JR100945
Public Health Information Specialist
Location: PHO Corporate Office, 480 University Avenue, Toronto, ON
Department: Employee, Data and Information Management Services
The Role:
To lead initiatives and projects that require senior level support due to a variety of factors including complexity, urgency, visibility and engagement with multiple partners and/or jurisdictions. In collaboration with PHO’s privacy officer, provide privacy advice, information management coordination and business process management in support of public health informatics initiatives. Develop and implement guidelines, tools, studies, reports, and publications to advance informatics initiatives. Work with partners to identify gaps, strengthen systems, build capacity, and promote public health practice.
Key Responsibilities-
- Leads complex initiatives and projects that engage multiple partners and/or jurisdictions.
- Provide technical and administrative guidance to staff including establishing work schedules, assigning and monitoring work of staff, dealing with work quality problems, providing technical guidance and training. Refers disciplinary and labour relations issues to the Manager.
- Leads data and information governance initiatives at PHO. Facilitates compliance with PHO’s data governance policy.
- Supports the prioritization and implementation of open data initiatives and facilitates compliance with PHO’s open data policy.
- In collaboration with the privacy officer, provides specialized information management expertise and, advice on privacy requirements to ensure public health business practices and policies meet privacy standards and are in compliance with relevant privacy legislation (PHIPA, FIPPA, etc.) associated with the use of iPHIS and/or other applications and databases.
- Works with clients and stakeholders to improve data quality and provides scientific and technical support to maintain high data quality.
- Provides technical and business input into the development of policies, legislation and standards by providing information and advice on data governance and data management.
- Coordinates and/or responds to inquiries for Informatics data and information management (e.g. custodian's information handling practices, FOI requests, legal actions) from the public or other stakeholders.
- Responds to, and is responsible for, the business processes surrounding requests for data and information by both internal and external requestors. Liaises with internal and external public health partners in the development of data sharing agreements in support of collaborative public health initiatives/projects.
- Supports Informatics in the acquisition of new data sets that advance PHO’s understanding of health status and health inequities.
- Supports PHO responses to complaints, concerns, issues, or breaches related to the use and disclosure of personal health information in iPHIS and/or other applicable systems and is responsible, in collaboration with the privacy officer, to ensure compliance obligations are met.
- Coordinates and advises on the content of public health application documentation and policy, including the iPHIS Manual and Acceptable Use Policy, iPHIS Bulletins, and regular iPHIS-related communications or any successor systems.
- Coordinates participation and compliance with PHO and Ontario Ministry of Health information management practices and processes, including serving on committees or working groups.
- Participates and/or leads contract and agreement negotiations concerning information management and privacy issues with relevant stakeholders (i.e., PHAC); works with involved parties to ensure issues are considered and reviewed/assessed (e.g., information security concerns related to agreements for iPHIS and/or other public health information systems, hosting and networking, and privacy concerns associated with the sharing of health information with federal agencies and other key stakeholders).
- Contributes to the ongoing review, analysis and evaluation of relevant literature, risk assessments and surveys in order to provide useful and current public health consultation. Reviews proposals and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health business implications.
- Works in close collaboration with members of the Informatics team and internal PHO counterparts including members of Health Protection, Health Promotion and Environmental Health, Laboratory, Technical Services and Corporate Services.
- Develops strong relationships with external partners at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
- Assists with the review and assessment of public health system configuration and architecture to ensure application design adequately addresses issues of security and privacy.
- Some travel may be required. Infrequently, some work may be assigned outside of normal business hours.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills-
- Knowledge of provincial public health programs including the operations and authority of the various stakeholders involved i.e. laboratories, health care providers, health units, provincial ministries, federal counterparts, with a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, regulations and regulatory trends in epidemiology, public health, and surveillance in order to develop/prepare responses to scientific and technical issues on behalf of PHO regarding public health aspects.
- Knowledge of current policies, guidelines, standards, and regulations relevant in order to ensure own work is in compliance and to provide technical and administrative guidance to staff.
- Knowledge of the role and use of the Integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS), Case and Contact Management system (CCM) and/or other applicable information systems for the reporting of data.
- Knowledge of project leadership skills and familiarity with project management techniques to collaborate with PHO’s privacy officer on various privacy and information management related initiatives.
- Stakeholder relationship management and leadership to provide specialized expertise in information management and privacy to Science and Public Health colleagues as well as to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Public Health Units.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of privacy requirements under PHIPA, government legislation, regulations, guidelines and best practices involving data and information management and personal health information in order to ensure that privacy requirements under PHIPA, government guidelines and regulations, and best practices are adhered to and implemented at all times.
- Skill using various computer systems and software programs including: database management, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, (MS Office).
Education and Experience-
- Master’s degree in a field related to public health, social sciences or equivalent.
- Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in privacy and/or information management in a public health setting.
Attributes and Competencies-
- Interpersonal, leadership, team building and relationship building skills in order to interact well with all stakeholders, maintain linkages with all levels of contacts.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to initiate and model positive change.
- In respect of iPHIS and other data sources, assist PHO’s privacy officer in designing and delivering a range of materials in support of information management and privacy related material for Public Health Ontario, The Ontario Ministry of Health and Public Health Units including privacy impact assessments, privacy bulletins, guidelines, incident reports, manuals, and website documents. Coordinates communications, training and awareness material for delivery to all iPHIS and related users; including collaborating with unit members to provide input into the iPHIS and related training manuals and websites for users. Develop and implement guidelines, tools, studies, reports, presentations and publications.
- Develop responses to scientific and technical issues on behalf of PHO regarding public health aspects.
- Provides specialized client service when working directly with external clients, partners, and stakeholders to develop curricula, plan, and implement activities.
- Facilitates groups, and delivers formal learning/training sessions and presentations using adult learning techniques within a variety of settings for professional staff.
- Develops strong relationships with external partners at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
- Judgement and decision-making are required when addressing business issues, assessing internal and external data requests, privacy, and developing business cases.
- Judgement and initiative are required in order to conceptualize and provide technical and business input into the development of ministry policies, legislation and standards by providing information and advice on the surveillance of reportable diseases.
- Judgement is required when selecting and providing technical and business interpretation and consultative advice on behalf of PHO to health units, local/provincial/federal working groups, community agencies and other stakeholders.
- Accountable for identifying and highlighting changes and developments in best business practices, and in providing business and technical support the MOH, Health Units, and other partners as appropriate to help ensure compliance with the HPPA, FIPPA, PHIPA, and the OPHS.
- Accountable for contributing to the ongoing review, analysis and evaluation of business processes, and risk assessments in order to provide useful and current public health consultation.
- Accountable for reviewing proposals and reports from other ministries and agencies regarding their public health implications, and reporting back to PHO management.
- Provides technical and administrative guidance to staff including establishing work schedules, assigning and monitoring work of staff, dealing with work quality problems, providing technical guidance and training.
- Leads initiatives and projects that require the position’s senior level support and leadership due to a variety of factors including engagement with multiple partners.
- Exercises leadership when working as a collaborative team member, and when developing professional networks/partnerships.
Duration: Contract (Fixed Term), 11 month(s)
Hours of Work: Full time, 36.25 hours per week
Compensation Group: Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario
Salary :$82,525.00 - $115,540.00
Posting Date: 09-29-2023
Closing Date: 10-14-2023
Please note: applications will be received no later than 11:59pm on the date preceding the closing date as indicated on the Job Requisition.
Note: Internal candidates will be considered first.
While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.
PHO is committed to ensuring equity in employment. Our goal is to create a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to ensure our services and communications are accessible to all individuals. Any candidate who requires a job posting in an alternative format may email a request to [email protected]. Once an applicant has been selected for an interview, they can inform PHO about any accommodations they may require at any stage of the interview process.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 11 months
Salary: $82,525.00-$115,540.00 per year
Schedule:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Toronto, ON M5G 1V2
