser Health he spent eight years with Stantec, where he led over 60 employees in the industrial group. He holds an undergraduate degree in engineering in India and a master’s degree in applied science in Regina. He also has an MBA.

The CPO is charged with establishing clear and attainable project objectives, building project requirements and managing the constraints of cost, time, scope, risk and quality for each phase of the project, said PFM Executive Search. The role also calls for validating policies, processes and methods and managing numerous contractors, vendors and consultants working with the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Project and Fraser Health corporate teams.

Key Responsibilities

In addition, the CPO leads project team members in collaborating with multiple internal and external stakeholders. The job involves facilitating an understanding of issues and working towards informed, supported decisions related to each phase of the project. Ensuring all project deliverables support, protect and enable the clinical mission is paramount.

Duties of the role include the planning, deployment and evaluation of related physical, financial and human resources in support of the strategic and operational needs of Fraser Health, and making decisions involving the project consultants and contractors on behalf of the health authority, said the search firm. This involves using unique knowledge, skills, abilities and talent to build relationships with many key external stakeholders, including government at all levels, boards and industry professionals.

Along with the requisite educational qualifications, the health organization wanted candidates to have a strong process engineering and project/program management and construction management background in a variety of capital procurement methods, said the search firm. Prospects were expected to have an expertise in design-build and construction management projects with the proven ability to work effectively and positively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. Ideally, the individual would have collaborated on a wide range of projects within a highly complex healthcare or similar environment.

Fraser Health is one of seven health organizations in British Columbia. The organization provides high quality and timely health services to more than 1.8 million people living in communities stretching from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope. Its communities include a diverse multicultural population and about 38,00 First Nations people, associated with 32 First Nation communities. Over 26,000 employees, 2,900 physicians and 6,000 volunteers provide its services and support patients, residents and clients. Fraser Health is moving forward with the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment project, a multi-year, multi-phase redevelopment to modernize one of British Columbia’s busiest and most important critical care centers in order to increase its capacity, beds and services. Valued at over $1 billion, this is one of the largest government-funded capital health care project in British Columbia’s history.

Canadian Search Firm

PFM serves a wide range of industries, working with private, public and not-for-profit organizations to fill senior-level executive positions. Among the roles that the firm has recently filled include: director of technology services, infrastructure and enterprise applications, for Vancouver Airport Authority; chief executive officer for the BC Trucking Association; and chief financial officer for InTransit BC.

Mr. Carpenter has been part of the PFM team since 1998. The firm said that he is known for his “aptitude in candidate development and client relations, his thorough, insightful approach gives clients confidence that their needs are being met in a professional, timely manner.” Having previously served as a human resources manager with a leading Canadian health insurance provider, he also has a strong understanding of the receiving side of search services.

Ms. Rzen joined PFM in 1999. Initially one of the firm’s research associates, she has a reputation for her sensitivity to the range of specific skills and intangible qualities required by client organizations. Her strong interpersonal abilities and business skills help her quickly match qualified candidates with the right positions, said PFM. Her previous experience coordinating convention services for the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau provided her with firsthand knowledge about working with diverse stakeholders and clients.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media