Provincial Department Head of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking institution dedicated to improving healthcare in Saskatchewan as the Provincial Department Head of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In this pivotal role, you will bridge the gap between academic excellence and clinical practice, ensuring that patient-centered care remains at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Collaborating with a diverse team of professionals, you will lead strategic initiatives that enhance the quality and effectiveness of health services. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of healthcare in the province while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for both staff and patients. If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact in healthcare, this role is for you.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Retirement Plan

Professional Development Opportunities

Flexible Working Hours

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in healthcare leadership and strategic planning.
• Proven track record in clinical practice and research.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic counsel to healthcare and academic leaders.
• Lead the development of department-specific strategic plans.

Skills

Leadership

Healthcare Delivery

Strategic Planning

Clinical Practice

Research

Collaboration

Education

Medical Degree

Postgraduate Training in Medicine

Tools

Healthcare Management Systems

Research Databases

Job description

Provincial Department Head of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Leadership Context
The health system of Saskatchewan is comprehensive, with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Saskatchewan. The University of Saskatchewan, with its full suite of academic programs and world-leading research, shares that commitment. As such, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the College of Medicine (CoM) at the University of Saskatchewan, operating in a complex and dynamic healthcare environment, partner to align strategies and plans that integrate best practices from the academic setting into the clinical environment and vice versa. This alignment contributes to the achievement of the province’s healthcare goals, with patients and families at the centre of the care delivered.

The SHA is the largest employer in Saskatchewan with a budget of over $4.6 billion, employing approximately 43,000 staff and is responsible for the delivery of healthcare to the province. The SHA operates 64 hospitals with 2,500 acute care patient beds and approximately 9,000 long-term care beds. SHA is committed to patient and family centred care through the provision of services that include acute hospital-based care, long-term care, mental health and addiction services, primary care, public and population health, and many other community-based clinical programs designed to promote and maintain the health of the population.

The CoM is home to population health, biomedical sciences, clinical departments, administrative divisions, and the School of Rehabilitation Science. Within the CoM, there are 2,000 faculty and 700 employees working with over 2,100 learners, providing a full range of accredited academic programming that includes the sole medical school in the province. The CoM functions to improve the health and well-being of the people of Saskatchewan and the world with the goal to become one of Canada’s top medical universities and a leader in health research.

The Provincial Department Head positions were established as part of the reorganization of the Saskatchewan healthcare system with initial appointees coming from the Regional Health Authority Department Heads. Their purpose being primarily strategic in nature, they provide guidance to the SHA and CoM and direction to the provincial departments through the development of department strategic plans engendered through engagement of internal and external stakeholders (i.e., clinicians, operational staff, and the public). They also oversee and support the implementation of those department strategic plans.

General Position Description
The Provincial Department Head (PDH) is a unique position reporting directly to both the Dean of the CoM, and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the SHA. As a PDH, you operate in a matrix leadership role that spans the CoM and SHA in addition to leadership functions in your individual department with the goal of achieving Saskatchewan’s healthcare and academic missions.

As a member of the senior leadership teams of the CoM and SHA, you provide strategic counsel and consultative services to medical and administrative colleagues in your respective field(s), within both the SHA and CoM. You act as a bridge builder between public need, medical training, research, medical practice, and care delivery to mobilize knowledge and affect system performance with the goal of bringing research and education to better patient-centred clinical care.

Position Details
As a healthcare leader in Saskatchewan, you are guided by the LEADS in a Caring Environment leadership framework whose domains outline capabilities that aid you in adapting to unique situations and contexts while you carry out your role as PDH. The following outlines your Authorities, your Duties and Responsibilities, and your Accountabilities in this role.

AUTHORITIES
As a key provincial leader, your primary source of influence is your persuasive abilities and skills inherent in your exemplary professional standing (i.e., in research, education and clinical practice), and your exceptional ability to forge and maintain relationships with key individuals responsible for implementation of quality clinical practice within SHA and with faculty in CoM who teach and translate research into best practices of clinical delivery. You take direction from the Dean and the CMO to generate impactful change across the CoM and SHA as envisaged by their respective strategic plans. While you have direct authority within CoM as prescribed by departmental structures and university policies, dual authorities within SHA exist as set out in the Practitioner Staff Bylaws (see Sections 10, 11, 12).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, your varied duties and responsibilities fall into three categories: Strategic, Operational, and Personal. Within each of these categories your duties and responsibilities vary as a result of your matrixed focus which include those shared across the CoM and SHA, specific to the CoM, specific to the SHA, and specific to your department.

Strategic

Shared

• Create a shared vision, a sense of purpose, and measurable goals for the department within both the CoM and SHA by instigating and leading/co-leading collaborative efforts with key departmental, academic and operational leaders, clinicians, and the public to identify department-specific priorities, plans, and measurable goals that contribute to moving the strategic plans forward.
• Stay current and informed regarding developments and innovations in healthcare delivery and patient-centred care and share that knowledge with the goal of improving quality, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in the province of Saskatchewan.
• Stay current and informed in the health needs of the public through credible sources.
• When serving as a representative or spokesperson for the department/CoM/SHA, draw on the appropriate CoM/SHA resources for support and guidance.

CoM-Specific

• As part of the senior leadership team, help co-create future vision and organizational strategies through active participation in the strategic planning processes for the CoM.

SHA-Specific

• As part of the senior leadership team, help co-create future vision and organizational strategies through active participation in the strategic planning processes for the SHA.

Department-Specific

• You are responsible for providing leadership in succession planning within your department.

Operational

Shared

• Contribute to the optimization of practitioner resources by providing guidance to operational partners for recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality clinicians, medical faculty, and staff within the context of local and provincial clinical and academic needs.
• Contribute to the provision of healthy, inclusive, positive work and learning environments while championing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Contribute to the development and execution of a philosophy of integrated, patient centred care and culture for service delivery that embraces quality, safety, inclusivity, and professional excellence.
• Help ensure that department members follow approved research protocols and administrative procedures required by the university, SHA, and granting agencies.
• Facilitate and promote research, innovation, and quality improvement.
• Support CoM, SHA, and departmental objectives by having a visible presence throughout the province.
• Support the development of innovative solutions to resource challenges in the department, health authority, college and university.

CoM-Specific

• Ensure the provincial mandate for teaching, including rural medicine, is addressed.
• Ensure departmental accountability of the Provincial Academic Clinical Funding Plan (P-ACFP), where applicable.
• Contribute to undergraduate, post-graduate, and CME programming by taking part in CoM oversight to ensure the programs are prepared and equipped to function effectively and efficiently.
• Contribute to the optimization of the design and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate education.
• Prudent and responsible management of academic financial resources and the use of those resources to their best advantage for the purposes for which they were intended.

SHA-Specific

• As a voting member of the Provincial Practitioner Advisory Committee (PPAC), assist the CMO with effective organization, management, and functioning of the Practitioner Staff and recommend Practitioner Staff Bylaws, Provincial Rules, and Area Department Rules relating to practitioner staff affairs.
• As a member of the SHA Senior Leadership Team, support the SHA in carrying out its strategic and operational roles and responsibilities related to matters of quality and safety, a culture of safety and continuous improvement, and the development and execution of the organization’s quality and safety plan.
• Contribute to optimal coordination of clinical services across the SHA by assisting SHA operational leadership (e.g., Physician Executives, Vice Presidents and Executive Directors) with planning and by providing advice to your clinical colleagues within the SHA with respect to improving quality & safety through the infusion of research informed practices.
• Advocate for key clinical resources by working collaboratively with appropriate operational SHA leadership.
• Ensure the department is in compliance with all relevant legislation and other directives as outlined in the SHA Governance Framework and Staff Bylaws.

Department-Specific

• Provide advice and support to the Dean and CMO on the allocation of resources to meet departmental needs.

Personal

Shared

• Act in accordance with the expected capabilities and behaviours as outlined in the LEADS in a Caring Environment Leadership Framework.
• Lead by example in terms of managing self.
• Where possible, continued engagement in own scholarly and clinical work.
• Assume responsibility for personal leadership development - i.e., through a personal learning plan - based on your personal development priorities.

Department-Specific

• For distinct Department-Specific Duties and Responsibilities based on your contract and strategic work plan, refer to Appendix B.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
Accountabilities are deliverables you are answerable for that reflect achievement of your duties and responsibilities as the PDH. They are both meaningful and measurable. The following is a list of general measurable accountabilities. In addition to these accountabilities, it is the expectation that you co-construct a workplan with the Dean and CMO that includes a specified timeline, measurable actions/results, and reporting processes.

Strategic
Shared

• Create a department-specific strategic plan that feeds into the SHA and CoM strategic plans (35 year horizon as determined by SHA) and is developed in collaboration with SHA and CoM operations and other relevant stakeholders.
• Build diverse, collaborative team(s) whose purpose is to establish, implement, and evaluate the department-specific strategic plan.
• Build, manage, and evaluate functional, purposeful, collaborative inclusive relationships with key stakeholders across the SHA, the CoM, and the public.
• Work effectively with other PDHs: contributing to collaborative endeavors, communicating in a straightforward and courteous manner, developing mutual trust and respect, and resolving conflict.
• Partner with leadership, researchers and clinicians within CoM, SHA and other organizations to advance collaborative research initiatives that improve health system performance and patient outcomes.

CoM-Specific

• Orchestrate a robust department-wide research program that is respected in the profession, for contributing to improving quality and safe patient care.
• Lead Department-Specific strategic planning as outlined above including determining and reporting on CoM-related KPIs.

SHA-Specific

• Lead Department-Specific strategic planning as outlined above including determining and reporting on the SHA-related KPIs.

Department-Specific

• Lead Department-Specific strategic planning as outlined above including determining and reporting on the CoM and SHA-related KPIs.
• For distinct Department-Specific Accountabilities based on your contract and strategic work plan, refer to Appendix B.

Operational
Shared

• Create one-year workplans that translate the Department-specific strategic plan into action (i.e., specific to quality and safety improvement goals).
• Contribute to the goal of improving healthy workplaces as evidenced by relevant data including results of employee and physician engagement surveys conducted by CoM/USask and SHA.
• Contribute to the goals set for recruitment and retention of physicians as evidenced by recruitment and retention data.

CoM-Specific

• Contribute to a high level of faculty engagement in medical education programs.
• Complete departmental reviews as outlined in the department review guidelines.
• Clear evidence of active research within the department.

SHA-Specific

• Contribute to the goal of improving relevant health system quality indicators across care delivery areas (i.e., primary care, acute care, continuing care) as evidenced by relevant data from sources such as the SHA, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and the Saskatchewan Health Quality Council.
• Contribute to improving patient safety across care delivery areas (i.e., primary care, acute care, continuing care) as evidenced by current health system safety indicator data.

Department-Specific

• For distinct Department-Specific Accountabilities based on your contract and strategic work plan, refer to Appendix B.

Personal
Shared

• Successful completion of an annual LEADS based personal learning plan tied to strategic priorities and personal development needs (e.g., Accountability and Performance Plan-APP).

Department-Specific

• For distinct Department-Specific Accountabilities based on your contract and strategic work plan, refer to Appendix B.

APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF THE LEADS IN A CARING ENVIRONMENT LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
The LEADS in a Caring Environment Capabilities framework is a “by health, for health” description of the leadership attributes necessary to be successful in leading modern health systems and is the leadership framework used by both the CoM and the SHA. It defines health leadership through five domains: Lead self; Engage others; Achieve results; Develop coalitions; and System transformation. The following is a condensed summary of the LEADS capabilities. For more detailed information, please visit the Canadian College of Health Leaders and their LEADS Canada resources.

Leads Self
As a self-motivated leader you:

• Are self aware: Are aware of your own assumptions, values, principles, strengths, & limitations.
• Manage yourself: Take responsibility for your own performance & health.
• Develop yourself: Raise your personal standards to a higher level by actively seeking opportunities & challenges for personal learning, character building & growth.
• Demonstrate character: Model qualities such as honesty, integrity, resilience & confidence.

Engage Others
As an engaging leader you:

• Foster the development of others: Support & challenge others to achieve professional & personal goals.
• Create an engaging environment: Inspire others to exercise initiative, make tough decisions, experiment with new ideas, & to make & learn from mistakes.
• Communicate effectively: Listen well & encourage open exchange of information & ideas using appropriate communication media.
• Build effective teams: Facilitate an environment of collaboration & cooperation to achieve results.

Achieve Results
As a goal-oriented leader you:

• Set direction: Inspire vision; you identify, establish & communicate clear & meaningful expectations & outcomes, holding yourself and others accountable for results.
• Strategically align decisions with vision, values & evidence: Integrate organizational mission, values & reliable, valid evidence to make decisions.
• Take action to implement decisions: Act in a manner consistent with the organizational values to yield effective, efficient public-centered service.
• Assesses & evaluates results: Measure & evaluate outcomes & hold yourself & others accountable for results achieved against benchmarks, & course correct as appropriate.

Develop Coalitions
As a collaborative leader you:

• Build partnerships & networks to create results: Create connections, trust & shared meaning with individuals & groups.
• Demonstrate a commitment to customers & service: Facilitate collaboration, cooperation & coalitions among diverse groups & perspectives to improve service.

Systems Transformation
As a successful leader, you:

• Demonstrate systems/critical thinking: Think analytically & conceptually; question & challenge the status quo to identify issues, solve problems, & design & implement effective processes across systems & stakeholders.
• Encourage & support innovation: Create a climate of continuous improvement & creativity aimed at systematic change.
• Are strategically oriented to the future: Scan the environment for ideas, best practices, & emerging trends that will shape the system.
• Champion & orchestrate change: Actively contribute to change processes that improve health service delivery.

Appendix B
DISTINCT DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC POSITION DETAILS
In addition to the similarities across departments outlined in the position profile, there exists distinctions inherent to the complexity that exists within and between each department. Such distinctions are a result of factors such as the size and scope of the department, rural/urban elements including disparities, the evolution and degree of maturity of the department, and its connections with other departments in terms of providing integrated and coordinated care. As a result, it is important that you further define your position context. The following are additional factors that are critical to your knowledge of and success in this position that you are expected to explore.

1. Supervisory Responsibilities
   Supervisory responsibilities encompass formal direct line positions reporting to you and expectations of you as a supervisor.

Questions to ask and explore:

• Do I have positions reporting to me within CoM?
• Do I have positions reporting to me within SHA?
• What are my supervisory duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities?

1. Resource Responsibilities and Access

Resources include responsibilities for and/or access to money, staff, and materials.

Questions to ask and explore:

• Do I have budgetary responsibilities within CoM?
• Do I have budgetary responsibilities within SHA?
• Do I have access to money for department operations/initiatives/etc.?
• Do I have access to staff support (e.g., administrative support)?
• What materials do I have access to that will aid me in my role (e.g., strategic planning materials, department tools, etc.)?
• What resources should be available to aid me in my role?

1. Distinctive Relationships and Supports

Relationships vary within and across departments, therefore, it is imperative that you understand what those distinctive relationships are, that you strive to maintain and build upon those that exist and continue to develop new relationships within and outside of the SHA & CoM that you can leverage for your department’s success.

Questions to ask and explore:

• What CoM and SHA relationships and supports exist within the department?
• What CoM and SHA relationships and supports exist across departments?
• What relationships and supports exist outside of the CoM and SHA (e.g., patients, communities, other organizations, etc.)?
• What relationships should be developed to support my area of responsibility?

Please forward your Expression of Interest and Curriculum Vitae to Natasha Thrasher at [e-mail]. Please reach out if you have any inquiries.

Posted Date: 12/3/2024

#LI-DNI

The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.