Are you a strategic-minded leader with experience providing sound executive advice and able to effectively deliver on policies and programs? Do you have strong relationship building skills and experience working with external stakeholders? Are you interested in working in a fast-paced, strategic, delivery-oriented, and inclusive environment? Consider this exciting opportunity to work with the Ministry of Health, Laboratories and Diagnostics Branch, where you will play a vital role in planning, developing, evaluating and implementing strategic frameworks and programs to meet the Ministry mandate and goals.
If you are at your best under pressure, politically acute, able to manage relationships and you feel no issues is impossible to solve, a position in the Laboratories and Diagnostics Branch may be the role for you. It's a complex and exciting branch in the Ministry of Health where you can guide a team of policy and program professionals and manage the development of strategic policies which balance the government's political agenda and patient care needs, while enhancing the coordination and integration of health care services and delivery in Ontario. We are looking for a high-performing leader that is ready for any challenge, is willing to get involved in the details and provide strategic direction and coaching to a strong team.
ABOUT US The Laboratories and Diagnostics Branch's goal is to strive for Ontario to be a world leader in the delivery of high-quality safe laboratory and diagnostic testing and build a comprehensive genetic service that supports patient centred medicine. The Laboratories and Diagnostics Branch supports key components of the medical laboratory and medical X-ray imaging systems. Under the legislative framework of the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, the Branch licenses laboratories, oversees compliance, provides strategic direction, and funds key laboratory programs to support the delivery of high quality, safe-to-use, and reliable medical laboratory services in Ontario. In addition, under the legislative framework of the Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act, the Branch carries out various compliance verification activities to protect patients, public and operators against unsafe use of X-ray machines across various health care facilities in Ontario, such as dental offices, and hospitals.
The Policy Development Unit is responsible for contract and relationship management of laboratory and genetic services with the community and broader laboratory sector. The Unit delivers patient focused care by developing and implementing strategies, policies and programs that support the government's transformation objectives for laboratory services and genetics.
OPS commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racismThe OPS is an innovative, responsive, and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable. Diversifying leadership teams is a top OPS priority with the goal to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most underrepresented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) in leadership positions.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply and encourages applications from Indigenous and racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities.
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.
The OPS offers employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.
What can I expect to do in this role?
In this leadership role, you'll be expected to:
• explore policy questions with a strategic lens to make linkages across the ministry and within the context of government direction, future planning, and improved person-centred outcomes
• Make recommendations on how to use current levers, such as policies, regulatory environments, and accountability frameworks, to ensure there is alignment and sustainability in the policy development strategy.
• lead a team to conduct assessments on existing regulations and legislation, and lead jurisdictional scans to explore policy options on the expansion of current legislation in the health care sector.
• You will be a proactive and innovative leader, motivating your team and colleagues across government to drive and embed a transformational agenda in a diverse sector.
• You will build solid trusting relationships within government and with external stakeholders and partners to create mutually beneficial solutions that improve the health care system for Ontarians.
• You will bring your policy and program leadership and strategic influence to strengthen the capacity within your team and the division.
• You will empower your team of policy and program professionals to grow and develop to their full potential, fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equity, and excellence.
How do I qualify?
Leadership Experience
• You have experience providing strategic direction, guidance and coaching to a policy team.
• 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 and motivating staff through times of change, effectively utilizing resources and prioritizing tasks to deliver results.
• You have good judgement and high degree of political acuity to recognize and respond to politically sensitive issues.
Strategic Planning
• You have strategic foresight to anticipate and recognize emerging trends and opportunities.
• You are innovative and have a future-focused mindset to develop strategic policies and programs to align with future needs, and you can translate concepts or ideas into policies or programs outcomes.
• You can assess policy options, identifying risks and political implications, and make informed strategic recommendations to senior leaders.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
• You have experience working horizontally to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• You have experience asserting influence to gain support for new initiatives and find solutions for complex issues.
• You are a skilled communicator with experience providing sound, strategic advice and briefings to senior executives within a sensitive political environment.
• You can manage the funding agreements and sensitive relationships between the ministry and transfer payment recipients
Public Policy Experience
• You have knowledge of and experience with public policy development from inception to approval to implementation.
• You have experience in coordinating policy and legislative agendas and preparing and submitting policy and legislative initiatives through decision-making and approval processes.
• You have a good understanding of the issues, trends and challenges facing Ontario's health care sector.
