Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide strategic planning and leadership for the branch's multiple project initiatives involving the research, development and evaluation of strategic funding policies, practices and performance standards for Ontario's health care delivery system.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Provides the strategic direction and planning framework for all projects undertaken by the Funding Strategy and Policy Unit involving the conceptualization, development and evaluation of innovative strategic funding policies, best practices and performance standards and measures based on in-depth review, analysis and use of complex health economic funding models which address a range of issues impacting the province's strategic funding initiatives for Ontario's health system, the efficiency and effectiveness of financial management and support the ministry's strategic/program policy priorities. Determines and assigns project priorities for multi-disciplinary and cross-functional project teams which support effective management and allocation of funding within and across the portfolios and program areas through quality funding policies, best practices and performance standards.
2. Designs and implements strategies to effect cultural change across portfolios and program areas within the Division, with respect to new funding policies, practices and procedures including advisory services to senior management regarding risk, options and implications of changes on provincial economy and the health system.
3. Provides expertise and team leadership to funding policy development unit staff including: building and promoting a team based work environment; providing day to day oversight, guidance, coaching, mentoring and training to team members supporting the Branch's project work to ensure high quality advisory services and product outcomes prior to final approvals by the Manager. Refers all labour relations matters to the Manager.
4. Provides subject matter expertise and input to education and training programs and communication materials to promote funding policy guidelines, criteria, agreements, financial management and allocation rules, parameters and documentation and ensure consistency in interpretation and application. Provides advice and direction, to other units, Branches and Divisions in the Ministry to ensure consistency in funding policies, guidelines and templates developed by the Branch and to inform improvement of funding model development and branch statistical and quantitative methods
5. Provides strategic policy expertise and authoritative advice to the Manager, Director, Division executives, and senior management on a broad range of funding policy issues, soclo-economic trends and directions, which affect health system goals including health economic and expenditure forecast demands, interpretation and application of models, statistical and quantitative data. Leads the provision of specialized policy and health economic research and evidence regarding best practices in other jurisdictions and on a national and international basis to influence changes within the ministry.
6. Leads the preparation of priority briefings and responses to information requests from the Premier's Office, Cabinet Office, central agencies, Auditor General's Office, Minister, Deputy Minister and senior management on funding policy related matters.
7. Facilitates productive cross-divisional and inter-ministry relationships, fosters networking and collaboration skills among staff, develops change management strategies and deliverables that fulfill government priorities and secures the support and commitment of affected stakeholders. Builds strong linkages for project initiatives by ensuring effective consultation processes and partnerships are developed and maintained with ministry colleagues and sector stakeholders. Acts as an advisor to committees and groups requiring system-wide funding policy expertise.
8. Leads the provision of funding policy expertise for the development of funding policy/options papers, briefing notes, discussion papers, executive responses, decision documents, submissions for central agency and Government approval, Q&As, house notes, and presentation materials for consideration by senior Division and Ministry management, the Ministry of Finance, other central agencies and various Cabinet Committees (e.g., Management Board of Cabinet, Treasury Board). Leads the development and generation of ideas and consensus regarding value-added materials on system-wide funding policies and performance scenarios and options for the health care system.
9. Acts for the Manager, Funding Strategy and Policy during absences, as required.

Knowledge :

Position requires knowledge and understanding of the policy process and understanding of policy development and research methodology, tools (e.g. evidence development processes and strategies), program/policy analysis and development theories, techniques and practices combined with specialized knowledge and expertise in applying funding methodology, statistical and quantitative methodologies to the analysis and evaluate on of funding and complex allocation scenarios and statistical data, and health economic issues to the development of health system funding policy development and to provide the strategic direction and planning framework for all projects undertaken by the Funding Policy Unit and to provide strategic funding policy expertise and authoritative advice on a broad range of health economic, health system funding and financial management policy issues, trends and directions. Position requires knowledge of program management, health system funding and allocation strategies, modem controllership and government directions for funding reform within the health system to lead the research, development and evaluation of strategic funding policies, practices and performance standards for Ontario's funding decisions regarding Ontario's health care delivery system. Knowledge of, and skills in, business management theories and change management principles to design and implement strategies to effect cultural change regarding funding policies, practices and procedures. Analytical, issues and risk management skills to analyze information addressing unprecedented issues, and to assess and determine the outcome of research and analysis recommendations by staff. Knowledge of ministry direction and organizational structure; related ministry/govemment policies, practices, services, programs; government policy development/approval processes and procedures, the Results-based Planning process, ministry strategic focus, the health system, linkages to health system related organizations, as well as specific knowledge of the goals and objectives of the Health System Funding Policy Branch, to lead the provision of strategic funding policy expertise and advice to senior management. Leadership/project management skills to provide strategic planning and leadership of the branch's multiple project initiatives, to provide authoritative funding policy advice to branch and ADM senior executives and to provide daily oversight of the unit. Written communication skills to lead the development of briefings, presentations, proposals, and submissions for consideration by senior management and senior level committees. Oral communication skills to provide expert advisory services, and to effectively influence change and decision-making with respect to the ministry's strategic funding policies, best practices and performance standards and measures which address a range of issues impacting the province's strategic funding initiatives for Ontario's health system, and to present well- substantiated recommendations.

Judgement :

While position reports to the Manager, Funding Strategy and Policy, the position is relied upon by the Director and senior Division executives to provide the necessary strategic planning and leadership of the unit's multiple project initiatives as well as the expertise required to develop, promote and integrate innovative strategic funding policies, best practices and performance standards and measures throughout the ministry which consider funding reform directions of the ministry and health economic issues impacting informed health system decision making in Ontario. Position works within the broad framework of funding reform and objectives, the Division and Branch mandates and ministry/govemment directions for Ontario's health system within a time of critical transitioning and change within the ministry. As a result, this position is considered the lead expert on innovative strategic- health system funding policies, best practices and performance standards and measures and is expected to work with significant latitude for decision-making to effect change which has a critical impact on the ministry's funding decision making approaches. Judgement is exercised in making decisions that reflect best practices to ensure success in achieving Division goals and which maximize accountability and transparency in decision making while reducing risk. Judgement is exercised in managing projects involving the complex analysis of health system funding methodology and models, adaption of models to meet funding needs and assessing the health economic and other impacts of government health system funding policies on the health, fiscal and economic outcomes.
Judgement is exercised in developing and promoting policy guidelines, criteria, agreements, funding allocation rules, parameters and documentation and ensuring consistency in interpretation and application and in advising senior management regarding risk, options and implications of changes and the need for compliance with .the Province's funding policies to support decision-making and to reduce risk. Judgement is exercised in monitoring for consistency in policies, guidelines and templates developed by the Branch and in providing specialized policy research and evidence regarding best practices in other jurisdictions and on a national and international basis to influence changes within the ministry.

Accountability - Programs :

Provides the strategic direction and planning framework for all projects undertaken by the Funding Strategy and Policy Unit involving the coordination, technical direction and expertise provided across the ministry with respect to funding policies, best practices, and performance standards and measures for Ontario's funding decisions regarding Ontario's health care delivery system. Provides strategic funding policy expertise and authoritative advice to the Manager, Director, Division executives, and senior management on a broad range of funding policy issues, trends and directions, which affect health system goals including those requiring the interpretation, and application of complex health economic analyses, health system methods and models and statistical and quantitative analyses.

Accountability – Personnel :

Provides expertise in funding policy development to a team of policy staff and provides oversight of day to day unit activities.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Leads the provision of funding policy expertise and advice which influence the way the province funds the health system.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective leadership in providing the strategic direction and planning framework for a range of complex and multiple policy projects would have a direct and adverse impact on Ontario's strategic and sustainable funding initiatives and decisions regarding Ontario's health care delivery system resulting in criticism by stakeholders and media and loss of credibility within the branch and ministry, as well as impact government decision making in critical areas of the health system, further minimizing ministry exposure and financial risk.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with the Director, Division executives and senior management to provide strategic funding policy expertise and authoritative advice on a broad range of health system funding policy issues, trends and directions, which affect health system goals, and has an. economic impact on the ministry's health programs and policies. Regular contact with ministry colleagues to develop and maintain consultative processes and partnerships. Regular contact with the Minister, DM, and ADM offices to provide briefings and advice. Acts as an advisor to committees and groups requiring system-wide funding policy expertise.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with health system stakeholders to develop and build partnerships and business relationships on key funding policy issues, initiatives and activities and to negotiate/mediate project activities. Frequent contact with counterparts in other levels of government to negotiate and influence decision making and funding policy development and with colleagues on an international basis to represent the Province for the conduct of research for evidence based decision making on complex health system funding policy development which further has an economic impact on the health system.