Health Policy & Research Advisor

Health Policy & Research Advisor

Policy and Advocacy Division

Full-Time Employment (Hybrid: 2 days/week in office, 3 days/week WFH)

Target Hiring Range $88,535 to $99,602

Background:

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) serves as the voice of the province’s public hospitals, supporting them through advocacy, knowledge translation and member engagement, labour relations, and data and analytics with the goal of helping hospitals build a better health system.

The OHA’s Policy and Advocacy division focuses on policy and advocacy, strategic communications, and research and analysis. The team strives to be proactive on core issues affecting Ontario hospitals by engaging in advocacy, shaping legislative and regulatory changes, providing advice and guidance on a diverse range of policy matters, and communicating hospitals’ concerns and challenges to government and the public. The OHA is also attuned to the broader strategic questions facing the future of the province’s health care system and we work to ensure Ontario’s hospitals have a voice in shaping this longer-term vision.

The Position:

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Policy and Hospital-Enabled Research, the Health Policy & Research Advisor will provide policy advice, research, project management, and committee leadership to various OHA initiatives, working with multidisciplinary stakeholder groups related to hospital-enabled research and education, professional issues, models of care, and/or capacity and flow. Responsibilities include:

• Monitor developments and trends in key policy areas to identify opportunities and challenges to the health research sector that contribute to issues management and advocacy.
• Represent the OHA as a knowledgeable and active participant on relevant external committees and stakeholder working groups.
• Contribute to providing evidence-based advice in support of issues of emerging interest in the health care sector.
• Support data and analysis work that directly informs strategic policy and/or hospital-enabled research and education initiatives.
• Conduct detailed research (e.g., literature reviews, translate qualitative and quantitative data), prepare briefing notes and/or jurisdictional scans, and develop tools and resources for colleagues and member hospitals.
• Collaborate with members and system partners such as the Health Professional Regulatory Colleges, the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, and other associations on matters affecting hospitals and the broader health system.

The Candidate:

• The ideal candidate possesses a Master’s degree in Health Services Research, Health Sciences, Public Policy, or another relevant discipline with experience in policy and research, as well as knowledge of the health care system.
• Familiarity with the hospital sector including practices and procedures is considered an asset. You have well developed project management skills; strong research, analytical and policy skills. In addition, you have excellent communication, presentation, facilitation and interpersonal skills. You are a strong team player and have the ability to work well under pressure while managing multiple priorities and remaining responsive in a dynamic environment.
• The Health Policy and Research Advisor will be a highly motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, is able to build successful working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and enjoys combining research with practice.

You have excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and written and verbal communication skills; strong research, analytical and policy skills; and proven project management experience. Working in a team environment, you will be a highly motivated self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, is able to build successful working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and enjoys turning detailed data into a story.

The ideal candidate might be described as dynamic, positive, collaborative, persuasive, resilient, driven and results oriented.

Why Join the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA)?

Join us in serving Ontario’s hospitals to build a better health system. As a not-for-profit association, the OHA offers you a fulfilling role supporting our members through advocacy, knowledge translation and member engagement, labour relations, and data and analytics.

An inspiring and creative place to work, the OHA is your opportunity to change the healthcare system for the better, while having a lot of fun. You’ll also be welcomed into a supportive and inclusive environment built on our core values of:

Humility – we listen to and respect the view of others

Discovery – we explore new ideas and possibilities

Passion – we bring energy and enthusiasm to what we do

Our Culture

The OHA is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We welcome applications from Black individuals and Persons of Colour, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ persons, and others who may contribute to the diversity of ideas within our organization. We are committed to the fair assessment of each candidate’s abilities, and consider their range of experience, including non-traditional career paths.

Employee engagement is key to the success of any business, and that’s why the OHA is proud of our 100% employee engagement rate. We consistently survey staff to ensure we can respond to their needs and engage in meaningful conversations to improve our corporate culture. It’s why we’ve been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada (five times!). Our 2022 Best Places to Work award from Human Resources Director demonstrates our commitment to a culture that upholds diversity, equity, inclusion, mental health, wellness, and compassionate leadership.

As we search for qualified candidates to join our team, their fit with our culture and values are just as important.

Our Perks

Joining the OHA gives you access to a multitude of benefits including:

• Peer-to-peer recognition programs where we celebrate each other’s successes.
• Fun staff events and activities to support engagement and team building.
• Access to a comprehensive Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• A performance management program that provides an annual performance pay on top of your base salary.
• Extra time off including corporate office closure during the December holiday season, 4 life days and 1 anniversary day.
• Fully paid extended health and dental benefits, including travel insurance.
• Coverage up to $1,000 for home office expenses for new staff.
• Start with 3 weeks of vacation which increases based on years of service.
• Flexible work schedule – work from home 3 days per week, onsite hours (10am to 2pm), and summer hours with Fridays off.
• The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan where the OHA matches your contributions.
• Tuition assistance and professional development support ($2,000 for general education or $5,000 for a master’s program).
• A Lifestyle Spending Account with $600 to spend on care and wellness.

To Apply:

Potential applicants are invited to submit a resume and covering letter by August 7th, 2023. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required.

Application Requirements:

The successful applicant must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as defined by the Government of Canada) or have a valid vaccination exemption pursuant to the Human Rights Code. Further, they must provide proof of vaccination (or a valid exemption) prior to the start date, provide updated information as necessary, and comply with any ongoing vaccination-related requirements.