Lead, Indigenous Palliative Care

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

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

The Ontario Palliative Care Network (OPCN) is an organized partnership of community partners, health service providers and health systems planners. Together, the OPCN develops a coordinated, standardized approach to high-quality, sustainable and person-centered hospice palliative care for all Ontarians, regardless of age or disease type. The OPCN Secretariat, housed at Ontario Health, executes the mandate of the OPCN, and supports the operational and tactical activities of the OPCN. 

The Lead, Indigenous Palliative Care role provides leadership for program planning and quality improvement initiatives, which includes, coordinating and conducting analysis of the health system to identify population health needs, service gaps, and opportunities for integrated palliative care service delivery within First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities across the province. The Lead role will work with regional and provincial partners on issues related to Indigenous health services planning and implementation across the system, to ensure innovative approaches are identified and implemented, system indicators are met, and accountability is in place. The Lead’s work will be guided by the Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination team and its approaches to Indigenous partnership and engagement along with the Ontario Health Regions’ teams.

Here is what you will be doing:

Lead complex planning projects or activities, including project management and community engagement; and provides expert and strategic advice regarding planning and research within OPCN

Support OH Regions to build and sustain professional and collaborative relationships and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and organizations, health service providers and other relevant community partners in defining if and how they would like to be involved with Ontario Health through palliative care related initiatives

Work with OH Regions and First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous providers and partners regarding the planning and provision of palliative care service delivery in Indigenous communities at both a system and organizational level, mitigating risks when identified

Analyze the local health care system by leveraging health care utilization and outcomes data, research, and community input to identify gaps and establish planning priorities

Develop Indigenous health planning strategies and frameworks tailored to support the coordination and delivery of local/regional health-care system plans and priorities

Support the development and implementation of provincial palliative care quality improvement initiatives where Indigenous communities identify a need for such supports

Engage with key networks, Ontario Health Regional leadership and teams, Ontario Health Teams, the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit and the Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination team, along with Indigenous leadership and communities at the provincial and regional level to team to ensure First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and organizations palliative care needs and priorities are being met and that Ontario Health remains accountable to them through ongoing engagement and reporting

Ensure that work with Indigenous communities and partners is consistent with the Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination team’s approach to Indigenous partnership and engagement

Lead the coordination of Indigenous engagement related to palliative care, in partnership with the Ontario Health Regions, IHEC and ICCU to ensure consistency across the regions

Provide subject matter expertise to the OPCN regarding Indigenous cultural values and perspectives

Establish and maintain positive relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous health tables/groups/leaders

Participate in and contribute to provincial and regional planning activities where required, including aligning with other OH strategies

Participate in and present to OPCN Leadership, OPCN Advisory Council, and various other meetings as necessary

Develop relevant Indigenous specific palliative care resources and materials as needed

Develop workplans and timelines with critical milestones identified and produce status reports and communicate those milestones to OPCN leadership

Participate in or lead other areas of work as needed

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

Experience working with Indigenous communities and peoples and/or lived experience with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or urban Indigenous communities in Ontario

Completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a health-related field, or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience

At least 3-5 years of experience successfully leading and managing health care projects and/or programs

Experience in addressing palliative and/or chronic disease issues would be an asset

Good understanding of and sensitivity to federal and provincial Indigenous health planning processes and the jurisdictional issues associated with the delivery of Indigenous health care services

A valid driver’s license as travel will be required from time to time for OPCN business

Knowledge and Skills  

A demonstrated passion for advancing high quality health care within the context of a system-wide strategy and the broader challenges of changing health care policies

Proven ability to develop culturally appropriate relationships with key individuals and organizations to establish trust, credibility, and respect

Strong understanding of the social determinants of health and health equity

Extensive knowledge of the federal and provincial government departments responsible for Indigenous issues and Ontario’s provincial healthcare system

Extensive knowledge and understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis history, culture and health/socio-economic issues/needs in Ontario, including governance structures

Strategic planning, including the ability to develop short-term and longer-term plans that reflect current trends while identifying priorities for relevancy and leadership in the future; ability to operationalize strategies to execute key priorities

Ability to communicate effectively with senior management, Indigenous communities, and external healthcare organizations, requiring exceptional writing and presentation skills and ability to express complex concepts effectively

Ability to problem-solve and apply critical thinking to involve leadership in discussion that might need to be escalated and further managed to mitigate risk to relationships to ensure the reputations of the OPCN and Ontario Health are upheld

Strong understanding of the Ontario health care system, and a familiarity with palliative care in Ontario. Palliative care expertise would be a significant asset

Demonstrated project leadership and management skills within a fast-paced environment

Demonstrated ability to conduct literature searches, and compile into summaries and briefs

Ability to speak/understand a First Nation language would be an asset

Strong technical abilities with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams

Employment Type:  Permanent Full Time

Salary Band:   6

Location:  Toronto, 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: April 22, 2024

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis, 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.