Lead, Evaluation

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value. How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity, humility and care.

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day

• a health care spending or wellness spending account

• a premium defined benefit pension plan

• three personal days and two float days annually

• three weeks' vacation to start (for individual contributors), increasing to four weeks after two years

• career development opportunities

• a collaborative values-based team culture

• a wellness program

• a hybrid working model

• participation in Communities of Inclusion

Want to make a difference in your career? Consider this opportunity.

The Lead is part of Cancer Screening's Evidence & Evaluation team, which is responsible for providing Ontario's four organized cancer screening programs with the best available evidence to support program design, policy development, quality improvement and other evidence-based decision making. The Lead will work within the Evaluation stream of the team. The Lead will offer leadership and subject matter expertise in the design, execution and dissemination of evaluation and research projects that will provide programs with actionable evidence to improve participant and provider experience, quality, and equity in the cancer system. This includes collecting, analyzing, synthesizing and interpreting quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods data. The Lead acts as a subject matter expert, working across cancer screening program areas with staff, leadership, clinicians, and scientists to develop measurement strategies and design projects. The Lead will also take on the more complex work of project management, training and deploying resources, and communicating with key internal and external stakeholders. The Lead may act on the Manager's behalf in their absence and may be responsible for day-to-day work allocation but is not accountable for the work or performance management of the team members.

Here is what you will be doing:

Leadership & Subject Matter Expertise:

• Leads the planning, execution and delivery of high-quality evaluation products that evaluate the quality and performance of Ontario's organized cancer screening programs.

• Provides leadership and subject matter expertise with respect to content, process, and methods in evaluation and research projects to provide actionable insights for Ontario's cancer screening programs and Ontario Health more broadly.

• Leads and contributes to cross-program and cross-portfolio working groups and committees to inform and deliver on projects as required.

• Manages multiple projects of varying complexities, develops project plans, and determines timelines, resource requirements, risks, and impacts. Identifies, proactively manages, and escalates risks and issues as needed.

• Leads the development and execution of measurement strategies that inform and evaluate strategic goals within cancer screening and across the organization, through facilitating discussions and building consensus among diverse stakeholders with varying degrees of technical and subject matter expertise.

• Develops logic models and/or program theories of change to describe the scope and impact of complex programs/initiatives and to ensure measurement approaches are integrated and connected between programs/initiatives across the organization.

• Creates rigorous program/project-specific evaluation frameworks and plans that will ensure the provision of timely and accurate evidence to stakeholders.

• Maintains in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of best practice and cutting-edge program evaluation and research methodology.

• Facilitates and participates in knowledge sharing activities within Ontario Health and externally with academic and non-academic audiences.

• Design, develop, and implement evaluation templates and end-products that optimize user experience and facilitate the translation of accurate and actionable information to internal and external stakeholders.

• Builds capacity and provides coaching, mentoring and thought leadership to the organization.

Data Collection/Analysis/Dissemination:

• Serves as an expert resource on data collection, analysis, synthesis, and interpretation, related to cancer screening and prevention or other topics as required.

• Considers the full complement of quantitative and qualitative methods, and makes and justifies decisions on the combination of methods that will provide the information required for strategic decision making, while also considering pragmatic choices and resources.

• Designs protocols for the collection of qualitative and mixed-methods data (e.g., focus group and interview methodology and scripts, survey development).

• Collects data through published scientific and grey literature, interviews, focus groups, surveys and provincial databases from diverse populations including eligible cancer screening participants (including underserved populations with diverse care needs) clinicians, and executives.

• Conducts quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods analyses using advanced analytical skills and appropriate software packages.

• Develops meaningful insights and actionable recommendations for cancer screening program areas with the aim of continuing to build a world-class cancer screening system.

• Works with experts and available information to identify and assess barriers and challenges to the health system, and to support identification of solutions and development of strategies to support uptake and implementation.

• Develops plans for disseminating project findings, including leading or contributing to presentations and developing peer-reviewed publications.

Coordination & Collaboration:

• Uses collaborative approaches to work with cancer screening programs, clinician, scientists and leadership to determine evaluation priorities, and to design, execute, and disseminate the findings of evaluation and research projects.

• Collaborates with Senior Research Associates on the Evidence & Evaluation team by:

  • Training and coaching staff on program evaluation and research methods.

  • Providing subject matter expertise and consultation during planning of projects, development of dissemination plans, preparation of technical reports and findings presentations.

  • Supporting stakeholder engagement.

• Collaborates with corporate services and other Ontario Health colleagues to support and execute other administrative and project-related activities.

• Upholds the importance of core values and is committed to maintaining positive organizational and team culture.

Relationship Management:

• Develops relationships with colleagues within the team and department, across the organization, and externally to understand best practices, issues, and evaluation and research needs.

• Shares appropriately tailored information to enable understanding of complex methodologies and results.

• Uses advanced facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills to contribute to working groups/committees, and liaise with Ontario Health staff, external stakeholders and the public.

• Effectively engages, consults, and communicates with a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., clinical and scientific leaders and experts, project managers, leadership, staff, external partners).

• Demonstrates leadership and integrity in interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

• Collaborates with internal colleagues to ensure quality standards and other quality products are delivered on-time and on budget.

• Builds relationships with industry colleagues to remain current on best practices, issues, and trends.

Here is what you will need to be successful:

Education and Experience

• Completion of a Master's degree in epidemiology, public health, health sciences or a related field of study. PhD is an asset.

• A minimum of five years practical experience leading program evaluation and/or research in a public health or healthcare setting, including project leadership, design, execution and dissemination is required.

• Experience with survey development, conducting interviews and leading focus groups, as well as analyzing data collected through these methods.

• Knowledge of the Canadian health care system is required. Experience within the cancer system in Ontario or Canada is an asset.

• A track record of scientific publication is an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Solid command of theories and frameworks relevant to program evaluation, health and health care.

• Proven ability to develop logic models, theories of change, evaluation frameworks and plans, and research protocols.

• Demonstrated ability to lead focus groups and conduct interviews is an asset.

• Advanced analytical skills. Experience with both quantitative and qualitative analysis, and relevant data analysis software (e.g., SAS, NVivo) is preferred.

• Interest and knowledge in health equity.

• Strong understanding of Ontario's health care system with particular emphasis on population and public health approaches, program evaluation theory, and practice.

• Superior and demonstrated project management and organizational skills. Specifically, the ability to manage multiple, complex projects and work independently in a self-directed manner with minimal supervision.

• Exceptionally detail-oriented with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to complete tasks, as assigned, in a timely manner with high-quality results.

• Demonstrated initiative and independence to take appropriate action and anticipate organizational needs.

• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and facilitation skills, with demonstrated experience engaging, building trust, relationships, and consensus among diverse stakeholders. Experience working directly with clinical and scientific experts, and health care administrators is preferred.

• Superior communication skills, including listening, written, verbal, and graphical, with the ability to prepare technical reports, briefing notes, peer reviewed publications, and deliver presentations on complex concepts effectively.

• Demonstrated ability to lead meetings, including facilitating project intake processes, presenting protocols, results, interpretations, and recommendations to technical and lay stakeholders.

• Ability to seek and weigh opinions and evidence, compromising where necessary on ways and means but not on principles or goals.

• Proven ability to establish positive working relationships; must be team-oriented, possess a positive attitude, and work well with a broad network of teams, individuals, and stakeholders.

• Capacity to work effectively in a rapid-pace, dynamic work environment with a degree of ambiguity.

• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project.

Location: Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change)

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