Associate Director Public Health

City of Toronto; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 142,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading municipal health authority in Toronto is seeking an experienced Associate Director for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control. This role involves providing leadership, strategic direction, and support for public health initiatives aimed at reducing infectious diseases. Ideal candidates will possess extensive management experience within the public health sector and strong competencies in infection prevention and control. The position offers a hybrid work environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Extensive management experience in public health with a focus on strategic planning.
• Experience in infection prevention and control, case management, and outbreak response.
• Strong ability in team leadership, coaching, and conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction to communicable diseases and infection control programs.
• Work with government health agencies on public health standards implementation.
• Lead initiatives to monitor community health indicators and address emerging issues.

Skills

Management experience in public health sector

Team leadership and coaching

Change management

Infection control

Communication skills

Education

Post-secondary education in public health or related field

Master's Degree (asset)

Job description

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• Division & Section: Public Health, Health Protection
• Work Location: Toronto Public Health Headquarters
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Hybrid, Permanent Vacancy

Salary Range: $142,104-$189,918 annually

Ideal Hiring Zone: $157,710 - $ 170,991

• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 12-Jan-2026 to 2-Feb-2026

The Associate Director (A/D) for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control (CDIC) reports to the Director Health Protection/Deputy Medical Officer of Health. The A/D will work closely with the Associate Director for Communicable Diseases, Institutions, Outbreaks and Liaison (CDIOL) to respond to cases and community outbreaks of diseases of public health significance, follow-up of bloodborne disease cases, oversee inspections of personal services settings and respond to infection control lapses in our community.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides overall direction to Communicable Diseases and Infection Control (CDIC) program teams, including planning, developing and implementing program components and public policy with the goal of improving population health, reducing infectious diseases, responding to lapses in infection prevention and control (IPAC), outbreaks in the community and case reports of diseases of public health significance and inspections of personal services settings (PSS)
• Work with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario to support implementation of the Public Health Standards and the appropriate protocols. This includes a focus on bloodborne infections (HCV, HBV), follow-up of diseases of public health significance and recommendations for responding to infection control lapses in community locations and personal services settings
• Works closely with the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program to oversee support for vaccination activities when post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary
• Provides guidance and direction for case management involving exposed individuals, including post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations and consultation on legal issues related to client follow-up
• Directs through subordinate management staff, all activities of the program, delegating management responsibility appropriately
• Develops, designs and implements functional policies and programs that make major changes in overall business performance based on long-term needs
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of program performance through ensuring the establishment of appropriate data collection processes and analysis and the development and implementation of sound management practices and procedures
• Provides program management staff with direction and guidance, processes and tools to increase efficiencies and improve effectiveness of the program
• Leads and motivates a diverse program management team and workforce, ensures effective teamwork, provides resolution to controversial labour relations issues, ensures high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others
• Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the program, and ensures that the program’s expenditures are controlled and maintained within budget
• Manages staff complement control, negotiates service contracts and performance targets with funders and service providers, and prepares business cases and procurement requests in accordance with corporate requirements
• Establishes employee recruitment, retention and recognition strategies
• Ensures due diligence related to occupational health and safety
• Coordinates activities of the program with relevant Associate Medical Officers of Health
• Directs operations in the program by providing leadership, direction and support to subordinate management staffs who are accountable for the day-to-day program operation
• Monitors program performance and makes necessary adjustments to meet targets
• Builds effective management teams and co-ordinates activities across the program and its sub-programs delivered through local offices and supported by the relevant AMOHs
• Provides guidance and direction regarding issues management when there are implications for other city services, intergovernmental liaison and political sensitivity
• Monitors community health indicators and identifies emerging issues in the external environment that could impact relevant community health needs and/or service delivery pressures, and uses this information to direct the establishment of public health interventions that improve the health of the City’s residents
• Develops multi-year strategic and operating plans that are innovative and evidence-based, maximize service delivery efficiencies, and integrate access and equity principles
• Directs and holds responsibility for compliance with Ontario Public Health Standards, applicable statutes, municipal by-laws and City Council directives
• Directs activities related to provincial accountability mechanisms, accreditation standards, quality assurance and risk management
• Develops and maintains appropriate communication, consultation and/or partnership strategies to ensure effective working relationships with external agencies and health service providers, and establishes protocols that support referral, service co-ordination and continuity of service
• Develops policies and procedures that ensure that programs and services implemented in the community meet professional standards (e.g. College of Nurses or CNPHI), establishes mechanisms (including information management and data collection systems) to support and monitor compliance and protect the city from potential liability
• Monitors and evaluates performance of subordinate management staff and approves salary increments
• Participates in the review, planning and conduct of program innovations and applied research, including the preparation and review of research proposals and the submission of abstracts and delivery of presentations
• Represents Toronto Public Health and supports the Medical Officer of Health at meetings of the Board of Health, Sub Committees of the Board of Health, City Council and related Standing Committees
• Manages information and action requests from members of Council through verbal response, reports and briefing notes
• Establishes and maintains relationships with other municipal divisions, health sector leaders and other levels of government on programming and policy issues
• Participates as part of the senior leadership group for health protection providing input into decisions that guide the Health Protection Directorate

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

• Extensive management experience in the public health sector with successful performance in strategic planning and implementing programs and public policy to facilitate service delivery improvements in at least one of these specific areas: Healthy Environments, Infection Prevention and Control, epidemiology, vaccine preventable diseases and infectious disease management.
• Considerable experience managing, leading, coaching, developing and motivating a diverse team of professionals, resolving labour relations issues, and setting standards for high level business performance.
• Considerable successful experience leading and implementing change to ensure continuous improvements and innovation and possess strong political acuity with the capacity to build productive and collaborative relationships with all levels of staff.
• Considerable experience managing complex assignments from inception through to implementation while balancing political, community and other stakeholder interests.
• Experience in infection prevention and control, case/contact management and outbreak response related to the diseases of public health significance in Ontario.
• Experience working with medical professionals in a collaborative environment involving consulting with physicians during the course of responding to infectious disease case investigation or outbreak response.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC) or working towards certification, as well as completed courses similar to ones associated with the Canadian field epidemiology program; educational equivalency for both programs will be considered.
• Post-secondary education in public health, public administration or in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function, plus relevant management training and experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, a Master's Degree, is an asset.
• Proficiency in infectious disease/outbreak control responses organized using the incident management system (IMS).
• Strong ability to manage competing priorities and demands in a rapidly changing environment.
• Sound decision making ability using critical thinking and innovative and results oriented leadership.
• Highly effective verbal and written communication skills with an ability to inspire and motivate staff.
• Familiarity with Ontario Statutes, including Occupational Health and Safety Act, Health Protection and Promotion Act, Municipal Freedom of Information, and Personal Health Information and Privacy Act.

City of Toronto employees are eligible to apply for the posted job opportunity, but cannot hold two different jobs. To be considered for this job posting, you must indicate that you are a "Current City of Toronto employee" on the on-line application form, and provide your "Employee Number".

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity .