SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR

Are you a passionate public servant looking for an opportunity to learn and grow with a team of like-minded folks? Are you interested in working on priority ministry files that cross sectors and involve strategic planning across the health care continuum? If so, then bring your strategic policy and planning expertise to bear as part of the Partnerships and Consultation Unit in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We are seeking two Senior Policy Advisors to join the team in tackling the ministry's strategic priorities for the health system, including planning for health service delivery that is cost effective, high quality and sustainable.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this position, you will:

Health Planning and Policy Development
• Identify, research, develop, analyze and evaluate planning and policy options and recommendations to address health system planning goals and priorities.
• Conduct policy gap analysis, cost-benefit analysis, assess stakeholder impacts, review and evaluate regulatory/legislative frameworks, assess risks and identify mitigation strategies and alignment with health system goals and priorities.
• Develop and prepare various reports and papers.
• Consult, solicit input from and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders on planning and policy options and recommendations.

Project Leadership
• Lead project development and management to address health planning, data, modelling and policy priorities.
• As assigned, lead project/policy teams, organize/assign work, monitor project progress, review deliverables and quality of work, guide team members, determine project resource needs, anticipate and mitigate potential problems, risks and/or barriers, and develop creative solutions to address challenges.

Research, Expertise and Advice
• Provide advice and expertise to senior management on health system planning.
• Research, assess/analyze and prioritize a broad range of environmental, technological, social and political issues, trends and directions to plan for and develop options and policies to optimize the cost-effectiveness and quality of health care delivery in Ontario.
• Analyze, synthesize and interpret complex issues and information into briefing materials, presentations and policy documents.

Partnerships, Stakeholder Relations and Committee Work
• Consult and negotiate with key health sector partners to advance the ministry/government's strategic direction and priorities for health system planning, research, and forecasting methodologies.
• Lead and/or participate on committees and working groups across the ministry/government/stakeholders to address health system capacity planning issues.

Issues Management, Briefing Materials and Communication
• Develop, prepare, review and update all decision-making related materials (briefing notes, options/policy papers, reports, presentations), and/or correspondence for senior management and Offices of the Minister and Premier.

How do I qualify?

Specialized Knowledge:

• You have demonstrated knowledge of Government/Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care mandate, priorities and business operations to support policy and program development and analysis for priority ministry initiatives and to evaluate the achievement of ministry and project objectives.
• You have proven knowledge of policy objectives, policy development and the life cycle management of policy/strategies and planning principles/techniques for the health system and the provincial health planning framework.
• You have knowledge of government policy development and decision-making processes, legislative and regulatory processes, current and emerging health planning trends, issues and directions on both a national and international level.
• You have knowledge of health care system trends, models of delivery, governance and legislation and understanding of critical issues and concerns faced by health care stakeholders.

Project Management Skills:

• You have proven project management skills for project planning and leadership on concurrent projects, working collaboratively with team members to manage deadlines and competing priorities.

Interpersonal/Influencing Skills:

• You have demonstrated advisory and consultation skills to provide expert advice on a range of health planning and management issues and trends.
• You possess conflict resolutions, consensus building, and facilitating skills to discuss and resolve issues and competing/opposing needs and priorities with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• You have demonstrated communication skills to conduct consultations, explain policy positions, and present/promote policy/strategic initiatives to ministry senior management and internal/external stakeholders.
• You have demonstrated leadership and team work skills to work collaboratively within multiple teams simultaneously.
• You possess political acuity to anticipate, appreciate and understand the interests and concerns of team members, management, stakeholders in order to provide strategic advice and recommendations.
• You have proven oral and written communication to prepare and present complex policy options, position papers, advice in the field of health system planning and briefing material.

Analyzing/Problem-Solving Skills:

• You have the ability to synthesize, interpret and understand the implications of policy initiatives and impact analysis in order to develop policy options/program frameworks and to review and analyze proposals and recommendations developed by staff and project teams.
• You are able to conduct environmental scans and research, analysis and interpretation of data and models to identify, prioritize and evaluate emerging health system planning issues, risks, trends and best practices.
• You are able to synthesize and interpret information to provide advice, interpretation, and policy expertise (options, recommendations) to senior management on health system planning and policies.
• You possess the ability to lead and/or coordinate development of policy/program options and recommendations for senior management to address the province's health system planning needs.
• You are able to identify risks and recommend mitigation strategies to senior management.

Computer Skills:

• You have the ability to utilize MS Office, including PowerPoint and Excel.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Thursday, September 14, 2017 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.