Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases

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 missionis 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 Provincial Drug Reimbursement Programs (PDRP) unit administers several funding programs for drugs (e.g., cancer therapies) and services on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health. As part of the Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs portfolio, PDRP provides timely access to high-cost treatments and services, while ensuring the rational use of limited health resources.

PDRP’s responsibilities include administration of the New Drug Funding Program, the High Cost Therapy Funding Program, the Evidence-Building Program and the Case-by-Case Review Program. PDRP administers Ontario Health’s Out-of-Country programs, providing access to cancer drugs and services. PDRP adjudicates funding requests for CAR T-cell therapy, offers an Evidence Search and Review Service, and is the home of the Canadian Cancer Real-World Evaluation Platform, a Core Network Partner of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health’s post-marketing drug evaluation program, CoLab.

In 2023 Ontario Health established an Infectious Diseases (ID) Advisory Committee to provide clinical guidance and advice to Ontario Health on infectious diseases issues (e.g., the appropriate use of therapeutics for COVID-19). This includes providing evidence-informed advice on treatment strategies, recommendations on place in therapy for new or existing anti-infective therapies and advising on conservation strategies where anti-infectives are in short supply. The Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases is a key member of the ID secretariat and supports the development of infectious diseases guidance for the organization.

The Pharmacist is a subject matter expert in PDRP on the management of infectious diseases. The ideal candidate will be a pharmacist with direct experience in infectious diseases and/or antibiotic stewardship. The pharmacist will also have excellent critical appraisal and medical writing skills. Preference will be given to candidates with formal training in infectious diseases.

Here is what you will be doing:  

Expertise and Advice

Provides subject matter expertise and advice on infectious disease matters, including COVID-19 therapeutics.

Prepares dossiers, guidance documents, minutes, and materials for review by the Ontario Health ID Advisory Committee.

Develops and maintains a knowledge base of scientific and technical information to support guidance development on an array of infectious-diseases related issues.

Ensures technical accuracy of committee notes, briefing material, correspondence, and other documentation. 

Contributes to knowledge transfer and exchange activities within and outside the team.

Program/Project Operational Support

Supports the ID Advisory Committee secretariat, working with the Senior Advisor and the Lead to develop robust policies and procedures for all aspects of the secretariat’s work.

Consults with clinical experts to provide advice on the treatment of infectious diseases to assist with the development of clinical guidance.

Leads horizon scanning efforts to understand the evolving drug development environment, and collect information on new therapeutics.

Provides issues management support, cross-coverage support which may include supporting the operations of PDRP’s other programs, and other duties as assigned.

Stakeholder Relationship and Committees

Engages various stakeholders (including clinicians, ministry or pan-Canadian representatives, other Ontario Health programs, pharmaceutical manufacturers, hospitals, administrators) and maintain good working relationships to address relevant issues.​

Here is what you will need to be successful:  

Education and Experience  

Degree in Pharmacy and registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Completion of postgraduate training such as a pharmacy residency would be an asset.

3 years of experience in infectious diseases or antibiotic stewardship, is preferred.

Experience with expert or advisory committee work is preferred.

Experience in conducting literature searches and environmental scans to inform the development of policy

proposals, briefing notes and related documents.

Experience in stakeholder (including clinician, Ministry, and/or pan-Canadian) engagement, consultation,

negotiation and/or mediation.

Experience with issues management, including the preparation of briefing notes and other communication

material

Knowledge and Skills

Excellent clinical pharmacy skills, with an emphasis in infectious diseases, is required.

An understanding of, and experience with the application of, evidence-informed practice is required.

Experience in critical appraisal and literature review is required.

Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated experience in effectively engaging different

stakeholders. Demonstrated experience in medical writing and/or policy development.

A detailed understanding of the Canadian drug funding and decision-making process for drugs is an asset.

Strong organizational, interpersonal and customer service skills.

Ability to multi-task, problem-solve and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively in a team environment.

An understanding of epidemiology or health economics would be an asset. · French language proficiency would be an asset.

Attributes

Highly productive and motivated, capable of high quality output and able to multitask and prioritize assignments to meet timelines and manage competing priorities.

Self-directed, with enthusiasm, initiative and demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve deadlines.

Creative and forward thinking, with a desire to learn and take on new opportunities.

Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment and exercise good clinical judgment.

Must be team-oriented, possess a positive attitude, and be committed to organizational health, culture, and values.

Excellent attention to detail.

Employment Type:  Full Time Temporary (14 month contract)

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 9, 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.