General:
As a key member of the Healthcare Financing and Transformation team, the Senior Advisor participates in the development of a suite of activities aimed at encouraging open and informed dialogue among policy makers and the public about the economic future of healthcare. Specifically, the Senior Advisor develops and implements program activities including:
- Scoping, scanning and identifying key issues and knowledge gaps;
- Summarizing current knowledge and research;
- Commissioning research and projects; and
- Organizing roundtables, exchanges and dialogues for policy leaders, experts and the general public.
Characteristic Responsibilities:
Technical/Specialized or Program
- Develop and lead relevant research and related initiatives for theme areas identified within CHSRF‘s strategic and operational plans. Make forecasts and recommendations for further policy dialogue.
- Develop new activities that can help position CHSRF as an authoritative advocate for evidence-based economic options for healthcare.
- Lead and manage commissioned projects in accordance with CHSRF’s Priority Areas. Assign roles and responsibilities; monitor team’s activities: develop budgets, timelines and deliverables; manage externally contracted staff or services: report on progress and make adjustments as needed; prepare final reports; and evaluate outcomes and impact.
- Define, plan and implement high-level and public dialogues and roundtables.
- Lead the process of summarizing research. Maintain content expertise through ongoing environmental scanning, literature reviews and networking activities.
- Keep abreast of new major developments in health services research, management and policy, including political developments and developments in the media and public discourse.
- Participate in the development of new methods to summarize research and tacit knowledge surrounding major current issues in healthcare economics and policy.
- Manage the processes involved in translating complex research or evidence into summaries or policy briefs.
- Prepare and deliver presentations for internal and external audiences.
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders to ensure appropriate representation of CHSRF’s policy-related work.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Healthcare Financing and Transformation.
Operational
- Manage project and activity budgets.
- Collaborate with colleagues; provide support and advice to achieve operational goals.
- Demonstrate leadership and make recommendations for improvement within the portfolio and throughout CHSRF.
- Provide day-to-day supervision of staff, which includes coaching/mentoring, monitoring progress, and providing advice; participating in the hiring, performance appraisal (training and development) and termination of staff, as required.
- Supervise and manage external contracts and contracted staff.
- Work closely with the Director, Strategic Evaluation and Director, Communications and Public Affairs to ensure all summaries are useful to CHSRF’s key stakeholders.
External Representation
- Develop and maintain productive relationships in the health services research and policy communities to stay abreast of emerging issues and identify opportunities for CHSRF.
- Identify and develop partnerships where appropriate.
- Represent CHSRF on relevant committees and at workshops and conferences in the health services and health services research sectors.
Strategic Advice/Recommendations
- Provide advice, recommendations and support to the Director, Healthcare Financing and Transformation.
Skill:
- Language requirements: Bilingual in French and English is desirable (English oral and written communication at Advanced, “C” level, and French oral communication at Intermediate, “B” level).
- Relevant master’s degree in health policy and/or commensurate experience.
- Five years of progressive experience in the area of health services and health services research.
- Highly proficient oral and written communication skills, particularly with respect to summarizing multiple and complex sources of information so they are useful for healthcare managers and policy-makers.
- Ability to access and understand multiple sources of data, trends and analyses.
- Complex problem-solving skills: probing for information to determine the nature of the problem; comprehending highly complex material; and developing unique solutions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including experience developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and large networks of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated leadership and commitment to objectives consistent with the CHSRF’s core values: innovation, flexibility, collaboration and transparency.
- Ability to prepare and deliver presentations.
- Proficient in using various software including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, electronic mail and calendaring.
- Ability to work well in a small, dynamic and highly motivated team.
Effort:
- Fatigue resulting from focusing and intensely concentration program responsibilities; juggling multiple accountabilities with occasional urgent situations; extensive reading and scanning; and independent learning.
Working Conditions:
- Mainly indoor office environment.
- Regularly required to engage in local or overnight travel.
- Frequently interrupted.
- Required to extend hours to meet demands and occasionally expected to work evenings and weekends during peak periods.
