The Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) is seeking a Manager, Knowledge and Education Services.
Job Status: Full Time Regular
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Closing date: 6/30/2011
Please apply through the OAHPP career web portal at www.oahpp.ca/careers/
Organizational Overview
The Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) is an arm’s-length government agency dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all Ontarians and reducing inequities in health. As a hub organization, OAHPP links public health practitioners, front-line health workers and researchers to the best scientific intelligence and knowledge from around the world.
OAHPP provides expert scientific and technical support relating to infection prevention and control; surveillance and epidemiology; health promotion, chronic disease and injury prevention; environmental and occupational health; health emergency preparedness; and public health laboratory services to support health providers, the public health system and partner ministries in making informed decisions and taking informed action to improve the health and security of Ontarians. For more information about OAHPP, visit www.oahpp.ca
Position Details
The Manager, Knowledge and Education Services is responsible to provide unit leadership for the planning, development and management of sound, innovative knowledge and education services including the provision of technical advice, education and knowledge exchange and dissemination support to those working to protect and promote the health of Ontarians.
The Manager, Knowledge and Education Services develops and coordinates OAHPP’s strategy for knowledge exchange including a comprehensive professional education program and the development of tools and guides on best practices for external partners and stakeholders, the continuing education for health professionals and leadership in undergraduate, graduate and continuing professional education of future public health professionals; supports the planning and annual implementation for The Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC).
The manager is supported by scientific advisors, and works with peers to integrate corporate, laboratory and public health program activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Acts as a strategic leader to plan and manage a sound, innovative operation in the field of knowledge and education services and as a key program specific advisor in developing and implementing strategies within area of responsibility;
- Manages the development, implementation, delivery and evaluation of a range of unit services, products and initiatives that reflect OAHPP’s commitment to public health knowledge development and exchange including professional education programs; development of best practice tools and guides; knowledge exchange capacity building; the planning of professional development events and conferences for both external stakeholders, OAHPP staff and partners and a web tool to facilitate just in time access to knowledge products.
- Works closely with the OAHPP’s inter-disciplinary scientific programs to develop a knowledge exchange strategy that will optimize investments in public health research and inform efforts to improve the public health system; support implementation of the strategy by programs across the OAHPP;
- Obtains scientific advice from assigned advisors;
- Plans and manages the development, implementation and oversight of knowledge exchange support as a component of the provision of services to local public health clients through the Applied Research and Program Evaluation, Education and Professional Development and Knowledge Exchange in Public Health (SRKE) program;
- Manages and implements a strategy to enhance academic partnerships to collaborate on knowledge exchange activities and provide a place to inform, support and teach students, practicum placement and lectures at academic institutions in Ontario;
- Establishes the operational plan, defines operations, budget and program goals for own program;
- Models organizational values and organizational culture and embeds values into area of responsibility;
- Represents the Unit, its initiatives and services in consultations, relationships and collaborative partnerships with government, other provincial agencies, non-governmental organizations, public health units, healthcare organizations, professional associations and other academic and community partners;
- Ensures alignment of unit goals, objectives and activities with other public health system improvement goals and objectives;
- Acts as a designated lead and/or subject matter expert on cross functional OAHPP teams responsible for a coordinated and integrated scientific response and management of an incident or issue and proactive operational planning to ensure linkages and collaboration across OAHPP.
- Keeps abreast of the latest research and developments in area of specialty within the OAHPP and at other institutions;
- Manages staff, congruent with OAHPP internal policies and procedures, professional standards, Collective Agreement requirements and other relevant standards, legislation or regulations, including: providing direction and leadership in the implementation of new techniques and standards; assigning staff and implementing work/vacation schedules, setting clear responsibilities and objectives, evaluating performance, advising on training needs, participating on recruiting/selection of staff, dealing with disciplinary issues and responding to grievances in conjunction with OAHPP Human Resources management programs; build and lead a team of multi-disciplinary staff who support OAHPP’s activities;
- Contributes to the development and implementation of the OAHPP’s mandate and operating procedures by taking a significant role in the identification of new projects that align with the Knowledge Services mandate; suggests areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions;
- Supports the OAHPP in the provision of response in an emergency, pursuant to responsibilities as delegated in an emergency response plan;
- Models organizational values and organizational culture and embed values into area of responsibility;
- Serve as Acting Director, Knowledge Services when required.
Knowledge and Skills
- Excellent knowledge, skills and understanding of theories, research and innovations in the field of knowledge exchange and adult education;
- Cumulative breadth of knowledge of the complex health system, its complexities and linkages to the public health field;
- Excellent interpersonal, leadership, team building and relationship building skills in order to interact well with all stakeholders, maintain effective linkages with all levels of contacts/staff and deliver program results on time and within budget;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team and to engage with diverse staff, partners and stakeholders;
- Strong customer service orientation;
- Ability to work in a shared leadership or team model;
- Highly organized with priority setting and workload management skills to coordinate multiple, concurrent issues and projects; excellent problem solving skills;
- Written and oral communication skills in order to create correspondence, reports, prepare presentations and a wide variety of other materials;
- Proficient with various computer systems and software programs including: database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, (MS Office).
Education and Experience
- Masters’ degree in a public health, knowledge exchange, health sciences, adult education or equivalent area of study;
- Excellent knowledge and experience in knowledge exchange/knowledge transfer/knowledge transition functions;
- Progressive management experience managing and planning in a specialized and/or complex environment, ideally with a minimum of 5 years management experience in public health, an academic, research or health care institution.
- 5 years work experience in working in public health is preferred.