Lead, Health Workforce Research & Best Practices Permanent

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value. How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity, humility and care.

What Ontario Health offers:   

Achieving your career goals is a priority to us. Benefits of working at Ontario Health may include the following based on employment type:  

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day
• Health care spending account
• Premium defined benefit pension plan
• 3 personal days and 2 float days annually
• Individual contributors start at 3 weeks’ vacation, and 4 weeks at 2 yrs.
• Career development opportunities
• A collaborative values-based team culture
• Wellness programs
• A hybrid working model
• Participation in Communities of Inclusion 

Want to make a difference in your career?  Consider this opportunity.   

The Lead, Health Workforce Research & Best Practices reports directly to the Director, Health Workforce Data, Planning and Evidence but will work cross functionally across the Division. The Lead will be responsible for researching, collecting, and disseminating best practice information from across the health sector on evidence-based staffing models, team-based care, and system level care delivery to support and optimize Ontario’s health workforce.

The ideal candidate has completed a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in health, public health, epidemiology, or a health related profession. Strong preference will be given to a candidate with experience as a regulated health professional.

The incumbent will play a critical role in supporting the development of long-term health human resources (HHR plans) for Ontario Health. This includes providing research, presentations, and the development of communities of practice to support Ontario Health’s Knowledge Hub.

Here is what you will be doing:   

• Acts as a clinical and health system advisor to the Director, Health Workforce Data, Planning & Evidence in support of the development of a research and best practices arm of the Branch.
• Oversees the research associated with Ontario’s health workforce with a focus on:
  • The best use of our current health workforce to provide robust care to patients (e.g., staffing models); and
  • Recommendations how to optimize Ontario’s future health workforce to ensure streamlined, high quality health care.
• Builds partnerships with health system stakeholders (e.g., OLTCA, OHA, hospitals, OHTs, clinical leaders, etc.) to collect and disseminate information.
• Develops accurate, timely, and high-quality research products, reports, and analytics.
• Interprets and summarizes and presents key findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Recommends key performance metrics in support of broad-based health workforce and capacity planning.
• Acts as a primary contact and source of information to various stakeholders including clinicians, health administrators and management regarding staffing models and other best practices to optimize the health workforce.
• Provides guidance to implement the strategic priorities of Clinical Institutes & Quality Program data teams.
• Works in conjunction with the Lead, Information Integration to provide information, research, and presentations to support OH’s Knowledge Hub, including co-leading expert panels to support information sharing.
• Provides research and advice to the Lead, Health Workforce Planning to support long term HHR and capacity planning for Ontario’s Health System.
• Recommends and supports the development of health workforce programs and policies that drive health workforce optimization. Mitigates against risks and identifies opportunities for program improvement.
• Identifies and rapidly escalates urgent politically sensitive issues to ensure appropriate responses.
• Demonstrates exceptional tactical and critical strategic thinking to keep research effective and impactful when faced with changing circumstances, such as shifts in political priorities or funding changes.
• Manages multiple concurrent priorities.
• Champions Ontario Health’s organization values of inclusion, diversity and anti-racism and promote these within the team.
• Directs the research and work of the Advisor, HHR Research and Best Practice.
• Mentors and onboards new staff.
• Perform other assignments and special projects in support of team and departmental objectives as required.

Here is what you will need to be successful:   

Education and Experience:  

• Completion of a degree in health, public health, epidemiology, or a health-related profession. Strong preference will be given to a candidate with experience as a regulated health professional.
• 5 or more years work experience in the Ontario Health System with a wide range of clinical and administrative stakeholders.
• Experience in engaging technical and clinical audiences to gather research/analysis requirements, interpret results and information to facilitate decision-making.
• Experience using healthcare and demographic datasets and standards, including CIHI (DAD, NACRS, CCRS, NRS), RPDB, OHIP, ON-MARG, and Statistics Canada census considered an asset.
• Experience working in a health human resources-related role, including understanding of both health professional and healthcare organizational perspectives.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of health workforce best practices associated with staffing models and system level care delivery to optimize the health workforce.
• Knowledge of relevant health human resources stakeholders, regulators, and associations to support research, data collection and information sharing.
• Strong problem-solving, research, and critical thinking capability.
• Proven track record working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, senior leaders, and team members.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and motivate people with a variety of skill sets.
• Professional standard of conduct, poise, diplomacy, and integrity in all interactions to work confidentially and effectively with sensitive and complex issues.
• Strong technical skills, including the ability collect, analyze, and present data. This includes the ability to effectively collect information through surveys and other mechanisms.
• Highly motivated, creative, accountable, organized, and self-starting.

Location: Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change)

Employment Type: Permanent Full time

Salary Band: Band 6

External Application Deadline Date: January 28, 2025