Senior Lead, Applied Research

Senior Lead, Applied Research
Business Planning and Strategy Division
Full-time Permanent (Hybrid: 2 days/week in office, 3 days/week work from home)
Target Hiring Range:  $104,754 - $117,848

Background:

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) serves as the voice of the province’s public hospitals, supporting them through advocacy, knowledge translation and member engagement, labour relations, and data and analytics with the goal of helping hospitals build a better health system.

The Business Planning and Strategy (BPS) division of the OHA is responsible for the entire business cycle at the association, from strategic planning to execution. The team is designed to enable the organization to effectively plan and execute its strategic and operational objectives. BPS covers a range of key functions and core services including strategy and member relations, finance and business planning, information technology, human resources, corporate governance and enterprise risk management, applied research, long-term health policy, innovation and transformation, and knowledge transfer.

The Applied Research and Long-Term Health Policy team strives to be proactive on core issues affecting Ontario hospitals and is attuned to the broader strategic questions facing the future of the province’s health care system. We work to ensure Ontario’s hospitals have a voice in shaping this longer-term vision.

The Position:

Reporting to the OHA’s Senior Scientist, Applied Research and working closely with members of the Applied Research and Long-Term Health Policy team, you will: 

• Work closely with the Senior Scientist, Applied Research to generate ideas and formulate research questions with a lens toward practical application of findings that will inform OHA’s strategic thinking, applied research and future focused policy development. Areas of research include a high-performing health system; health system governance; hospitals as anchor institutions; social determinants of health; governance and civil society; AI and technology; equity, diversity and inclusion; Indigenous health; and hospital-primary care relationships
• Assist and collaborate with goal setting and help develop, refine and implement OHA’s Applied Research agenda
• Work closely with Applied Research and Long-term Health Policy team members and members from other teams across the OHA to conduct research studies and leverage data including seeking out funding opportunities and knowledge transfer opportunities

• Monitor developments and trends in health, social and economic policy areas to identify opportunities and challenges to the Ontario health landscape
• Work with the Senior Scientist, Applied Research to complete and submit ethics applications
• Work with the Senior Scientist, Applied Research to identify grant opportunities, draft and submit applications
• Conduct literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, systematic reviews, analyses and apply findings to inform the Ontario context

• Contribute to the Applied Research life cycle: 
  • identify a gap/problem or research opportunity,
  • conduct a preliminary literature review and concept development including developing a defined research question,
  • develop a research design and methodology (quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods),
  • submit REB and/or grant applications as applicable,
  • implement the research plan – develop surveys, recruit study participants, facilitate interviews, administer surveys ensuring privacy and confidentiality where appropriate
  • Interpret and synthesize findings – qualitative or quantitative analysis, data management
  • Summarize and present KT materials - draft manuscripts, format and submit to peer-reviewed journals, draft briefing notes, slides or plain language summaries
• Collaborate with teams across the OHA and engage with members and health system stakeholders, as required
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for leveraging and applying the research and determining subject matter experts
• Although there are no direct reports, you are a leader and mentor within the Applied Research and Long-Term Health Policy Team and are expected to support and lend your expertise to the growth of the team
• Perform other research duties as required

The Candidate:

The ideal candidate possesses a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, or other relevant discipline with 5-10 years applied research experience. You are 3-5 years out of academia, working with organizations such as a thinktank, non-profit, health care organization or government. You have proven success conducting literature reviews, publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts and obtaining large, highly competitive grants, well-developed project management skills and a strong mixed methods research background. Advanced data analysis skills are an asset – including experience with SAS/R/STATA. In addition, you have excellent communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

You are a highly motivated self-starter, dedicated team player who enjoys working in a forward-focused applied research and policy environment and can build successful working relationships.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working at the OHA but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

Why Join the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA)?

Join us in serving Ontario’s hospitals to build a better health system. As a not-for-profit association, the OHA offers you a fulfilling role supporting our members through advocacy, knowledge translation and member engagement, labour relations, and data and analytics.

An inspiring and creative place to work, the OHA is your opportunity to change the healthcare system for the better, while having a lot of fun. You’ll also be welcomed into a supportive and inclusive environment built on our core values of:

Humility – we listen to and respect the view of others
Discovery – we explore new ideas and possibilities
Passion – we bring energy and enthusiasm to what we do

Our Culture

The OHA is committed to fostering a climate that values equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding these values and will assist us in realizing the benefits of embedding these values into the work at every level and department at the OHA. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada and to bring lived experiences to the work, we encourage applications from Black individuals and Persons of Colour, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ persons, and others who may contribute to the diversity of ideas within our organization. We are committed to the fair assessment of each candidate’s abilities, and consider their range of experience, including non-traditional career paths.

Employee engagement is key to the success of any business, and that’s why the OHA is proud of our 100% employee engagement rate. We consistently survey staff to ensure we can respond to their needs and engage in meaningful conversations to improve our corporate culture. It’s why we’ve been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada (five times!). Our 2022 Best Places to Work award from Human Resources Director demonstrates our commitment to a culture that upholds diversity, equity, inclusion, mental health, wellness, and compassionate leadership.

As we search for qualified candidates to join our team, their fit with our culture and values are just as important.

Our Perks

Joining the OHA gives you access to a multitude of benefits including:

• The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan where the OHA matches your contributions.
• Fully paid extended health and dental benefits, including travel insurance.
• Access to a comprehensive Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• A performance management program that provides an annual performance pay on top of your base salary.
• Coverage up to $1,000 for home office expenses for new staff.
• A Personal Wellness Account with $600 to spend on care and wellness.
• Tuition assistance and professional development support ($2,000 for general education or $5,000 for a master’s program).
• Flexible work schedule – work from home 3 days per week, onsite hours (10am to 4pm), and summer hours with alternate Fridays off.
• Start with 3 weeks of vacation which increases based on years of service.
• Extra time off including corporate office closure during the December holiday season, 4 life days and 1 anniversary day.
• Peer-to-peer recognition programs where we celebrate each other’s successes.
• Fun staff events and activities to support engagement and team building.  

To Apply: 

Potential applicants are invited to submit a resume and covering letter by March 20, 2025. We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to the OHA and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. 

If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required.

Application Process and Requirements:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. The successful applicant must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as defined by the Government of Canada) or have a valid vaccination exemption pursuant to the Human Rights Code. Further, they must provide proof of vaccination (or a valid exemption) prior to the start date, provide updated information as necessary, and comply with any ongoing vaccination-related requirements. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.