Job Specification

Purpose :

-To lead/support/coordinate and or/participate in the design, development, and implementation of operational policy and programs related to Laboratory and Diagnostic services.

Key Responsibilities :

Policy/Program Analysis, Evaluation and Development
-Conducts operational policy/program analysis and evaluation related to Laboratory and Diagnostic services and programs including identifying, researching and analyzing information and issues and practices; consults with program areas; develops and recommends options and costing and prepares operational policy papers and briefing materials.
-Leads/supports/coordinates and/or participates in the development of programs and operational policy projects and initiatives, including developing work plans to achieve project outcomes, scheduling and coordinating timeframes to support work plan; assigns and coordinates work to assigned project resources; develops regional resource allocations.
- Leads and/or provides support for project teams in the identification, analysis, planning, development and implementation of goal-oriented services, policies and programs related to laboratory and diagnostics services and other health services.
-Leads and/or provides support to project teams and colleagues in identifying and resolving various program related issues, developing appropriate messaging, overseeing the approval process, reviewing draft papers; coordinates and assembles final product(s) including Cabinet and Management Board Submissions, Freedom of Information requests (FOI), and Human Rights Tribunal (HRT) requests.
-Provides program area knowledge/expertise, research and analytical support to cross-functional projects/teams by: evaluating program/policy directions, initiatives and projects; providing information, advice and/or recommendations regarding options for program changes or new programs/initiatives.
Consultation and Stakeholder Relations
-Consults with program and policy staff within own and other ministries, management, and working
groups/committees to obtain input, provide advice, consult on issues, coordinate assigned projects and support on program initiatives and operational policy.
-Develops and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders/committees/groups in order to enable and participate in consultations; gain feedback and support for initiatives; develop and implement coordinated responses to issues.
-Leads and/or participates on ministry/inter-ministry committees/groups working with ministry goals, strategic directions and priorities to discuss issues, seek input and approvals, offer solutions, provide reports on progress and make presentations. Represents the program area on working groups and committees.
-Responds to general public, requestors, media and stakeholders to requests for information, to clarify issues, and advise on operational policy and program service delivery issues.
Information, Analysis, Advice
-Provides advice and recommendations on the interpretation and technical application of legislations, procedures, corporate and operational policies related to laboratory and diagnostic services.
-Researches and prepares briefings materials (e.g. issues notes, briefing notes and/or correspondence) and presents operational policy proposals, program initiatives and recommendations to senior management and/or program/policy staff for review and decision making.
-Coordinates and researches (e.g. gathers data and information) for responses to requests regarding information and operational policy related to laboratory and diagnostic services and programs ;analyzes and drafts new/revised operational policy, procedures and guidelines, including changes to regulations, legislation and protocols.
-Provides program area information and/or advice, on laboratory and diagnostic operational policy and processes to inter-divisional/inter-ministry committees and working groups.
-Conducts risk assessment of financial and legal liability impacts of options, prepares analytical, recommendation reports and briefing materials for senior management.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
-Ministry programs, administration, health care system planning and delivery principles, methods and practices to support projects related to the ministry's Labs and Diagnostic programs and services. Ministry policy development and financial approval processes, legislation policies and objectives, stewardship roles, cross ministry relationships related to the Labs and Diagnostic programs and services to provide input into program planning, liaise with stakeholders and lead/ participate in inter-ministry initiatives.
-Policy and funding information related to laboratory services and stakeholder groups such as the Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories, the Ontario Medical Association, hospital/community laboratory service providers, health care agencies, and physicians.
-Business and financial management methodologies to monitor and evaluate the delivery of laboratory services by hospital/community laboratory service providers and provide advice and support to improve service.
-Project management and leadership skills to plan/lead/support/coordinate program initiatives.
-Oral and written communications to conduct meetings; respond to issues; provide recommendations; prepare and/or present products such as reports, options papers, financial analyses, Cabinet submissions, briefing materials and correspondence.
-Computer/software (e.g. spreadsheets, word processing, presentations) to; manage projects; gather data and conduct analyses; prepare materials such as reports, responses and presentations.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

-Consultation, partnership building and relationship management skills to establish linkages with stakeholders and project teams; participate in consultation processes; gain support and influence decision making related to the development/implementation of projects/initiatives, funding and approvals.
-Consensus-building, mediation and persuasion skills to gain support for ministry program initiatives from internal and external stakeholders, to resolve issues, to develop a coordinated position on program implementation.
-Advisory and presentation skills to provide advice recommendations and options.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem solving skills to:
Plan/ design/undertake research/analytical studies to develop program options, frameworks, and operational guidelines, assess impact of initiatives, and provide input to program recommendations.
Analyze both qualitative and quantitative information in developing project/program proposals, and evaluate a range of factors such as: funding/costing, and stakeholder interests.
Identify and evaluate the implications and impact of proposed initiatives, implementation issues, and medium and long term impacts of changes on Labs and Diagnostic programs and services, its stakeholders and make recommendations.
Assess/review comments/surveys, competing interests of stakeholders, project performance, resolve issues and develop solutions that integrate findings/ recommendations.
Analyze issue trends in the media and assess implications for contentious issues.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Coordinating/planning/carrying out research on legislation/protocols, programs, services, with respect to the Labs and Diagnostic programs and services in the province and providing input to the development of new programs and initiatives.
Conducting analysis to assess impact of proposed initiatives and/or policy/program changes/proposals on stakeholder interests, needs and funding, implementation and delivery of programs.
Supporting program initiatives and providing advice and recommendations to senior management and staff. Has latitude to: provide advice/recommendations based on analysis, evaluation and review of programs and activities; determine research methods/techniques and scope for conducting analysis and developing program options/frameworks/operational procedures and guidelines.
Decisions are guided by: ministry policies and procedures, strategic direction, objectives and principles, the legislative and policy framework for laboratory and diagnostic service delivery, established guidelines in best practices in service delivery, and past precedents.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Senior management to participate in briefings, present/support program initiatives, operational policy proposals/implementation plans and recommendations.
OPS program staff to conduct program initiatives, provide advice/support (e.g. in the interpretation and application of relevant legislation and policies), consult on/resolve issues, obtain input, coordination, support and approvals on program initiatives.
Ministerial and inter-ministerial committees, task forces and working groups to participate in policy review and development and resolve common issues.
General public, requestors, media and stakeholders to: respond to requests for information; clarify issues; advise on policy/program service delivery issues.

Guidance / Supervision :

-Provides project leadership or support to projects including developing of work plans to achieve project outcomes, assigning and coordinating work.
-Provides technical guidance through policy and program advice and recommendations to senior management.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequently required to deal with unexpected requests, conflicting work demands from multiple projects, timelines and deliverables; respond to requests for information/briefings from senior management on short notice and to tight deadlines.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequently required to concentrate when reviewing issues, preparing responses and submissions, analyzing information, conducting research, making presentations and engaging with stakeholders.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.