Lead, System Capacity Planning

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 Lead, System Capacity Planning leads the development and ongoing refinement of various capacity planning models in a dynamic environment with a high degree of autonomy for multiple projects/program areas. They serve as a subject matter expert in these areas providing advice, analysis and modeling for the development of planning frameworks and methodologies, and chose the appropriate analytical methods. They work closely with external stakeholders (e.g. MOH, Ontario Oncology Association), as well as departments within OH (e.g. Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs including Ontario Palliative Care Network) including senior leadership, to ensure a coordinated and proactive approach to capacity planning which incorporates planning best practice as well as clinical and administrative input.

The Lead, System Capacity Planning contributes to health human resource (HHR)/system/services planning by leading the work required to determine current and future need, demand and capacity for health human resource and other services (as required) and helping to identify and understand service gaps and implications of different planning scenarios. They are required to develop and execute work plans, gather clinical and stakeholder input, build mathematical models, analyze and interpret data, and make recommendations in order to support decision-making for the delivery of care in the province.

The Lead, System Capacity Planning will contribute to building the knowledge base of the planning unit by researching best practices in planning, modeling, and integrating it into the work of the department and broader portfolio. 

Here is what you will be doing:

Leads the development of health services/HHR capacity planning analytic models, working under minimal supervision

Acts as the primary liaison and subject matter expert on health system/HHR capacity planning related to HHR, and initiatives to improve patient access to care, primarily in cancer services and palliative care, and other areas as required.

Leads the work for determining medium and long-term need estimates and process for allocation, by providing analytics, project management and communications across Ontario Health (OH) Regions and internal OH teams, to collaboratively develop the recommendations on HHR need submitted to the Ministry of Health.

Leads various complex planning and analytical assignments independently and concurrently related to health system capacity including HHR/health service planning. Conducts complex modelling exercises, volume distribution analysis, demand/utilization projections, referral pattern analysis, scenario analysis, feasibility assessment.

Utilizes critical thinking skills to translate qualitative clinical input to quantitative insights and interprets findings from complex analysis to provide recommendations and highlight critical areas for consideration to both internal and external senior clinical and administrative leadership groups (e.g., Steering Committees, executive sponsors).

Drives the conceptualization, development, implementation and management of methodologies and projects to determine the current state of access to health services; identifies strategies to secure the desired future state. Prepares technical documentation and communication materials such as reports, briefing notes, business cases, and user manuals.

Applies technical knowledge and skills to ensure the appropriateness of analytical methods and accuracy of data analyses (e.g., forecasting, optimization, simulation, scenario planning) to meet project objectives.

Utilizes problem solving to improve robustness of data models (e.g., identify proxies where data gaps exist, introduces new methods as required).

Develops multiple concurrent project plans, identifying key milestones and dependencies. Drives the execution of the project plan including day-to-day operations and tracks progress to ensue project timelines are met in compliance with OH privacy and security standards. Accountable to independently identify areas of potential risk and appropriately escalates to the manager, along with recommended mitigation strategies

Applies knowledge in project management, and stakeholder engagement to identify a streamlined and agile project plan and utilizes problem solving skills to adjust the project plan should changes arise.

Leads and facilitates stakeholder engagement and liaises with internal and external stakeholders – including project teams, analytics teams, working groups and committees responsible for developing planning strategies and initiatives. Identifies opportunities and engages in discussions on proactive capacity planning.

Participates in questionnaire development, information gathering and synthesis to identify key themes and priorities, performance indicators, workload benchmarks, critically thinking through areas of opportunity and improvement

Conducts literature review/environmental scanning to identify best practices in planning including approaches to system/HHR planning, service planning, gap analysis, and developing methodologies to support forecasting and prediction of capacity and resources

Makes recommendations and decisions that align with corporate strategies, customer/business unit objectives and organizational/departmental policies/procedures, managing time effectively to meet aggressive timelines

Supports division knowledge transfer and communication activities, including participation in internal and external meetings to promote plan content and/or provide updates on planning-related activities. Identifies opportunities to build strategic relationships with groups and organizations that have similar planning mandates and expertise in system planning.

Work in a self-directed manner, providing leadership and mentorship to junior staff

Other duties as assigned

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

Masters-level degree in planning, epidemiology, health policy/administration, analytics and modeling, or related field from a recognized post-secondary institution

3-5 years of similar/related experience

Prior experience and demonstrated understanding of capacity planning and health system structure

Strong knowledge of healthcare databases, experience working with health/cancer system level data would be an asset

Ability to translate raw data into insights to answer abstract business questions using excellent written, verbal, and graphical communications skills, with ability to express complex concepts effectively

Capacity to conduct quantitative analysis using computational software (SAS, R or Excel) and proficient in computer software applications, especially Microsoft Office suite

Experience with developing complex mathematical models

Knowledge and Skills

Strong critical thinking, analytic and problem-solving skills

Demonstrated ability to conduct literature searches, environmental scans, and critical analysis in summarizing information

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to engage with a diversity of stakeholders— clinicians, Ministry representatives, senior managers—and present orally at meetings, working groups

Excellent written skills, including the ability to prepare executive summaries, briefing notes, business cases, letters, technical/methodology documentation, presentations

Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and independently, using sound judgment

Ability to manage multiple and highly complex analytical projects concurrently to meet aggressive deadlines

Commitment to quality and high attention to detail

Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

Employment Type: Permanent Full time

Salary Band:  6

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: April 18, 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.