JR101833

Senior Program Specialist

Location: Toronto-661 University

Department: Toxicology and Exposure Assessment

The Role:

To lead initiatives and projects that require a senior level support due to a variety of factors including engagement with multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions, significant visibility, urgency, and/or substantial complexity. To provide specialized subject matter expertise on the prevention, surveillance, control and public health risk with a focus on environmental health related topics such as foodborne and waterborne pathogens; to prepare responses to scientific, privacy and technical issues; to contribute to the ongoing review and analysis of scientific literature, risk assessments and surveys on these risk factors or diseases; to develop and implement guidelines, tools, studies, reports, and publications to support initiatives; to work with partners to identify gaps, strengthen systems, build capacity, and promote public health practice.

Key Responsibilities -

• Leads initiatives and projects that require a senior level support due to a variety of factors including engagement with multiple partners, multiple jurisdictions, significant visibility, urgency, and/or substantial complexity of the subject matter. Responds to urgent matters in the field and provides expert advice and assistance to local authorities.
• Provide technical and administrative guidance to staff including establishing work schedules, assigning and monitoring work of staff, dealing with work quality problems, providing technical guidance and training. Refers disciplinary and labour relations issues to the Manager or Director.
• Provides expert advice, information and consultation to clients, on complex questions related to environmental science, environmental health issues, food and water safety or urgent events based on a review, assessment and synthesis of the latest relevant scientific research, scientific findings or developments in other jurisdictions.
• Identifies research opportunities, develops research proposals, funding applications, and may lead research activities.
• Contributes to the ongoing review, analysis and evaluation of scientific literature, risk assessments and surveys in order to provide useful and current public health consultation. Reviews proposals and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health implications.
• Identifies and highlights changes and developments in best practice and provides scientific and technical support the MOH, 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 ministry policies, legislation and standards by providing information and advice on the prevention, surveillance, control and public health risk regarding these risk factors or diseases.
• Develops and maintains relationships with public health units, provincial ministries, academic institutions, professional societies, as well as other relevant provincial, national and international organizations with scientific functions relevant to environmental health, in order to share information, subject matter expertise, and to provide science-based responses to clients’ complex questions.
• Works in close collaboration with members of the team and internal PHO counterparts including members of Science and Public Health, the Public Health Laboratories, and Corporate Services.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with external partners at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• Assists with provincial coordination and collaborates with health units on prevention and control***.***
• Provides technical and scientific interpretation and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, community agencies and other stakeholders with regards.
• Prepares or contributes to briefing and issues notes, letters, speeches, 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.
• Chairs or participates in inter-governmental committees/task forces and maintain ongoing liaison with colleagues, the MOHLTC, other ministries, professional associations, and universities, federal and provincial counterparts to develop partnerships with key stakeholders to work on issues.
• Retrieves data and performs statistical analyses, conducts research, interprets environmental data, assesses and synthesize significant results and provides expert advice and guidance to clients based on the findings.
• Conducts analyses and designs reports for client use and develops or adapts new technology and analytical software to maximize utilization of statistical data, ensuring data integrity and correcting data errors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills-

• Occupational and environmental health, environmental sciences, food science or food safety with knowledge of environmental science, with a particular focus on exposure and risk assessment, food and water safety with technical proficiency in the scientific protocols, practices/procedures in order to design, implement and conduct qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, and health assessment studies for clients which will be rigorous enough to withstand third party scrutiny.
• Knowledge of environmental health practice, policy and legislation, emerging trends and research topics to conduct research, provide expert advice and assistance to stakeholders on complex questions related to environmental science and health issues. Knowledge of provincial public health programs including the operations and authority of the various stakeholders involved i.e. laboratories, health care providers, 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 research methodology, tools, and techniques, particularly as they pertain to analyzing and reducing risks to Public Health.
• Knowledge of the role and use of the Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS) and/or other applicable information systems for the reporting of data.

Education and Experience-

• Master’s degree, in a field related to public health.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience after completion of degree in practical application of knowledge to environmental health science problems arising in front line public health settings.

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.
• Written communication skills to compile information, prepare detailed scientific, technical and research reports, summaries, and presentations on behalf of PHO regarding public health aspects.
• Oral communication and interpersonal skills to respond to staff/client inquiries and maintain effective linkages with all levels of contacts.
• Oral communication and interpersonal skills to participate in the development and delivery of in-service and continuing education sessions.
• Develop and implement tools, studies, reports, and publications.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with clients, partners and collaborators in the provision of expert advice and consultation regarding answers to complex questions related to environmental health issues. Works closely with clients to understand their specific needs, assisting them in defining their needs/questions and responding in a timely fashion.
• Interacts with public health units (including the Medical Officer of Health), relevant provincial ministries or agencies (including the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Assistant Chief Medical Officer of Health), relevant federal agencies or departments, health care professionals/officials and local authorities in responding to urgent matters in the field and providing advice and assistance.
• Manages client requests and projects in a timely manner while effectively communicating project status to clients and supporting team members as applicable.
• Proactively anticipates the needs and responds to of Public Health Units and MOHLTC and provides tools, resources and/or support.
• Works within a framework of Agency mandate, services, priorities and procedures, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, where the incumbent is expected to work with a high level of independence and initiative
• Provides subject matter expertise in the surveillance and investigation of environmental health topics and issues to address and respond to inquiries and/or requests related to environmental health issues/concerns from clients.
• Proposes, initiates, coordinates, designs, and conducts research and provides expert advice to clients, provides information/assessments or assistance to clients on complex questions related to environmental science and environmental health where the results of the research could impact directly on the client’s ability to conduct risk assessments and respond effectively and efficiently to an environmental issue/event.
• Accountable for identifying and highlighting changes and developments in best practice, and in providing scientific and technical support the MOHLTC, Health Units, and other partners as appropriate to help ensure that policy and practice are evidence informed.
• Accountable for reviewing proposals and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health implications, and reporting back to PHO management.
• Provides technical and administrative guidance to teams comprised of colleagues, clients, partners, collaborators and service providers to ensure timelines and deliverables are met.
• Works with more junior level staff to provide mentoring, guidance and assistance in the application of processes, procedures and in the completion of work responsibilities.
• Maintains and upgrades skills of public health professionals through the delivery of education of in-service and continuing education sessions.
• Shares information and provides updates at branch team meetings on information gathered at scientific meetings and at consultations with clients.

Duration: Contract (Fixed Term), 12 month(s)

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: 07-3-2025

Closing Date: 07-18-2025

Please note:

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.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: $90,617.00-$126,869.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON M5G 1M1