Director, Strategic Initiatives

We’re Hiring!!

Are you passionate about improving health and healthcare? Are you a strategic leader with a proven ability to lead, develop and implement quality improvement initiatives? Do you have a deep understanding of implementation, adoption and evaluation of proven innovations and effective safety interventions, can you drive change?

If this sounds like you, join Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC)! HEC works with partners to spread innovation, build capability and catalyze policy change so that everyone in Canada has safe and high-quality healthcare.

Term: Permanent, Full-time
Reports to: Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives & Programs
Salary Range: $122,408 - $153,011 - $183,613 (typical hiring range: $130,000 - $145,000)
Location: We are a pan-Canadian healthcare organization and welcome candidates from across Canada. Our head office is located in Ottawa, Ontario and we welcome flexible work options such as permanent/fully remote, hybrid, flexible work hours, and compressed work weeks.
Deadline to apply: March 17, 2025, at 11:59pm ET 
How to apply:  https://hecesc.bamboohr.com/jobs/

The Strategic Initiatives team is responsible for identifying and developing initiatives, and programming in alignment with HEC’s strategy, priority themes and lines of business; with a particular focus on the care of older adults with health and social needs. This work includes scanning and scoping to understand emerging issues and priorities to inform program development and taking stock of current assets, and available evidence to test and refine ideas for programming through strategic initiatives and partnerships. The Strategic Initiatives team also leads different HEC programming in collaboration with partners from across the country with the objective of supporting novel, scalable, and innovative initiatives that have a high probability of measurable impact, within HEC’s strategy focus area(s).  

The Director, Strategic Initiatives provides strategic leadership and vision to the development and delivery of initiatives that contribute to HEC’s strategy, including the identification, spread, and scale of proven innovations.

Your core responsibilities include:

• Provides strategic leadership to identify, design, deliver, and evaluate a suite of evidence-informed activities and programs to improve quality and safety of care within and across health systems in alignment with HEC’s strategy.  
• Leads team(s)/work that identifies, responds to, and delivers special projects/strategic initiatives to enable evidence-informed decisions and improvement in the organization, funding and/or delivery of healthcare in alignment with HEC’s strategy, priority themes and lines of business.  
• Works closely with the senior leadership team to lead the development and resourcing of high priority new HEC programming, as part of HEC’s annual operational plan (workplan and budget), to deliver on strategy.   
• Ensures synergies/integration of programs/initiatives/services, activities with Finance, across the organization to maximize effectiveness and impact.  
• Nurtures and supports the growth and diversification of the HEC’s partnerships and networks to deliver on strategy and expand reach and impact.  
• Conducts environmental scanning activities to provide input to strategic planning and program delivery.  
• Promotes novel, scalable, and innovative initiatives that have a high probability of measurable impact.  

For complete details, please see the Job Description (PDF 99KB).

Education and experience you will need to have:

• Master’s degree in health sciences, health policy, health administration, public health, healthcare delivery, or a related field or equivalent knowledge and experience is required.  
• Minimum seven (7) years’ experience at a senior level is required, including at least five (5) years in a supervisory/management role, with substantive health services and/or health policy experience, preferably within a healthcare delivery organization and/or health policy environment.  
• Established understanding of, and relationships with leaders in francophone health care communities in Canada preferred.  
• Bilingualism in French and English is required (Advanced “C” level in both languages).  
• Advanced computer software skills in Microsoft Office suite and virtual environment are required.  
• Demonstrated leadership role in provincial/territorial and national large scale quality improvement and patient safety initiatives is preferred.  

You will be a great fit for this role if you have:

• Inclusive leadership style and highly developed people management skills.  
• Ability to foster strong internal and external relationships.  
• Experience being part of a small dynamic team where you have been doing a lot with a little; you have vision for the future and are excited to roll up those sleeves and get in the weeds with your teams.  
• Highly developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills.  
• Excellent project management skills including the ability to plan and the ability to collaborate with other teams and across the organization.  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  
• Demonstrated time management skills. Well organized and attentive to detail.  
• Professional tact and diplomacy and confidentiality required.  
• Ability to work well in a dynamic and highly motivated team. 

HEC currently offers:

• Competitive salary with a bilingual bonus (if applicable)
• Full access to our comprehensive benefits package on the 1st day of employment
• Flexible work options including onsite, hybrid, or fully remote and flexible hours of work
• Holiday break closure in December between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
• Generous vacation and personal leave plans
• A defined benefit pension plan with the CAAT Pension Plan
• Employee and Family Assistance Programs
• Fitness and Wellness Allowance
• Remote Work/Parking Allowance
• Paid professional association fees
• Educational and development opportunities
• On site (Ottawa) gym and complimentary coffee/tea
• Social activities

Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) is an equal opportunity employer and embraces diversity and inclusivity. HEC is committed to building teams with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views, as the more inclusive we are, the more impact we can have. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.