Workforce Optimization Specialist

Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note:
As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Summary:
Reporting to the Director, Human Resources and Patient Care Manager, Patient Access Services & Staff Scheduling, the Workforce Optimization Specialist is the primary point of contact for management staff on workforce transformation and rotation issues. Conducts feasibility studies and business cases to evaluate current workflow delivery systems, assesses alternate workflow patterns, and conducts analysis on staff workflow patterns, staff deployment, and staff-mix to support these processes. Deals with complex scheduling requests, facilitates resolution to scheduling/rotation problems including development and implementation of master rotations and schedules that meet both operational and collective agreement requirements. Collaborates with department heads to develop and implement strategies to close the gap between resource availability and resource needs. Develops procedures and processes to ensure timely and effectively delivery of services within own portfolio. Acts as a backup to the Supervisor, Staff Scheduling by providing supervision to staff, ensuring policies, procedures and guidelines are adhered to, troubleshooting staff issues and queries, and providing input into the management of staff training, performance evaluation, and development needs.

Qualifications / Skills and Education:
**Education**
Recognized degree in a related field plus five (5) years recent, related experience in an acute care environment including experience with automated staffing/scheduling systems or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

**Skills and Abilities**
Possesses a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare setting and healthcare professionals within the designated portfolio area.

Demonstrated mastery in the principles of workforce optimization in large acute care organizations

Communicates in a manner that is clear and understandable both verbally and in writing.

Demonstrates a strong customer-service orientation and ability to understand and translate customer needs into action.

Skillfully analyzes and explains complex and detailed information included collective agreement provisions, professional standards and varied organization policies and procedures.

Applies excellent time management and multi-tasking skills to prioritize and complete assignments and schedule activities in a manner that optimizes effectiveness and contributes to team success.

Fosters collaborative and effective working relationships with stakeholders that promote cooperative goals and contribute to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

Demonstrated computer literacy with desktop word processing, spreadsheet database and presentation software.

Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Builds a strong understanding PHC program needs such as skill mix, peak times, etc. Acts as a resource and provides support to clinical planning initiatives that optimize the use of organizational resources to continually improve the provision of client care.

Responds to customer needs in development of master rotations, promotes effective workforce staffing models and proactively engages managers where improvements in rotations could improve staff deployment and relief.

Identifies staffing utilization opportunities through the use of system analysis including process mapping, capacity and demand matching.

Develops optimal workforce schedules and processes to achieve operational goals and efficiencies and meet collective agreement requirements.

Provides feedback on staffing/scheduling provisions of the collective agreement, researches and analyzes issues related to staffing/scheduling provisions and their relationship to the staff scheduling system.

In collaboration with, and under the direction of the Staffing Leadership group, develops and maintains documentation, guides and in-house training materials relating to Staff Scheduling processes, system support and training.

Works with team members to develop standardized departmental policies and procedures, as well as scheduling and time capture work rules. Ensures the distribution of these materials to relevant stakeholders in collaboration with Staffing Leadership team.

Acts as a backup to the Supervisor by performing supervisory duties for the staff scheduling service by providing supervision to staff, ensuring policies, procedures and guidelines are adhered to, troubleshooting staff issues and queries, and providing input into the management of staff training and development needs. Provides input to HR Lead or Manager regarding staff performance matters and partici