Vice-President, Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs

Important messages

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is searching for a seasoned leader within the scientific and/or medical community to join our senior management ranks as the next Vice-President of Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs.

Established in 2004 as the Government of Canada’s focal point for public health leadership, PHAC addresses the full continuum of public health functions to support and safeguard the health and well-being of Canadians. In partnership with provincial and territorial public health authorities, its activities focus on preventing disease and injuries, promoting good physical and mental health, and providing information to support informed decision-making. It values scientific excellence and provides national leadership in response to public health threats. As an organization that relies on partnership, PHAC leverages public health expertise domestically and internationally to achieve its objectives and to contribute to global public health priorities.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs is responsible for establishing the Branch as a Centre of Expertise on infectious disease prevention and control. They do so by providing leadership and vision to enable the prevention and control of infectious diseases and transmissible health risks, and contribute to the achievement of the Agency’s mandate of promoting and protecting the health of Canadians. This includes developing and implementing actionable national policies and strategies to prevent and control communicable diseases, leading and integrating all the intelligence gathered from research, surveillance, and data analysis into the development and coordination of national health strategies, collaborating with provincial and territorial health authorities, national health professional organizations, indigenous organizations as well as with international health organizations, and provide expert advice to the President, Chief Public Health Officer and other Government officials on communicable diseases, immunization programs and strategies and pandemic preparedness.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading innovative policies and programs, as well as building strong relationships with national and international stakeholders, including all levels of government, public health agencies, research institutions, and the private sector. They must demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively to advance infectious disease prevention and control, and have a deep understanding of government decision-making processes.

In addition, the ideal candidate will bring the vision to lead the Branch as a world-class infectious disease organization through national and international partnerships, public health programming, research, and training. Finally, the ideal candidate will also demonstrate leadership in addressing social, behavioral, and economic factors that impact infectious diseases, and in fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within multidisciplinary teams.

Intent of the process

The immediate intent of this appointment process will be used to staff the vacant Vice President, Infectious Diseases and Vaccination Programs position.

Should this position be staffed through an Interchange Agreement, the agreement would be based on the current salary of the participant in their home organization. For more information on Interchange Canada, please visit the website: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/interchange-canada.html

With your application, you must also submit to hc.phac.ex-staffing.dotation-ex.sc.aspc@hc-sc.gc.ca by 11:59 PM, Pacific Time on November 1, 2024.

1) Your education credentials (and proof of Canadian equivalency for foreign credentials) ;

2) References: Contact information of current supervisor, previous supervisor, two subordinates, and two colleagues.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 4 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:

To be considered for EX-04 level, you must at minimum have:

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization related to the position (such as Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Public Health, Medicine, public health and preventative medicine, etc).

OR

To be considered for MOF-05 level, you must at minimum have:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized school of medicine; AND

Occupational Certification
Eligibility for a licence to practice medicine in a province or territory of Canada.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
1) Significant* experience in setting strategic direction and providing strategic advice to senior officials (Deputy Minister/President, or equivalent executive in the private sector) on complex medical, scientific or public health issues.
2) Significant* experience in collaborating and maintaining partnerships with national and international stakeholders, such as all levels of government, public sector institutions, industry (including associations) and/or nongovernmental organizations.
3) Experience in leading complex initiatives related to infectious diseases, health, public health, or global health, including setting direction for policies, programs, and strategies.
4) Experience in managing a large multi-disciplined scientific, regulatory, medical or health related organization.
5) Experience in managing significant financial and complex human resources matters**

* Significant is defined as the scope, depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities which would have been acquired at a senior executive level (or equivalent executive in the private sector) over an extended period of time. Factors such as WHERE and WHEN this experience was acquired and in WHAT capacity will be assessed.

**Significant financial matters may include: full delegation and being responsible for financial planning, budget allocation, resource management, forecasting and reporting. / Complex human resources matters may include: supervision of staff; establishing vision, priorities, work plans or establishing performance objectives; conducting performance assessments and feedback.

Only the top candidates who demonstrate the most significant and pertinent experiences will be retained and considered.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Ph.D. degree from a recognized university with specialization related to the functions of the position (such as Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Public Health, Medicine, public health and preventative medicine, etc).

For the MD-MOF-05 level :
Certification in infectious diseases or medical microbiology or public health and preventive medicine

Degree equivalency

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC – You are already proficient in both Official Languages (English and French) on the appointment date.

Bilingual Non-Imperative CBC/CBC – You agree to become bilingual in both Official Languages through language training within an agreed-upon timeline, with funding provided

Information on language requirements

Key Leadership Competencies:

• Create Vision and Strategy
• Mobilize People
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve Results

For information about the Public Service Key Leadership Competencies, please
visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/key-leadership-competency-profile/examples-effective-ineffective-behaviours.html

Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effective orally
• Ability to communicative effective in writing

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Condition of employment:
Agreement to be deployed to another position in the EX Group within the core public administration.

Operational requirements:

This position requires the incumbent to work additional hours and the ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed.

This position requires the incumbent to travel.

Organizational Needs
In support of achieving a diverse workforce, consideration may be given to candidates
self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups:
Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, and women.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential. For more information, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page/how-to-request-assessment-accommodation.html

Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to fostering a culture rooted in diversity, inclusiveness and accessibility. In alignment with the Employment Equity Act and various legislative drivers and priorities, we aim to be representative of and responsive to the identified equity groups (Indigenous Peoples, Women, Black and Racialized Peoples and Persons with Disabilities). Candidates from equity groups are encouraged to identify as such in their application. Employment equity may be a factor taken into consideration during the staffing process as this contributes to the strategic priorities, diversity and inclusiveness of the organization, thereby contributing to positive outcomes for all peoples of Canada.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates will be asked, as per the application process, to answer screening questions for each essential criteria (education and experience). Candidates will have to provide concrete examples, for each screening question, demonstrating clearly and concisely the situations: where you acquired the experience i.e. the department(s), organization(s), dates, your role and responsibility; the specific task or challenge that you faced; the actions you took; and the results of your actions.

Note that the number of examples is not as important as ensuring that the examples describe the depth, breadth and relevance of your experience.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent. We will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates who apply on this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of email).

TOP DOWN APPROACH

Applicants who meet the essential experience criteria will be ranked according to the depth and breadth of experience they possess. Only the top ranking applicants will be invited to the next phase of assessment. In addition, management may invoke the asset qualifications to determine those that are considered further in the process.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process, such as, standardized tests, interviews, a situational exercise, a self-assessment, references, etc. Other sources of information (such as performance agreements, talent management placements, work samples, board member knowledge etc.) may be used to assess the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

Please note that achieving a pass mark on any of the assessments used does not mean you will move forward in the selection process. Management may decide to use a cut-off mark that is higher than the pass mark on any of the evaluations used throughout the selection process.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN THE PROCESS

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

VERIFICATION OF REFERENCE

Reference checks may be conducted (i.e. 360 methodology). Candidates will have to provide their list of references before the closing date of this job opportunity. Referees must have an in-depth knowledge of your work, and must be able to answer questions pertaining to your achievements and strengths.

The Assessment Committee reserves the right to contact references other than the ones submitted by the candidates (only within the Public Service), if found necessary, in order to make a suitable assessment of the candidates.

All the information collected during the selection process, (including behaviour and communication), from the time of application until the end of the process, may be used to assess the candidates.

PROOF OF EDUCATION

It is the candidate's responsibility to demonstrate that the degree/program held has been approved by a 'recognized' post-secondary institution. Candidates having foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of your application. To receive more information, please refer to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website link: http://www.cicic.ca.

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for the position.

RELOCATION

Please note that the position to be staffed from this process is located in the National Capital Region, Ottawa, Ontario. Relocation Provisions may be offered, if required, to the successful candidate. For more information, please consult our Directive on Relocation Provisions: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/travel-relocation/executive-group-governor-in-council-appointees-relocation-provisions.html

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online