Manager Research Analysis & Policy

City of Toronto • Union, NJ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Manages the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of public health research, analysis, policy, advocacy, and knowledge mobilization activities to support evidence-informed decision-making and advance population health outcomes. Provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Research & Policy Specialists, Research Ethics, Library Services, and ChemTRAC Program, ensuring emerging public health issues are identified, prioritized, and addressed effectively. Leads interdisciplinary teams, manages resources, and projects, and cultivates partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to support organizational priorities and promote and protect the health of people living and working in Toronto.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in a discipline pertinent to the job function preferably with a strong background and focus in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Population Health, Community Health, or Environmental Health, or an equivalent combination of education and extensive experience relevant to the primary duties of the position.
• Considerable experience in public health policy development including policy analysis, development and recommendation of policy options and policy evaluation.
• Considerable experience providing senior management-level advice and leadership on issues management, strategic planning, and policy analysis, while demonstrating skills in political acuity.
• Considerable experience working on projects involving multiple stakeholders, with strong stakeholder management, partnership, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship building skills to achieve goals and objectives.
• Considerable experience leading and developing a team, including supervising day-to-day operations, managing staff performance, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
• Ability to manage advisory and consultation processes involving councillors, staff, external partners and community members; including the ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communications skills, written and oral, and negotiation skills at all organizational levels.
• Highly developed sense of discretion, judgement, and political acumen to deal with sensitive and confidential issues.
• Ability to conceptualize and develop options and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion principles and the ability to critically apply an equity lens to identify systemic barriers, inform policy direction, and advance equitable outcomes across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Nice To Haves

• A Masters or PhD would be considered a significant asset.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements.
• Manages, motivates, and trains the unit's staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning, and reviewing of work.
• Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests.
• Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments, and recommends disciplinary action when necessary
• Develops, recommends, and administers the annual budget for the unit, and ensures that the unit's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations
• Manages the work of an interdisciplinary team of highly educated staff to undertake applied research, including literature reviews, testing of clinical interventions, environmental scans, needs assessments; to engage in program planning and evaluation activities; and to analyze, develop and implement policy and advocacy initiatives at the municipal, provincial and federal level to improve health.
• Manages the development and implementation of public health program planning and evaluation strategies in the health promotion, health protection and disease prevention areas covering diverse public health issues that range from environmental hazards to reproductive health
• Identifies, develops, and implements strategic directions to be taken by the corporation to promote health and protect Toronto residents from injury and environmental threats to human health
• Manages research, policy and public awareness activities to ensure that priority public health issues are identified and managed as effectively and efficiently as possible
• Provides advice regarding public health issues and program development, initiation of program pilots, operational policy development, staff training and development and liaises with staff in other sections, departments and divisions, community and non-profit organizations, other levels of government and the business sector regarding issues, policies, and research.
• Establishes and maintains strong relationships with a network of key medical, social service, environmental and community leaders, academics, governmental and non-governmental organizations etc.
• Advises on approaches to research ethics reviews
• Manages the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health related grants programs offered to the community by the city.
• Manages project staff, reports progress through the Grants Review Panels, Board of Health and city council.
• Develops and implements a risk management framework.
• Oversees grants from outside funders which are secured for evaluation and research.
• Seeks and creates opportunities to enhance programs through alternative funding sources
• Provides strategic analysis, manages complex information, and provides advice and guidance to managers, directors, and the Medical Officer of Health in order to move forward policy recommendations.
• Advises the regional managers, directors, Medical Officer of Health, Board of Health, and board committees on a course of action based on this information to fulfil the requirements in the Provincial Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines
• Initiates research and/or evaluation projects, secures internal/external funding and provides conceptual and technical input of research methods and approaches.
• Ensures the implementation of relevant strategic and operational plans, consistent with provincial mandates.
• Analyzes and utilizes research and other data sources, identifies issues, trends, gaps, effective interventions and innovative approaches to programming and policy
• Directs and reviews the preparation of reports, correspondence, and responses to inquiries.
• Reviews all staff reports to ensure scientific accuracy and political sensitivity and ensures that policy recommendations contained within are evidence-based, defensible and feasible
• Makes presentations and directs staff presentations and briefings to the Board of Health, councillors, and others.
• Provides strategic advice to the Medical Officer of Health in addressing media inquiries.
• Participates in media interviews, initiates press conferences and briefs elected officials on controversial health issues
• Negotiates sensitive issues and forms new partnerships
• Represents the division on corporate committees and partnerships, coalitions, and networks.
• Liaises with nonprofit organizations, provincial and federal levels of government and businesses regarding public health related issues.
• Facilitates collaboration with diverse community partnerships
• Liaises with staff in other sections, divisions, community and non-profit organizations, and other levels of governments regarding health issues, policies and research related to the portfolio.
• Fosters collaboration and encourages staff to participate in action-oriented networks
• Maintains staff office environments in compliance with corporate policy and provincial legislation, i.e. Human Rights, Harassment, Occupational Health and Safety, professional standards of practice.
• Develops and issues requests for proposals for services/projects and administers resulting contracts to ensure the city receives service/project deliverables.
• Manages purchase of service agreements to enhance service delivery and ensure the identification and implementation of best practices

Benefits

• The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve.
• Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.
• Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree