The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is one of the largest employers in the province, employing more than 60,000 people. Every day we are modernizing government operations and improving public services. We have a wide range of meaningful and rewarding career opportunities in communities across Ontario. We welcome new ideas and new people, encourage learning and development, and reward achievement. No matter the position, we live the core values of trust, fairness, diversity, excellence, creativity, collaboration, efficiency and responsiveness.
What a career in the OPS can offer you: We are committed to being an employer of first choice, and creating a positive and inclusive work environment. In addition to flexible work arrangements, a collegial and professional work culture, career growth and development and on-the-job training to help you succeed, we offer a competitive total compensation package, which includes an attractive salary, defined benefit pension plan, comprehensive health and dental plan and much more.
Our team: The Drug Benefits Management Unit is responsible for the oversight, administration and evaluation of the Ontario Drug Benefit Program. The program helps seniors (people age 65 and older) cover most of the cost for approximately 5,000 prescription drug products as well as some allergy shots, some diabetes monitoring and testing products, some prescribed over-the-counter drugs and some nutrition products. The key functions of the team are:
• developing policies to support the Ontario Public Drug Program initiatives
• maintaining and publishing the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary/Comparative Drug Index
• managing the drug submission and review processes
• making transfer payments under the public drug programs
• registering pharmacies/dispensaries for Health Network System online accounts which establish a connection with the ministry network for claiming submissions to the Ontario Drug Benefit Programs
• inspecting and auditing pharmacy records under the Ontario Public Drug Programs
What can I expect to do in this role?
In this senior leadership role, you'll be expected to:
• demonstrate authenticity, accountability and courage
• lead for the future by embracing positive disruption, having a future mindset and developing others
• lead with a common purpose, be inclusive and drive people centered outcomes
• manage a multi-disciplinary team (13 direct reports)
• contribute pharmaceutical advice to support the development and evaluation of drug program legislation, policies and programs
• oversee the clinical review and evaluation of drugs to be covered by Ontario Drug Programs
• negotiate contractual agreements with drug manufacturers
• consult with a diverse group of stakeholders (e.g. pharmaceutical manufactures, clinical experts, CADTH, researchers)
• build collaborative relationships with administrators of other government drug programs
• lead the identification, research, analysis and management of program issues
How do I qualify?
Mandatory requirement:
• You are a Registered Pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
Leadership experience:
• You have experience providing strategic direction, guidance and coaching to staff and/or project teams.
• You have experience fostering an environment of inclusion, high performance, learning, growth and continuous improvement.
• You have experience leading complex projects and high-profile initiatives, effectively utilizing resources and prioritizing tasks to deliver results.
Communication and stakeholder engagement skills:
• You have experience building and maintaining collaborative working relationships.
• You have experience providing sound, strategic advice and briefings to senior executives.
• You have experience applying political acuity in the management of complex, sensitive and high-profile issues.
Program operations skills:
• You have knowledge of program design and implementation frameworks.
• You have experience using qualitative and quantitative data to inform evidence-based decision-making.
• You have knowledge of performance measurement frameworks and program evaluation tools and techniques.
• You have financial administration skills to negotiate, develop and administer transfer payment agreements.
Industry expertise:
• You have experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• You have knowledge of health policy and Ontario's health care system.
• You have knowledge of health technology assessment.
• You have knowledge of health economics.
Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-RacismThe OPS is an innovative, responsive and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable. Diversifying leadership is a top priority for the OPS. Our goal is to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most underrepresented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) on our leadership teams.
The OPS is collecting socio-demographic information to identify potential barriers and help underrepresented groups to achieve equity in senior leadership roles. We invite you to contribute to our efforts in building a more diverse, inclusive and accessible OPS by completing our voluntary survey, which will be provided to all applicants once the advertisement has closed.
The OPS is an accessible employer and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
