Job Specification

Purpose :

To lead program and regulatory development, and to provide scientific and technical advice related to food safety inspection, enforcement and compliance in provincial animal processing industries.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Policy and Program Leadership
- Provides project leadership as team lead or member on various multi-disciplinary working groups mandated to develop and/or revise specific programs and to develop regulations, standards, procedures and programs in the area of food safety related to animal processing industries.
- Plans and manages project review and program planning processes: designs/conceptualizes project objectives and parameters, determines resource,
legal and consultant requirements, and establishes sound performance and evaluation criteria.
- Leads the formation, revision and improvement of the Ministry's food safety strategy, policies, programs objectives and activities, and coordinates the review of food safety implications of new technologies, methodologies, processes, and inspection approaches.
- Coordinates and/or prepares reports, analyses, proposals, background papers, briefing notes, and Cabinet submissions. Provides senior management with information, analysis and advice to support corporate decision-making, communication, and planning processes.

2. Technical and Scientific Advice
- Provides strategic advice to senior management on specific projects, program planning, and on regulatory development based on science, and industry knowledge and experience, leads issues management processes, and responds to queries from Ministry managers, staff and inspectors on
scientific/technical issues.
- Develops consultation frameworks with industry stakeholders related to program development and initiatives, and responds to technical questions and requests for advice and information on regulatory and compliance matters from the food processing industry.
- Provides scientific and technical comment and presentations to stakeholder organizations. Prepares and presents speeches and/or papers at conferences, meetings, in-services, industry association gathering or public meetings on various projects.

3. Issues Management and Stakeholder Communications
- Coordinates planning of stakeholder events focused on educating and communicating the animal processing industry food safety industry on new or existing programs related to inspection and on regulatory and compliance matters.
- Consults and collaborates with other jurisdictional partners, and represents the Ministry on provincial and national committees on food safety; provides advice and comments on new regulations and guidelines.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Theories, practices and application of food safety risk control and management, existing policies, programs and governance frameworks, and provincial and ministry strategic directions related to policy, program development, and the regulatory and commercial/fiscal dimensions impacting the food safety.
- The decision-making and accountability framework of the provincial government, including the legislative approvals and allocations processes, to lead development of strategic policy options and initiatives from conceptualization through to implementation.
- Animal processing industry such as processes involving food safety programs and controls and products, and how its environment and processes impact on food safety.
- Food safety risks and scientific literature, including current research developments; provincial food safety legislation, Ministry's inspection programs, policies and procedures, and regulatory requirements affecting the food industry, to coordinate the review and evaluation of processes and products in
animal processing facilities in Ontario.
- Program and policy development theory and processes, and audit and performance management requirements to evaluate program effectiveness and develop appropriate program design options.
The network of ministry, federal, other provincial governmental and private sector stakeholders, to establish consultation frameworks for research and consultation purposes.
- Municipal, federal and international food safety legislation and inspection programs to ensure that development of Ontario's food safety standards is justified and in harmony with international standards.
- Computer software such as word processing, internet, statistical packages, spreadsheets and data base management, to write reports, and other documents, and analyze and manage data.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Leadership and advisory skills to provide expertise and strategic advice to senior management on domestic issues, events and developments impacting the animal processing and food safety in the province.
- Consultation, interpersonal and consensus building skills to develop key stakeholder relationships and partnerships across the province, and with other jurisdictional partners.
- Consultation and collaboration skills to consult on program development, and to discuss the political/fiscal, economic, and regulatory ramifications of emerging/identified issues with provincial partners and other governmental stakeholders.
- Presentation, persuasion, and facilitation skills to explain and promote a position or strategic options to senior ministry management, and to communicate scientific and technical information to Ministry staff and to industry stakeholders.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem solving skills to:
- Identify and evaluate emerging political and economic events, issues and trends impacting the food safety programs.
- Assess the ramifications of provincial and other jurisdictional policy proposals, to provide strategic advice to senior management with respect to ministry/provincial options.
- Evaluate a range of conceptual and quantitative data and intelligence to develop policy/program recommendations/design options and strategies for senior management.
- Conceptualize, plan, and lead/projects that integrate cross-ministry and other jurisdictional interests and concerns, and that encompass various sources of qualitative and quantitative input (e.g. economic, social, and political factors), to provide policy subject expertise to senior management in developing a provincial position on food safety issues.
- Evaluate the competing interests and proposals of inter-governmental and other jurisdictional stakeholders to identify issues and impacts, and to develop/ recommend alternative approaches and solutions.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Provides strategic advice to senior management on specific projects, program planning, and on regulatory development based on science, and industry knowledge and experience.
- Leading teams or participating as a member on various multi-disciplinary working groups mandated to develop and/or revise specific programs and to develop regulations, standards, procedures and programs in the area of food safety related to animal processing industries.
- Identifying events, issues and political/economic developments requiring response within the framework of Ministry/provincial strategic directions and priorities.
- Representing the Ministry on provincial and national committees on food safety; provides advice and comments on new regulations and guidelines.
- Leading issues management processes, and responses to queries from Ministry managers, staff and inspectors on scientific/technical issues.
- Coordinating the planning of stakeholder events focused on educating and communicating the animal processing industry food safety industry on new or existing programs related to inspection and on regulatory and compliance matters.
Has latitude to recommend strategic approaches impacting the sector, to identify matters requiring response, to initiate research projects, and to address controversial issues. Provides input on program/business planning for policy and program priority setting.
Work is performed within the framework of federal and provincial legislation, guidelines, policies and practices, and provincial/ministry strategic directions pertaining to the food safety and related policies.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Ministry scientific/policy and field inspection staff to discuss issues, and to develop standards that are responsive to industry/client needs.
- Senior management, the Deputy and the Minister to provide analysis, advice and expertise on strategic policy/program options and responses to events, developments and issues.
- Policy counterparts in other ministries, provinces, the federal government and other jurisdictions to consult/collaborate and share information on program development initiatives and findings.
- Represents the ministry at inter-governmental and sector meetings, and leads inter-ministerial working groups to review/implement provincial initiatives/responses regarding intergovernmental policy, program and regulatory matters.
- Food Industry Associations and other animal processing stakeholders to consult on programs and other food safety issues and to seek input into program plans.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides project leadership to assigned teams including organizing the team, assigning tasks, reviewing progress, providing guidance and advice.
- Provides expertise and strategic advice to senior management, the Deputy Minister and the Minister's Office on developments/events impacting the agri-food sector, specifically animal processing food safety matters.
- Provides advice and expertise to other ministry stakeholders on the interpretation and intergovernmental implications of the ministry provincial policy position with respect to agriculture, and food safety issues.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Regularly responds to requests for information (e.g., response to briefing notes and Minister's letters) within deadlines; conflicting work demands.
- Occasional need for travel, training sessions and attendance at trade shows/expos outside of normal business hours.
- Regular requirement to multi-task (balance multiple projects, assignments, speaking engagements) with competing deadlines.

Mental / Sensory :

Frequent requirement to concentrate when performing research and writing briefing notes.
Frequently required to concentrate, to read, write and review food safety documents.

Conditions / Environment :

- Work is performed in a typical office environment.
- Occasional exposure to food processing environments including excessive cold, microbiological, physical and chemical hazards.