Deputy Chief, Medical & Scientific Support

Deputy Chief Medical & Scientific Support

Location: Toronto661 University

Department: Medical and Scientific Support

To provide strategic leadership for the planning implementation and overall operational direction of the Medical and Scientific Support team in Population Health.
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.

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 enterprisewide 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 daytoday 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 PHOs 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 departments goals and strategic direction and mandate of PHO.
• Mobilizes units and crossfunctional 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 PHOs oncall system and the medical staff who support PHOs oncall 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 PHOs 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 PHOs 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 PHOs 24/7 incident and emergency response through shared participation in oncall schedule as required.
• Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience

• Certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Public Health/Preventative Medicine Internal Medicine; the College of Family Physicians of Canada in Family Medicine or other relevant discipline.
• An academic appointment or eligibility for academic appointment at the rank of assistant professor or higher is required.
• Ten (10) years experience as a senior leader in a public health or related setting either at a local or provincial agency a notfor profit organization and/or government ministry.
• Ten (10) years experience in epidemiology public health occupational medicine environmental medicine or other relevant medical specialty synthesis and critical appraisal of the literature and guideline and technical document development.
• Five (5) years of experience in conducting evidence reviews and translating the results for policy application.

Skills and Knowledge

• 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.

Competencies and Attributes

• 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.

Duration: Permanent

Hours of Work: Full time 36.25 hours per week

Compensation Group: Deputy Chief/Sr. Director

Posting Date:

Closing Date:

Please note: applications will be received no later than 11:59pm on the date preceding the closing date as indicated on the Job Requisition.

Note: Internal candidates will be considered first.

While we thank all applicants for their interest only those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only and not for any other purpose.

PHO is committed to ensuring equity in employment. Our goal is to create a diverse inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to ensure our services and communications are accessible to all individuals. Any candidate who requires a job posting in an alternative format may email a request to Once an applicant has been selected for an interview they can inform PHO about any accommodations they may require at any stage of the interview process.