SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care seeks a talented, results-oriented, policy development professional who will provide leadership and expertise in the research, analysis and development of health technology innovation strategies, policies, programs, standards, regulations and/or legislation to lead and/or participate in operational policy development and implementation for provincial addiction programs within the overall ministry policy framework and directions.

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role, you will:
• Lead and advise on the provincial addiction programs (substance abuse and/or problem gambling) and operational policy development projects and initiatives including agreements, funding packages and cabinet submissions, legislation and regulations.
• Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships within government and with external partners.
• Apply your advanced critical thinking skills and experience to conceptualize and define policy challenges and opportunities at a systems level and recommend innovative policy solutions using the best available evidence.
• Gather data and information from various sources (i.e., Drug and Alcohol Treatment System, Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment) to develop responses, options and recommendations for issues management.
• Communicate complex issues in a way that promotes understanding and decision-making by senior ministry decision makers.
• Develop coherent results-oriented implementation plans to promote system change in the direction of improved access, quality, value and sustainability.
• Design and manage risk mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning.

How do I qualify?

Health Innovation Knowledge:

• You have knowledge of Government policy directions for provincial addiction programs to ensure government/ministry objectives are considered in the development of policy submissions.
• You have knowledge of Government/ministry strategic directions, priorities and applicable legislation related to the operation of addiction treatment facilities.
• You have demonstrated experience coaching industry stakeholders and health technology companies on navigating the complex business, regulatory, and health system requirements and other barriers to innovation adoption; from the product concept phase to adoption.
• You understand the structures and processes of the provincial health care system, the addiction treatment facilities and the relationships between patients, health service providers, industry, academia and other stakeholders.
• You understand the current dynamics and trends affecting the access, quality, value and sustainability of publicly funded health care.
• You possess a working knowledge of how health care services are delivered and regulated in Ontario and the role and responsibilities of the provincial government, its agencies and the roles and interests of the major stakeholders.

Health Innovation Policy Development and Critical Analysis Skills and Abilities:

• You possess demonstrated expertise in health innovation policy development and the use of policy and research tools, improvement and planning methodologies that support health innovation in Ontario.
• You demonstrate well-developed analytical abilities and an aptitude for synthesizing large amounts of complex information coherently, identifying relationships, generating workable options and plans to implement them, and communicating findings and proposals clearly to recipients.
• You have advanced skills in translating complex ideas into clear and concise briefing materials for senior management and senior decision makers including; simple but effective visual aids to accompany presentations, clear and concise briefing notes, business cases, speaking notes, cabinet submissions etc.
• You are an analytical thinker who can map out and apply a methodological approach to complex problems in order to generate step-by-step solutions and a plan of action.

Project Management and Stakeholder Management Skills:

• You are a proven project leader who has managed policy projects from concept to implementation.
• You have a reputation for taking initiative, being detailed-oriented and consistently meeting timelines.
• You have brought teams together around common goals and led successful stakeholder consultations, managed stakeholder relationships and interests in challenging circumstances.
• You have advanced written and communication skills, to manage complex ideas and information, lead teams, and build consensus around planning and implementation of project objectives and strategies.

Strategic Thinking, Creativity and Innovation Skills:

• You demonstrate ability to link current actions to long-term strategic priorities.
• You have proven capacity to creatively identify workable solutions to problems that leverage experience, lessons and evidence from other initiatives, other jurisdictions, and the available literature.

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 Wednesday, November 1, 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.