Associate Director, Infectious Diseases

The Role

Supports the planning, evaluation, delivery, and management of programs in the Division, including immunization, vaccine preventable disease, and infectious disease clinical services through multi-disciplinary teams, per Provincial Public Health Standards, prescribed regulations, and legislated standards.
 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Directly supervises Managers of Infectious Diseases. Indirectly supervises multi-disciplinary staff, including Public Health Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Health Promotion Research Analysts, and Information and Clinical Program Assistants. Directs the placement of volunteers, students, and temporary agency staff. Administers contracts with clinical physicians.  
• Assists the Director in the development, operational planning, implementation, and evaluation of divisional programs and activities for the eradication/reduction of incidence of communicable disease and optimization of sexual health (e.g., outbreak response, vaccination, case management, contact tracing/partner notification, clinical services, treatment, education, health promotion, community development, consultation, research, data entry to provincial databases). Ensures program efficiency, effectiveness, and consistency with departmental/corporate plans and priorities.
• Works with the Director to ensure programs required locally or by law are developed and implemented. Directs control measures to ensure public safety. Develops and administers protocols and procedures to respond to outbreaks. Oversees the preparation and monitoring of relevant orders allowed under legislation (e.g., Section 22, suspensions). Directs and provides on-call coverage for communicable disease control. Prepares and authorizes correspondence to community agencies, physicians, and health care workers with recommendations and follow-up requirements.
• Informs the Director, Associate Medical Officer of Health(s) (AMOH) and/or Commissioner/Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of significant, difficult, and sensitive situations and issues. Reports to Council as appropriate.
• Acts as a media contact on complex/high profile issues, and provides information to the media. 
• Authorizes content of materials, reports, and significant correspondence prior to distribution. 
• Authorizes policies and procedures for divisional programs. Directs Managers on policy and program matters, ensuring consistency with departmental and corporate policies.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and use of divisional/provincial information system requirements.
• Ensures procedures are in place to provide public health follow-up (as requested) for emergency medical, fire, police, good samaritans, and other persons exposed to communicable disease.
• Ensures observance of professional discipline, technical, and legal standards per regulated health professions legislation, discipline regulatory colleges, collective agreements, and other legalities. Fulfils the role of senior consultant reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer on nursing issues within the Department.
• Develops and updates retention schedules for recorded information holdings, per the corporate information classification system and retention and disposal schedule.
• Initiates and participates in research and innovative program development with departmental and community agency/academic staff.
• Acts as technical expert consultant to the community on program issues. Attends hospital/physician meetings in the absence of the Director/MOH/AMOH. May represent the Department on provincial and local committees, task forces, workshops, and seminars.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Supports the development of emergency management and business continuity plans to support divisional surge and response to infectious diseases outbreaks. Assists in developing recommendations for corporate response to issues regarding communicable diseases. Directs and mobilizes staff in emergency situations per the Division’s and Department’s emergency response plan, ensuring action is taken to minimize health consequences for citizens. Participates as a member of the Department’s emergency support group as outlined in the plan.
• Supports the direction of long-range fiscal planning and resource allocation for the Division and develops long-range departmental fiscal plans with the Director and departmental senior management. Supports the direction of completion of the Division’s budget (approximately $10M), development of funding proposals, and ensures resources are appropriately allocated. Authorizes purchase and cheque requisitions within delegated authority as well as travel expense statements, and applications for attendance. Oversees the development of contracts and tenders, and purchase of service agreements with community agencies. 
• Ensures care, custody, and maintenance of capital equipment (e.g., temperature control system for vaccine storage, computer systems, biohazard waste disposal) to ensure safe care and control. 
• Liaises with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, Public Health Ontario, Ontario Health, physicians, emergency responders, community agencies, infection control personnel, and staff of area hospitals, educational institutions, school boards, municipal senior staff, and similar programs for consultation, program planning, implementation, and infection/outbreak control. 
• Responds to escalated inquiries and complaints from the public.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a bachelor’s degree in nursing, plus a master’s degree in business administration, nursing, or related discipline, plus significant, progressively responsible public health experience at a managerial level.
• Must have current registration and licensing with the College of Nurses of Ontario. 
• Knowledge and skill in public health protection/promotion and disease prevention specializing in immunization and communicable disease control, human sexuality harm reduction, and infection control.
• Knowledge and skill in epidemiology, community health planning and organization, multicultural health and literacy issues, and population-based health planning. 
• Knowledge and skill in policy and program development, strategic and corporate planning, budget preparation, and program evaluation. 
• Knowledge and skill in labour relations and compliance with collective agreements.
• Annual influenza immunization and routine up-to-date immunization are required.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, Provincial Public Health Standards, relevant legislation (e.g., health protection and promotion, vaccines, health and safety, privacy, human rights, regulated health professionals), and Ontario College of Nurses Professional Practice Standards.
• Analytical, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and organizational skills. 
• Ability and skill in making complex decisions about program approaches, policies, and the Department’s mandate; dealing with conflicting demands, interests, and crisis situations requiring quick response; and meeting deadlines for program requirements, committee reports, and budgets.
• Leadership skills to direct, develop, motivate, and support staff.
• Communication, human relations, negotiation, public relations, and presentation skills to advance priorities and balance objectives in a political environment; present issues and reports to Council and Committee; participate in news conferences and provide information to the media and elected officials; and participate as an effective team member.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Experience, knowledge, and skill using equitable approaches to developing operational plans, service development, and delivery. Ability to apply an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonization lens to identify best practice in municipal service and community engagement across settings and situations.
• Ability to lead transformative change in line with the vision and values of senior leadership while delivering on the expectations of an evolving workforce and regional residents. Ability to discern when to inquire, advocate, drive, or resolve decisively.
• Ability to keep knowledge current. 
• Skill interpreting and analyzing literature and research documents. 
• Ability to compose clear, concise correspondence, technical reports, policy and procedure manuals, surveys and questionnaires, media releases, and communication material.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office. Knowledge of information systems, data analysis, and their application to program evaluation and communicable disease control. 
• Ability to participate in an official standby/on-call rotation to respond to legislated or time sensitive demands beyond regularly scheduled work hours.
• Ability to adjust schedule or work additional hours on weekends and evenings to respond to emergencies, Councillors, and for public information sessions.
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.