Senior Program Specialist, Quality Improvement

Public Health Ontario•Toronto, ON

7d•CA$90,617 - CA$126,869

About The Position

This posting is to fill a current vacancy. The Role: To lead initiatives and projects that require a senior level support due to a variety of factors including engagement with multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions, significant visibility, urgency, and/or substantial complexity. To provide specialized expertise in the field of Quality Improvement with a focus on industrial engineering principles of process mapping, data analysis and engagement with public health units. The position will lead the development of quality improvement tools and processes to facilitate a provincial approach to quality improvement to contribute to the ongoing review and analysis of evidence based literature, risk assessments and surveys on quality improvement, develop and implement guidelines/plans, tools, studies, reports, and publications to support initiatives; to work with partners to identify gaps, strengthen systems, build capacity, and promote quality improvement in public health practice.

Requirements

Master’s degree, in a field related to public health, quality improvement, engineering or health management.
Minimum of five (5) years’ experience after completion of degree in practical application of knowledge to quality improvement.
Knowledge of quality improvement and with technical proficiency in, practices/procedures in order to design, plan and implement quality improvement initiatives and conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Knowledge of quality improvement health practice, policy and legislation, emerging trends and research topics to conduct research, provide advice and assistance to stakeholders on complex questions related to quality improvement and health issues.
Knowledge of quality improvement research methodology, tools, and techniques, particularly as they pertain to analyzing and advancing quality improvement across the public health system.
Knowledge of provincial public health programs and the role and use of various data collection tools within public health and across the health system.
Knowledge and understanding of privacy requirements under PHIPA, government legislation, regulations, guidelines and best practices involving personal health information in order to ensure that privacy requirements under PHIPA, government guidelines and regulations, and best practices are adhered to and implemented at all times.
Skill using various computer systems and software programs including database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, (MS Office).

Nice To Haves

Interpersonal, leadership, team building and relationship building skills in order to interact well with all internal/external stakeholders, maintain linkages with all levels of contacts.
Written communication skills to compile information, prepare detailed scientific, technical and research reports, summaries, and presentations on behalf of PHO regarding public health aspects.
Oral communication and interpersonal skills to respond to staff/client inquiries and maintain effective linkages with all levels of contacts.
Oral communication and interpersonal skills to participate in the development and delivery of in- service and continuing education sessions.
Develop and implement tools, studies, reports, and publications.
Develops and maintains effective relationships with clients, partners and collaborators in the provision of expert advice and consultation regarding answers to quality improvement.
Works closely with clients to understand their specific needs, assisting them in defining their needs/questions and responding in a timely fashion.
Interacts with public health units (including the Medical Officer of Health), relevant provincial ministries or agencies (including the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Chief Medical Officer of Health), relevant federal agencies or departments, health care professionals/officials and local authorities and providing advice and assistance.
Manages client requests and projects in a timely manner while effectively communicating project status to clients and supporting team members as applicable.
Proactively anticipates the needs and responds to Public Health Units and MOH and provides tools, resources and/or support.
Works within a framework of Agency mandate, services, priorities and procedures, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, where the incumbent is expected to work with a high level of independence and initiative.
Seeks advice and assistance from Manager, Director or other senior staff for highly and complex unusual situations/questions.
Determines nature of project/study issues, priorities and next steps in terms of protocols, research required, project timeframes to provide appropriate and relevant information in a timely manner to clients/stakeholders.
Judgement is required when selecting and providing technical and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, community agencies and other stakeholders.
Provides subject matter expertise on quality improvement and develops tools/resources to address and respond to inquiries and/or requests on quality improvement from PHUs and MOH clients.
Accountable for identifying and highlighting changes and developments in best practice, and in providing support to the MOH, Health Units, and other partners as appropriate to help ensure that policy and practice are evidence informed.
Accountable for reviewing proposals and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health implications and reporting back to PHO management.
Provides technical and administrative guidance to teams comprised of colleagues, clients, partners, collaborators and service providers to ensure timelines and deliverables are met.
Works with more junior level staff to provide mentoring, guidance and assistance in the application of processes, procedures and in the completion of work responsibilities.
Maintains and upgrades skills of public health professionals through the delivery of education of in- service and continuing education sessions.
Shares information and provides updates at team meetings on information gathered at scientific meetings and at consultations with clients.

Responsibilities

Leads initiatives and projects that require a senior level support due to a variety of factors including engagement with multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions, significant visibility, urgency, and/or substantial complexity of the subject matter.
Responds to urgent matters in the field and provides expert advice and assistance to local authorities.
Provide technical and administrative guidance to staff including establishing work schedules, assigning and monitoring work of staff, dealing with work quality problems, providing technical guidance and training.
Refers disciplinary and labour relations issues to the Manager or Director.
Provides advice, information and consultation to clients, on complex questions related to quality improvement, process optimization and data analysis based on a review, assessment and synthesis of the latest relevant scientific research, scientific findings or developments in other jurisdictions.
Develop system survey tools, risk assessments and analysis in order to support decision making.
Develop quality improvement and process optimization tools, resources and reports for public health units to support provincial implementation of programs and initiatives.
Identifies and highlights changes and developments in best practice and provides support to the MOH, Health Units, and other partners as appropriate to help ensure that policy and practice are evidence informed.
Ensures that privacy requirements under PHIPA, government guidelines and regulations, and best practices are adhered to and implemented at all times.
Provides input into the development of ministry policies, legislation and standards by providing information and advice on quality improvement.
Develops and maintains relationships with public health units, provincial ministries, academic institutions, professional societies, as well as other relevant provincial, national and international organizations with scientific functions relevant to quality improvement, in order to share information, subject matter expertise, and to provide responses to clients’ complex questions.
Works in close collaboration with members of the team and internal PHO counterparts.
Develops and maintains strong relationships with external partners at with public health units, and other provincial agencies.
Assists with provincial coordination and collaborates with health units on quality improvement.
Provides technical and scientific interpretation and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, community agencies and other stakeholders on quality improvement.
Prepares or contributes to briefing and issues notes, letters, speeches, presentations, reports, summaries, and position papers for senior management and in response to correspondence.
Participates in issues management through providing technical input into the response to public inquiries.
Participates in committees / task forces and maintain ongoing liaison with colleagues, the MOH, other ministries, professional associations, universities and provincial counterparts to develop partnerships with key stakeholders to work on issues.
Retrieves data and performs statistical analyses, conducts research, assesses and synthesize results and provides advice and guidance to PHUs, MOH and clients.
Conducts analyses and designs reports for client use and develops or adapts new technology and analytical software to maximize utilization of statistical data, ensuring data integrity and correcting data errors.
Other duties as assigned.