Unit Manager - Acute Care

Alberta Health Services; Ponoka; On-site; CAD 57,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre, part of Alberta Health Services, is seeking an Acute Care Manager to lead operations across ED, medical unit and obstetrics in a rural setting. The role reports to the Acute Care Site Lead and focuses on staffing, resource deployment, and continuous quality improvement.

The position emphasizes collaboration with rural leadership, physicians and health professionals to ensure safe, high-quality patient care, with responsibility for fiscal stewardship and workforce

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in a health profession or health administration.
• Demonstrated leadership progression or similar experience with ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations of Emergency Department, Medical Inpatient Unit, and Obstetrics in Ponoka.
• Set and execute operational priorities with staff and programs.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Change management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Health profession degree

Leadership/administration degree

Job description

Your Opportunity:

Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre is seeking a collaborative Acute Care Manager to oversee operations in a dynamic rural healthcare environment. Ponoka is a vibrant community in Central Alberta, nestled in the beautiful Battle River Valley along the Highway 2 corridor. Offering a unique blend of rural charm and urban amenities, Ponoka provides a welcoming culture and a high quality of life in a picturesque setting. Conveniently located less than an hour from both the Edmonton International Airport to the north and the City of Red Deer to the south, Ponoka offers easy access to major centres while maintaining its small-town appeal. Reporting to the Acute Care Site Lead, the Unit Manager is accountable for the delivery of high-quality, accessible, sustainable, patient- and family-centred care.

Description:

The Acute Care Manager has direct accountability for operations in Emergency Department, Medical Inpatient Unit and Obstetrical Services in Ponoka. Reporting to the Site Lead and in conjunction with the Rural Lead, the Manager is accountable for setting and executing operational priorities related to their staff complement, and programmatic assignment(s). This includes ensuring the effective deployment of resources, supporting change-management, and fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement at Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre. The role is responsible for ensuring the effective deployment of human resources, including scheduling, staffing rotations, and appropriate skill mix, to support the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. The Manager supports workforce development through just-in-time learning opportunities, coaching, mentoring, orientation, and ongoing staff education and professional development. The position is also responsible for the appropriate stewardship of fiscal resources in accordance with Alberta Health Services policies, practices, and reporting requirements. Please enter information in this field.

Classification: Unit Manager Union: Exempt Unit and Program: Emergency Department, Medical Unit, Obstetrics, Transition Unit Primary Location: Ponoka Hospital and Care Centr Location Details: As Per Location Employee Class: Regular Full Time FTE: 1.00 Posting End Date: 05-NOV-2026 Date Available: 16-NOV-2026 Hours per Shift: 7.75 Length of Shift in weeks: 2 Shifts per cycle: 10 Shift Pattern: Days, On Call Days Off: Saturday/Sunday Minimum Salary: $41.16 Maximum Salary: $70.58 Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

• A post-secondary degree in a health profession, health administration, leadership or other comparable degree Registration with an Alberta Regulated Health Profession, as appropriate.
• A demonstrated clear pattern of leadership progression or similar experience, and continued professional development (e.g. continuing education courses)

Additional Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years experience in a health care environment in an organization of significant size, complexity, and diversity
• Nursing experience or a strong understanding of managing a nursing workforce
• Uses strategic thinking, taking into account long-term goals assessing options and implications
• Demonstrated ability to manage change and create innovative solutions for complex and diverse issues
• Ability to manage diverse human, financial and physical resources within a complex environment
• Strong organizational skills, patient-focused orientation and commitment to providing long-term quality services
• Experience in collaborating with other leaders, physicians and other health care professionals.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as demonstrated effective problem solving
• Demonstrated ability and comfort with decision‑making responsibilities, coaching and teaching, and the ability to inspire and build confidence in others
• Ability to foster strong relationships
• Discretion with sensitive situations, data and personnel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous leadership experience in acute care and/or rural healthcare settings is an asset.
• Experience leading quality improvement, patient safety, operational excellence, or service redesign initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Rural Acute Care, obstetrics and the corresponding complexities is preferred Knowledge and understanding of collective agreements and experience working within a unionized environment is an asset.