Director, Clinical Programs and Innovation

Ontario Health – Ontario
Full-time
R107084

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 with 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.

Reporting to the Vice President, Clinical Programs and Innovation, the Director, Clinical Programs and Innovation (Quality, Innovation, Research and Primary Care Advancement is responsible for leading a cross-functional portfolio and providing leadership in clinical programs planning, design and implementation.

The position will work with Clinical Leads from primary care and quality, in conjunction with the entire clinical programs and innovation portfolio and beyond. This leader, through the work on the team, will achieve effective systems planning and advance clinical integration for a sustainable and value driven system that improves the patient experience and delivers a best-in-class health care system.

As a broad strategic thinker with strong change management skills and exceptional interpersonal skills, the Director will be called upon to design clinical systems, facilitate system changes to support implementation of innovative designs and build partnerships for collaborative change processes within the primary healthcare system. The Director will apply innovation and quality improvement across all sectors, leading cultural change across the region and its health service partners. This position also leads the implementation of clinical quality standards and works with the regional health innovation ecosystem for multi-partner problem solving in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan. This position provides oversight to the application and evaluation of research and innovation in health system program development and system delivery.

The Director will work to foster strong collaborative relationships across the clinical spectrum, from public health service partners. This position also leads the implementation of clinical quality standards and works with the regional health innovation ecosystem for multi-partner problem solving in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan. This position provides oversight to the application and evaluation of research and innovation in health system program development and system delivery.

The Director will work to foster strong collaborative relationships across the clinical spectrum, from public health, primary care providers and inter-professional teams t medical and clinical leaders in community, long term care and acute care settings.

Here is what you will be dong:
Quality

• Development of an integrated regional framework to reflect the continuum of quality improvement, research, data informed decision making and innovation for Central Region, in conjunction with pan-regional and provincial colleagues
• Responsible for implementation of the framework for clinical best practice standards including implementation of quality standards, oversight of QIP approach, integration of quality-related initiatives across the region and oversight and support for quality governance including regional committees and working groups
• Lead identification of regional areas of focus and approach for quality improvement that is data-informed and in collaboration with internal and external partners
• Provide leadership, coaching and strategic recommendations to colleagues and leadership team in quality improvement planning, implementation and evaluation
• Establish a culture of quality across Central Region

Research

• Leads development of a continuous learning health system, anchored in quality improvement with local partners and stakeholders
• Coordinates the organization’s research activities, with a focus on evaluating the effectiveness of new and innovative models of care delivery in alignment with Ontario Health priorities
• Serves as consultant to Central Region colleagues and works in collaboration with clinical leaders to make evidence-based recommendations regarding potential changes to programs, delivery to care and impacts on services and staff resources
• Works collaboratively with Central Region portfolios and system partners to support the identification and development of clinically meaningful evaluation and outcome measures
• Provides clearly written interpretive reports based on quantitative and qualitative evaluation analysis to Central Region leadership
• Oversees the development of research networks within Central Region, and links into the research ecosystem with academic partners, hospitals and practice-based research networks

Innovation

• Manages and builds partnerships within and across sectors, identifying high impact opportunities for innovation and transformation within the health system
• Seeks innovative opportunities for improved health system design and care delivery aligned with Ontario Health strategic and priority areas
• Leads the designs and implementation of innovation approaches including valuation for test of change in clinical and system design
• Leads the regional approach for innovation and informs provincial opportunities
• Creates and manages the process, in partnership with colleagues, to evaluate new funding opportunities in innovation and tests of change evaluation in alignment with strategic plan
• Provide leadership, coaching and strategic recommendations to colleagues and leadership team in innovation and design-thinking to build competencies and consult on various initiatives

Primary Care Advancement

• Oversight and accountability of regional primary care activities, deliverables and planning as set out by provincial priorities
• Works with the Performance, Accountability, Funding and Allocation team to lead management of and advancement of funded team-based care, including performance oversight and associated internal processes
• Oversees and directs communication and engagement with primary care sector and Primary Care Clinical Leads
• Leads and supports regional or provincial planning tables involving primary care
• Supports the Vice President and Senior Team in the development and implementation clinical integration pathways, team-based primary care, digital solutions and best practices standards within primary care

Optimizing System Capacity

• Supports the Vice President and Senior Team in understanding best practices, emerging trends and relevant research informed opportunities and innovations to address system capacity, access and flow and improve integrated care
• Works collaboratively with other portfolios such strategy, access and flow. Clinical and regional programs and provincial teams
• Provides leadership and supports the development of change management and implementation tools for tests of change and scaling of programs
• Works with system partners, such as hospitals, long-term care, paramedics, pharmacies, labs, diagnostic imaging, family health teams within OHTs to design and implement integrated system change to improve capacity and patient experience
• Engages with teams to drive innovation and best practice adoption toward the quintuple aim
• Champions a rapid learning environment

System Design

• Collaborates with key partners including Directors from within the region’s clinical, OHTs and digital portfolios on new integration projects between primary care, community, acute care, and long-term care sectors with the focus on access, quality, and sustainability
• Works with OHT teams on facilitating system changes to further care community development, integrated care, and primary care networks
• Identifies new systems levers, emerging trends and innovative solutions for population health planning and primary care modernization
• Works collaboratively with the information technology teams to further the digital health innovation as an enabler of a modernized health system
• Established evaluation frameworks for new programs to support enhanced accountability, patient valued outcomes and health system savings in conjunction with the performance, funding and accountability team

Leadership

• Oversees and leads a team, including Quality Innovation & Research Lead, Primary Care Advancement Leads and portfolio leads
• As a senior leader participates in the development of local implementation planning for OH priorities aligned with the Annual Business Plan
• Articulates and constantly monitors key metrics of the department to assess their efficiency and effectiveness to ensure the highest level of service is being provided
• Provides expert advice to executive and senior leaders, both internally and externally in the health system, on future needs and the impact of emerging trends and priorities in various specialty areas
• Ability to interact, lead, and persuade those with conflicting interests with sensitivity, tactfully, diplomatically, and professionally at all times
• Promotes integration of activities across portfolios and monitors achievement of objectives
• Takes all reasonable precautions for the protection of workers and abides by all other supervisory level duties in accordance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act
• Drives the development and implementation of policy and programs including accountability frameworks, performance measures, indicators, and results
• Represents Ontario Health Central Region in provincial and regional committees, demonstrating high level political acuity to ensure successful representation; participates on provincial groups as required
• At the request of the Vice President (VP), serves as Acting, VP during VP’s planned absence

Relationship Management

• Strong relationship management skills, including engaging, communicating with and collaborating with stakeholders to enable the development of a sustainable health system
• Represents Central Region in conferences, meetings and provincial tables
• Establishes and maintains meaningful connections with others that are directed towards the sharing of values and opportunities for collaboration while building rapport on behalf of Central Region
• Collaborates with stakeholders to identify department needs and develop strategic options and plans
• Employs consensus building skills to ensure the most beneficial outcomes
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships at all levels of the organization to ensure the most effective services are planned and provided

Management of Human Resources

• Cultivates an environment that retains and attracts exceptional people and that supports life-long learning
• Participates in departmental workforce planning
• Provides leadership to all department members and manages in a manner that motivates, guides and directs employees to the realization of Ontario Health values, objectives and performance expectations; maintains a work environment that promotes participation, team-work and positive employee relations
• Ensures that staff orientation, learning and development plans are according to Ontario Health policy, procedures, and guidelines
• Ensures recruitment, performance evaluation, coaching, discipline, and termination where necessary are according to Human Resources policy and within the context of collective agreement(s)
• Ensures the effective and efficient distribution and utilization of department members based on the established productivity levels, program goals and guidelines
• Leads regular team meetings to set goals and monitor department performance and engages the team in successful accomplishment of goals
• Develops, supports and evaluates the performance of the team members, assigns work and projects, monitors and adjusts workloads required
• Accountable for hiring, providing training and development, evaluating performance, and in consultation with HR/OD makes decisions re-discipline or termination and plans for appropriate staff levels for the department
• Conducts performance appraisals and provides support and direction to help employees achieve their objectives and continued development
• Manages the team hiring and activities within the allotted budget

Other Related Activities

• Exemplifies behaviour, actions and attitudes that are consistent with Ontario Health vision, mission and values
• Leads self, engages others, achieves results, continuous quality improvement and excellence in all activities and outcomes
• Role models behaviours consistent with the Clinical Programs and Innovation Team Charter
• Works in compliance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario and the regulations and adheres to health and safety policies/practices and Health Protection and Promotion Act, and Infectious Disease Protocol
• Identifies budget requirements and manages budget in accordance with identified learning needs, departmental priorities and strategic directions and priorities of the organization
• Implements new procedures and controls deemed necessary by management
• Actively participates and where appropriate, leads internal and/or external committees as required
• Participates in mandatory learning/education to maintain and update skills and knowledge whenever deemed necessary
• Works respectfully, positively and collaboratively within a team environment sharing experiences and lessons learned
• Undertakes other duties as assigned

Here is what you will need to be successful:
Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in health science, health or business administration or related field
• Seven (7) years related experience with three (3) years in management role (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Understanding and awareness of health equity and patient/family engagement focus
• Knowledge of current innovation, quality improvement and research methodology/policy development tools and techniques, particularly as they pertain to analyzing and assessing system-wide funding, health human resources and delivery models
• Experience in new program development and implementation
• Evidence of collaborative abilities with multiple partners
• Experience in project management, program planning and evaluation
• Experience working with physicians in a leadership role
• Expertise in people management and engagement to implement regional and provincial best practices and provide transformative oversight to operations
• Knowledge of evaluation techniques and proven ability to lead change and find creative solutions
• Exceptional experience in effective strategic planning, budgeting, research, resource allocation, analytics and policy processes
• Well-developed leadership and management skills deeply rooted in teamwork and mutual support
• Excellent knowledge of community resources (e.g., services and programs), and roles of health care professionals
• Excellent knowledge of challenges and issues, methods and techniques for outsource/contracted services and service providers
• Strong knowledge of tools, systems and databases used in patient care delivery and management
• Understanding and commitment to quality service and best practice
• Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
• Self-directed with an ability to organize, plan, prioritize and multi-task
• Demonstrated critical thinking
• Detail-oriented
• Accountable for own actions and decisions, making decisions within the scope of the position and referring issues/problems/events to the Vice President as required
• Exceptional facilitation and presentation skills
• Excellent planning, time-management, multi-tasking and organizational skills
• Ability to think analytically with attention to detail in the presence of frequent interruptions
• Adept in the use of MS Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)

Knowledge and Skills
Communication/Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills providing constructive, meaningful and timely interaction with all levels of staff
• Sensitive to working in a culturally diverse environment; ensures differences are respected
• Ability to interact with people sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, and professionally at all times
• Ability to deliver information effectively and interpret data clearly in a variety of settings including one-on-one with staff and in team meetings
• Ability to deal with highly sensitive and personal information in a confidential manner
• Ability to elicit new ideas, build buy-in and achieve innovative solutions in meetings with diverse interest groups
• Strong collaboration skills to participate on projects and committees with colleagues within the Ontario Health and across the region
• Highly effective facilitation skills to work with others in developing strategic and operational plans
• Highly effective skills in developing and managing relationships in complex situations and/o environments
• Strong mentoring, coaching and communication skills to provide instructions and guidance to staff with respect to activities, challenges and questions
• Strong ability to influence strategic direction and decision-making through negotiation, consultation and collaboration when working on internal and external teams and committees
• Change management skills to identify support needed to achieve objectives
• Highly effective communication skills to establish and maintain a range of contacts with health professionals, service providers and organizations within the community
• Ability to explain findings and recommendations from complex projects and research to the leadership team and senior representatives from external organizations

Accountability & Decision-Making

• Effective delivery and optimization of Ontario Health resources
• Responsible for staying informed of new developments and emerging issues to ensure continued excellence in clinical programming providing information to the Vice President, and to staff to take appropriate action
• Significant decision-making authority when representing Ontario Health in discussions regarding quality, innovation, research and primary care advancement
• Position has latitude to make independent decisions within established legislation, policies and procedures

Problem Solving/Complexity

• Directs a variety of highly complex activities and functions related to department service/program delivery
• Identifies issues and uses well-honed conceptual and analytical skills to develop effective solutions to complex problems from multiple sources of information
• Analyzes information from a variety of sources including information systems/databases, reports, staff feedback and industry trends and practices to formulate recommendations and provide input to planning processes for future programs, policies and services
• Manages multiple priorities as circumstances and information change frequently
• Understands the needs of diverse stakeholders to develop effective solutions and to assess impact of recommendations for change
• Needs to be aware of, and adheres to, a number of standards, protocols, agreements and legislation when developing programs

Risk

• Ensures multiple risks to the Ontario Health and the health system are considered when recommending actions

Employment Type: Temporary Full-time (15 month contract)

Salary Band: 9

Location: Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change) All applicants must be a resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.

Internal Application Deadline Date: May 10, 2024

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; Black and racialized; members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary; and disabled.

We encourage applicants with accessibility needs to notify us if they have any accommodation needs in the application and/or interview process.

Note: As part of the initial recruitment screening process, applicants must confirm that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If applicants are not fully vaccinated, they will be required to identify any accommodation needs pursuant to a protected ground under the Code. Applicants who identify an accommodation need will be required to provide supporting documentation with respect to their need for accommodation when requested by Ontario Health. If no such accommodation is identified, the applicant will not be eligible to proceed through the recruitment process.