Senior Program Specialist

Senior Program Specialist

Location: Toronto-661 University

Department: Emergency Preparedness Response and Recovery

The Role:

Lead initiatives and projects in public health emergencies that require a senior level of support. Provide specialized subject matter expertise on public health risk; prepare responses to scientific and technical issues; contribute to the ongoing review and analysis of scientific literature and risk assessments; develop and implement guidelines, tools, studies, reports, and publications to support initiatives; work with partners to identify gaps, strengthen systems, build capacity, and promote public health practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads initiatives and projects in public health emergencies and emergency planning, response and recovery that includes engagement with multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions, significant visibility, urgency, and/or substantial complexity of the subject matter.
• Contributes to the ongoing review, analysis and evaluation of scientific literature and risk assessments in order to provide useful and current public health consultation. Reviews proposals, plans and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health implications.
• Leads the development and writing of key knowledge products that are scientifically sound and technically accurate.
• Identifies and highlights changes and developments in best practices and provides scientific and technical support for the Ministry of Health, public health units, and other partners as appropriate to help ensure that policy and practice are evidence-informed.
• Ensures that privacy requirements under PHIPA, government guidelines and regulations, and best practices are adhered to and implemented at all times.
• Provides technical and scientific input into the development of relevant ministry policies, legislation and standards by providing information and advice on prevention, control and public health risk.
• Prepares responses to relevant scientific and technical issues on behalf of PHO.
• Works in close collaboration with members of the team and internal PHO counterparts.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with external partners at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• Provides technical and scientific interpretation and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to public health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, community agencies and other stakeholders.
• Prepares or contributes to presentations, reports, summaries, and position papers for senior management and in response to correspondence. Participates in issues management through providing technical input into the response to public inquiries.
• Participates in inter-governmental committees/task forces and maintains ongoing liaison with colleagues, the Ministry of Health, other ministries, professional associations, and universities, federal and provincial counterparts to develop partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of provincial public health programs including the operations and authority of the various stakeholders involved e.g. laboratories, health care providers, public health units, provincial ministries, federal counterparts, with a thorough understanding of relevant regulations and regulatory trends in epidemiology, public health, and surveillance in order to develop/prepare responses to scientific and technical issues on behalf of PHO regarding public health aspects.
• Knowledge of current policies, guidelines, legislation, standards, and regulations relevant in order to ensure own work is in compliance and to provide technical and administrative guidance to staff.
• Knowledge of population health trends, and emergency preparedness and response activities in order to work with public health units, and provide scientific and technical support.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methodology, tools, and techniques, particularly as they pertain to analyzing and reducing risks to public health.
• Skills to lead and/or contribute to evidence synthesis and to ensure rigorous scientific methodology.
• Knowledge and understanding of privacy requirements under PHIPA, government legislation, regulations, guidelines and best practices involving public health surveillance and personal health information in order to ensure that privacy requirements under PHIPA, government guidelines and regulations, and best practices are adhered to and implemented at all times.
• Skill using various computer systems and software programs including: database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, (MS Office).

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree, in a field related to public health.
• At least five years of relevant experience in communicable disease control, emergency management, public health inspection, environmental health, nursing or a related field.

Attributes and Competencies:

• Interpersonal, leadership, team building and relationship building skills in order to interact well with all internal/external stakeholders, maintain linkages with all levels of contacts.
• Presentation skills to provide accurate explanations on risk and prevention issues and strategies to relevant parties.
• Interacts with and provides specialized client service to the Ministry of Health and public health units to develop and influence curricula, plans and implement activities.
• Maintains strong relationships to further the development of partnerships with external parties at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• Proactively anticipates the needs of and responds to public health units and the Ministry of Health and provides tools, resources and/or support.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with an ability to initiate and model positive change.
• Judgement is required when selecting and providing technical and scientific interpretation and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to public health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, and other stakeholders.
• Accountable for contributing to the ongoing review, analysis and evaluation of scientific literature, risk assessments in order to provide useful and current public health consultation.

Duration: Permanent

Hours of Work: Full time, 36.25 hours per week

Compensation Group: Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario

Salary: $90,617.00 - $126,869.00

Posting Date: 01-13-2025

Closing Date: 01-28-2025

Please note: applications will be received no later than 11:59pm on the date preceding the closing date as indicated on the Job Requisition.

Note: Internal candidates will be considered first.

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.

PHO is committed to ensuring equity in employment. Our goal is to create a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to ensure our services and communications are accessible to all individuals. Any candidate who requires a job posting in an alternative format may email a request to HR_Inquiries@oahpp.ca. Once an applicant has been selected for an interview, they can inform PHO about any accommodations they may require at any stage of the interview process.