Senior Director - Cancer Care Program

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health; Halifax; On-site; CAD 116,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and travel insurance

Defined benefit pension plan

Professional development support

Wellness programs

Job summary

Nova Scotia Health is seeking a Senior Director, Cancer Care to lead provincial planning and delivery of cancer services. In a co‑leadership model, you will set standards, monitor quality and advance integrated care across the continuum, partnering with NSH Research, government, universities and foundations.

You will guide strategic initiatives, drive change, and mentor teams to ensure patient‑centered services while aligning with mission and values of Nova Scotia Health.

Qualifications

• Masters level degree in health-related discipline or health administration, business administration, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in healthcare settings with financial, strategic and people management responsibilities.
• Experience in cancer care or complex health systems is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical, administrative and operational strategy for cancer care across Nova Scotia.
• Develop and execute plans to improve access, quality and patient experience.
• Drive standards, quality management, safety programs and accreditation compliance.
• Foster collaboration with physicians, managers and external partners to achieve organizational goals.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Healthcare administration

Financial management

People management

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in health administration or related

Job description

Location: Provincial position, location flexible within Nova Scotia depending on successful candidate
Department: CANC Sr Dir Cancer Care
Type of Employment: PermanentHourly FT(100%) x 1
Management Position
Posting Closing Date: 17-Nov-26

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Senior Director, Cancer Care will be responsible for the overall planning for cancer services in Nova Scotia to support the clinical, academic and research mandates of NSH and will work in partnership with the IWK Health Centre to support the needs of children, youth and women with cancer. This includes establishing, implementing and monitoring standards for treatment and care delivery and managing screening programs to detect cancer early. Working in a co-leadership model with the Provincial Medical Director of Cancer Care, the Senior Director enables and supports the ongoing delivery of fully integrated cancer services in the province and provides leadership in the development and execution of strategic plans to deliver the best cancer care across the continuum. This includes addressing matters pertaining to access, quality, system competence, and resources.
The Senior Director ensures continuous improvement to advance a vision of excellence for cancer control to support the clinical needs across the continuum and is responsible for the development, maintenance and monitoring of standards, quality management and safety programs, and compliance with relevant standards and accreditation requirements.
The Senior Director facilitates and champions a learning and research environment that aligns with the current and proposed future state of the Nova Scotia Health System.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The Senior Director for the Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program provides leadership for clinical, administrative, operational, business development, and HHR relationship activities in support of assigned service lines. The Senior Director works within the cancer care program to assure the effective integration of strategy and operations achieving the defined key performance indicators. The Director works closely with physicians, managers, and other service providers to translate the hospital’s mission and goals into specific practice goals and objectives and to enhance delivery to patients in the continuum of care. The Director will closely work with NSH Research Innovation and Discovery, collaborating on multiple transformative projects with the health organization, government, universities, and foundations to advance the health transformation process.
As the ideal candidate, you are a self-motivated leader and systems thinker who demonstrates the spirit of inquiry and innovation. You will possess extensive operational leadership experience within complex healthcare environments, a proven track record in improving the patient experience, strategic leadership background with diverse workforces, experience and success as an executive change agent, and accomplishments in developing and implementing a vision for strategic service line operations.
As a creative leader, you are able to draw on different perspectives and innovative ideas from inside and outside the organization. You thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact environment and understand innately that change initiatives must align with vision, mission, and values of an organization and you actively align change with evidence-based best practices. You appreciate perspectives both inside and outside of the organization and you showcase this by meeting with people to build relationships, effectively bringing together multi-disciplinary groups to work on projects and building connections. A results-driven individual, you set realistic service expectations and adjust strategic direction to ensure continued relevance and align initiatives across the organization with the organizations mission. As a mentor, you actively support and encourage development and create an opportunity to grow skills within your team.

About You

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Masters Level Degree in health related discipline, health administration, business administration or related subject. Equivalent experience and/or alternative education may be considered
• 7 years of relevant senior leadership experience with progressive accountabilities for financial, strategic and people management to deliver high quality service
• Registration with relevant health or professional discipline/college or association considered an asset
• Experience working in cancer care and the health system considered an asset
• Certified Health Executive designation considered an asset
• Experience working in a co-leadership model
• Excellent leadership, organizational and decision making skills in support of patient, family and client centred services
• Expert knowledge to critically analyze evidence-based practices to inform strategy development and organizational planning
• Expertise in business planning
• Strategic planning and systems thinking
• Team building and conflict management skills
• Understands the principles of project management and quality improvement methodologies and demonstrated ability to lead complex work teams
• Expertise in leading complex change
• Collaboration, negotiation and persuasion skills are paramount as this role requires the input of internal and external stakeholders
• Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Scale Type: Management
Band: MGT10
Hourly Rate: $84.33 - $103.31
Annual Salary: $164,443 - $201,454
Successful candidates may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental, and travel insurance; long-term disability and life insurance coverage; and a defined benefit pension plan. Additional wellness, development and employee support programs may also be available.

What you'll love about Nova Scotia Health
Nova Scotia Health is more than the province's largest provider of health services; we're a team driven by excellence in health, healing and learning. Across hospitals, health centres and community programs, our people deliver innovative, high-quality care that impacts lives across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.
From vibrant city life to scenic coastal communities, Nova Scotia offers a lifestyle as rewarding as the work itself. At Nova Scotia Health, you'll find meaningful career opportunities, supportive teams and the work-life balance to enjoy everything our beautiful province has to offer. Join us and discover why so many people are choosing to call Nova Scotia home.
Once You've Applied
Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.