Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide leadership and expertise in the research, analysis and development of e-health and/or information management strategic and operational policies, advice, standards, legislation and regulations which define how health system data and information is to be managed and shared in alignment with the Excellent Care for All Strategy, health system strategy, and the e-health and/or information management objectives of the Ministry and Division.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Provides project leadership, management and/or participation in the conceptualization, planning, development, analysis, and evaluation of strategic and operational policies and standards as well as legislation and regulations which address a range of e-health and/or information management issues and gaps within Ontario's health system Identifies strategic options and implications for e-health and/or information management policy, develops strategic frameworks under the direction of the Manager, identifies how outputs will be produced, reviews outcomes against expectations, analyzes and synthesizes available evidence to develop strategic advice and viable policy alternatives and advises how to navigate the appropriate decision-making processes.
2. Plans, leads, facilitates and\or conducts evidence-based policy research, analysis and synthesis to formulate recommendations, strategies and policy options and advice for senior management decisions, while furthering health system goals in alignment with the Excellent Care for All Strategy, health system strategy, and the e-health and information management objectives of the Ministry and Division.
3. Leads/contributes to assigned concurrent project and/or work teams comprised of branch/division/ministry colleagues, ministry stakeholders, other ministries, other levels of government and external stakeholders. Undertakes all facets of policy regulation and legislation development including issues identification, analysis and synthesis of research and other material, development of strategic options, advice and conceptual resource allocation frameworks, recommendations and approaches to evaluation, participating in and estimating costs, communication planning and other implications of implementation and the formulation and delivery to stakeholders. Identifies project parameters including negotiation of resources and collaborative working groups, managing/facilitating project stages and transitions, monitoring project progress, negotiation, problem resolution and review of final deliverables,
4. Develops and partnerships and business relationships with key health system stakeholders to ensure mutually beneficial and productive working relationships, to lead stakeholder consultations, and to provide advice on key Divisional initiatives affecting e-health and/or health system information management. Provides advice to and maintains ongoing collaborative relationships with, other Divisional and government staff to influence decision making and negotiations and optimize the design and development of strategies to implement e-health and/or information management legislation, regulations, policies and standards. Participates/leads ministry, inter-ministerial and/or interprovincial committees to both shape and reinforce a collaborative approach to policy analysis/development and formulation of strategic advice. Develops and nurtures networks and alliances to enhance cooperative and timely access to appropriate expertise both internally and externally.
5. Conducts the review and analysis of formal and informal research findings and the experience of other jurisdictions, trends related to e-health and/or health system information management, the various delivery models, and other forms of evidence for effective decision-making.
6. Promotes branch policy and legislative initiatives through presentations to members of the health and related sectors, the community, ministry management and staff. Represents the Division/Ministry on behalf of the Director and Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) as a participant on inter-ministerial committees.
7. Prepares briefing notes, letters, speeches, presentations and position papers for senior management and in response to correspondence for the Minister's, Deputy Minister's (DM), ADM's and senior officials' signature.
8. Participates in the development of strategic directions for the Unit/Branch and Ministry by working closely with senior management to ensure alignment and co-ordination of policy projects.
9. Acts for the Manager, during absences, as required.

Knowledge :

Position requires knowledge and understanding of the policy/legislative and regulations process, understanding of policy and research methods and tools performance management methodologies and metrics, standards development techniques to provide project leadership and expertise in the development, evaluation and communication of e-health and/or health information management strategic and operational policies advice, standards, legislation and regulations. Skills in applying current research methodology/policy development tools and techniques, particularly as they pertain to analyzing e-health and health system information management issues and challenges. Knowledge of government/ministry directions and priorities, Division mandate, the Excellent Care for All Strategy, health system strategies, and objectives to ensure compliance and alignment. Knowledge of health care system trends, models of delivery, funding governance and legislation and understanding of critical issues and concerns faced by a broad spectrum of health stakeholders to ensure policies and standards respond to issues within the health system. Knowledge of e-health and/or information management and an understanding of how health information is stored, retrieved, and shared across organizations to develop relevant policies, legislation, regulations and standards. Knowledge of the role, governance, resources ad relationships between different types of health system providers (e.g. hospitals, primary care, community health), professionals, and decision-making groups (e.g. associations, regulatory colleges, government) to assess e-health and/or information management issues and gaps. Knowledge of Canadian and international contexts for e-health and/or health information management. Project management skills to lead project planning on concurrent policy, legislation and regulations development projects, work collaboratively with team members and to manage deadlines and competing priorities. Negotiation and facilitation skills to lead projects and work teams. Computer proficiency to access the Internet as a research tool and to prepare own materials and presentations using various software programs. Oral and written communication and presentation skills to prepare and present complex research analyses, detailed policy, legislative and regulation, frameworks and advice, speeches and briefing papers, and acuity to shape and understand the impact of messages on others. lnnovation and creativity to take action on innovative ideas by seeking out new ideas and adapting methodology and ideas quickly, develop business cases for the proposed innovation and consider all options for implementation that will accomplish goals. Political acuity to appreciate, understand and utilize the power of relationships, both formal and informal, with stakeholders and to understand organizational interests and politics. Relationship management and partnership building skills to work cooperatively with all partners to meet mutual goals, initiate partnership arrangements. Customer service kills to identify and service the organization's customers and to take action for the customer. Team work skills to work collaboratively within the team and work groups, contribute fully and actively to team activities, projects and client initiatives to achieve group and organization goals and to develop processes to improve the efficiency of the team. Strategic thinking skills to understand the external impact on internal strategy. Project management skills to prioritize and develop plans for others work. Networking skills to identify and develop relationships that contribute to the goals of HSIMI.

Judgement :

Position works under the general direction of the Manager and within the broad framework of the Division and Branch mandates and ministry/government directions for Ontario's health system. Position is expected to demonstrate a high level of pro-activeness, initiative and independence in leading concurrent policy, standards, legislation and regulation development projects in response to a range of strategic e-health and/or information management issues and gaps. Position has some discretion in identifying strategic options and identifying how outputs will be produced. A high level of judgement is exercised in pro-actively conducting analyses of the health system in order to develop appropriate e-health and/or information management policies, advice, legislation, regulations and standards which consider the Excellent Care for All Strategy, health system strategy, relationships across Ontario's health system, the role of the ministry and shifting government priorities. Judgement and political acuity are exercised in pro-actively monitoring and analyzing a wide range of high profile issues which include a diversity of competing interests and require judgement in negotiating and mediatIng resolutions to these issues to further policy making. Judgement is exercised in developing and building partnerships and critical business relationships which are mutually beneficial and productive, and critical to development and implementation of a-health and/or health information management strategies, policies, and standards, including advising ministry colleagues.

Accountability - Programs :

Provides leadership and expertise in the research, analysis and development of e-health and/or health information management strategies and operational policies and standards, legislation and regulations which address a range of strategic health information management issues and gaps and influence stakeholders in the implementation of strategic and policy initiatives pro-actively identifies strategic advice, options and implications. Within an environment of concurrent projects and shifting government priorities, prepares/coordinates preparation of briefing notes/materials, letters, presentations, position papers for the Minister's, DM's, ADM's and senior officials' signature. Participates in unit/branch strategic directions to ensure integration and coordination of policy projects accountable for quality of policy recommendations and timeliness of deliverables.

Accountability – Personnel :

Leads assigned projects and/or work teams. Implements project tasks, monitors work plan progress and reviews work to ensure quality and delivery standards are met against deadlines.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

n/a

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective or inaccurate policy, legislation and regulation design development, recommendations and issues analysis would have an adverse impact on the nature, quality accessibility and protection of data used by the Ministry and its data-sharing partners for strategic decision making, planning. This further impacts on Ontario's health system, resulting in criticism by stakeholders and media, embarrassment, loss of credibility for the Division and ministry as well as compromises government decision-making in critical areas of the health system, which may affect the scope and availability of health care provided to Ontarians.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with branch/division!ministry colleagues to provide project leadership, participation, policy, expertise, advice, and analysis. Occasional contact with the Minister's DM's, and Associate ADM's offices, to provide briefings, policy expertise and issues analysis regarding e-health and/or information management. Regular contact with colleagues in other branches, divisions and ministries by participating/leading ministry, inter-ministerial and inter-provincial committees to develop a coordinated approach to policy analysis/advice and development and to contribute to the development of frameworks.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with health sector stakeholders critical to the development and sustainability of partnerships on key policy issues initiatives and activities and for effectively negotiating/mediating project activities. Occasional contact with policy staff in other jurisdictions to build linkages and analyse trends, and with external consultants to direct their efforts on assigned projects.