Deputy Chief, Medical and Scientific Support

The Opportunity
Reporting to the Vice President and Chief, Population Health, the Deputy Chief, Medical and Scientific Support will provide strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, and overall operational direction of the Medical and Scientific Support team in Population Health This role is responsible for the research platform, planning, development, implementation, strategic management and overall performance of Healthy People and Environments, Medical and System Support programs and services within the department including Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Environments and Occupational Health, Emergency preparedness and Response program areas and the provision of scientific and technical information and services.
The ideal candidate will be a thoughtful and curious leader who brings a deep understanding of public health and has a commitment to supporting a robust scientific and research agenda. This individual will play a key role in advancing an ambitious focus on knowledge generation and translation and renewed public policy focus on continuing and emerging public health issues through collaborative and engaging dialogue with key partners across the province and beyond.
The Deputy Chief will have experience as a practicing Public Health and Preventive Medicine physician, or equivalent with scientific/public health professional training at a post graduate level. They will bring ten years’ experience in planning and leading in a highly specialized and complex scientific environment with a broad focus on one or more public and population health domains coupled with possession of or eligibility for College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario independent practice license. A detailed role description can be found below.

Key Responsibilities –
• Provides medical advice and consultation to and directs the development, dissemination, delivery, and evaluation of a range of unit initiatives including educational and professional development programs, best practices, tools, protocols, guidelines, and resources to deliver a comprehensive and systematic approach to Population Health.
• Develops major initiatives within Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Environmental and Occupational Health requiring medical and scientific/technical expertise.
• Acts as a strategic leader and thinker across the organization to drive an integrated research platform, and innovative programs and services in the areas of Healthy People and Environments, including the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.
• Acts as a key leader in developing enterprise-wide integrated business strategies for Healthy People and Environments.
• Works with portfolio leads, managers and staff to develop common project management standards and methodologies for science- based projects and research operations and a consistent approach to project resource allocation where applicable.
• Works in a partnership model with the portfolio lead, including with cross functional and operational teams and with scientific and medical staff across the organization on Population Health issues.
• Directs the development, dissemination, delivery and evaluation of strategies and initiatives such as educational and professional development programs, best practices, tools, protocols, guidelines, and resources to build capacity across the health care continuum.
• Acts as an authority in area of expertise and provides expertise across PHO to develop PHO strategy in the field.
• Promotes and leads the operational implementation of new strategies, directions, or practices in Population Health programs in collaboration with the portfolio lead.
• Ensures operational effectiveness and efficiency across areas of responsibility for a range of diverse Healthy People and Environments, programs, initiatives, and services.
• Assumes responsibility for medical leadership and activities of the portfolio lead as assigned during their absences.
• Exercises independent judgement in all matters pertaining to the day-to-day operations of the portfolio including the application of policies, guidelines, and regulations.
• Coaches, mentors, and collaborates with leadership regarding strategic decisions and plans to ensure PHO’s policies and objectives are successfully implemented.
• Provides oversight for Department compliance with PHO and government or policies, standards, rules.
• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility through planning, monitoring, and managing budget, congruent with internal policies and procedures and legislation.
• Keeps abreast of the latest research and developments in area of specialty within PHO and at other institutions.
• Manages critical relationships internally and externally often in a matrix or team structure; builds networks to negotiate and resolve conflict that have a crucial impact on both the department’s goals and strategic direction and mandate of PHO.
• Mobilizes units and cross-functional teams to ensure appropriate responses to requests for service and public health incidents, and to support PHO scientific and research priorities working in close partnership and with the guidance of the portfolio lead.
• In partnership with the portfolio lead, supports the Executive Committee in the planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluation of the overall operations of the portfolio.
• Directs the coordination and support to PHO advisory committees as appropriate to areas of responsibility.
• Manages cross enterprise business relationships to ensure conflict is resolved.
• Manages and provides oversight to PHO’s on-call system and the medical staff who support PHO’s on-call functions to ensure PHO is equipped to respond to, manage and/or support urgent queries that may impact public health or any risk to our organization.
• Manages and directs managers to ensure congruence with PHO’s internal policies and procedures, professional standards, Collective Agreement requirements and other relevant standards, legislation or regulations, including: providing direction and leadership in the implementation of new techniques and standards; setting clear responsibilities and objectives and evaluating performance; advising on training needs, participating in recruitment and selection; dealing with disciplinary issues and responding to grievances in conjunction with PHO’s Human Resources management programs.
• As a member of the PHO senior leadership team, acts as a key participant in developing public health strategies, planning and execution.
• Represents senior leadership on appropriate committees and work teams to advance PHO activities and to ensure broad external stakeholder input where appropriate; e.g. Senior Leadership Committee, Privacy Subcommittee, etc.
• Manages risk across programs in alignment with the enterprise risk management program.
• Political acuity and awareness of government directions, sensitivities and relationships with the ability to work with ambiguities.
• Models organizational values and organizational culture and embeds values into area of responsibility.
• Supports PHO in the provision of response in an emergency, pursuant to responsibilities as delegated in an emergency response plan; supports PHO’s 24/7 incident and emergency response through shared participation in on-call schedule, as required.
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Skills-
• Knowledge of, and skills in Population Health with considerable breadth of knowledge development of the complex public health field to act as an authority in the subject area.
• Knowledge of the roles, authority, and priorities of the various external stakeholders in the public health system including public health units, public health associations, Ministry of Health, to manage operations and develop operational strategies/solutions in the context of the system as a whole.
• Understanding of the complexities of the public health care system and its linkages to other public health firms, Canadian public health, and healthcare systems.

Attributes and Competencies-
• Ability to work in a shared leadership model and communicate across a system both vertically and horizontally and build effective relationships.
• Oral and written communication and presentation skills, often as the senior authoritative expert in the field of Healthy People and Environments, to promote or influence PHO decision making with colleagues across the organization.
• Diplomacy, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to develop networks and partnerships with one or more of public health, research, academic, and institutional sectors, to manage critical relationships internally and externally (with clients and stakeholders) and to build networks to negotiate opportunities and resolve conflict.

How to Apply
If you are interested in joining Public Health Ontario and feel you are qualified for this role, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a cover letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria.
The preferred method of application is online at: PHO Careers