Associate Director, Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation (System Development)

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a regular full-time Associate Director, Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (System Development) to join our dynamic Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) team in our Medical Affairs and Innovation (MAI) division. 

The Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) team within Canadian Blood Services collaborates with partners and stakeholders (internal and external) to develop and strengthen the foundational elements that contribute to a high-performing organ and tissue donation and transplantation system. It also develops and operates a number of registries through which Canadian Blood Services’ supports the sharing of solid organs-for-transplant within and across provincial boundaries. Canadian Blood Service’s OTDT Program also acts as the Secretariat for the System Operators Advisory Committee, a critical committee in a governance structure that will oversee pan-Canadian collaboration in OTDT health care services.

Reporting to the director, Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, you will be a member of the OTDT program’s senior leadership team and will work closely with other program leaders to promote a “one program” approach to leadership and will role model Canadian Blood Services’ leadership commitments: 

•    we set the tone for our culture
•    we build and support great teams
•    we achieve results and seek continuous improvement

You will be a people-first leader and administrator with the breadth of skills, experience and knowledge necessary to lead, guide and support a team of direct and indirect reports, who have a wide range of skills, expertise, knowledge and experience. Because the OTDT program relies on cross-functional working groups, project teams and committees to accomplish its work, the Associate Director, OTDT, will also be expected to lead teams, influence and guide managers, supervisors and individual contributors who are not direct or indirect reports. 

You will also be responsible for the administrative, operational, and fiscal oversight of all areas of system development, and at all levels: local, interprovincial and national within the organ and tissue donation and transplantation program at Canadian Blood Services. 

To succeed in this role, you will need to rely on, guide and nurture your team, build, strengthen and maintain positive and productive relationships with stakeholders in all parts of OTDT health care services in Canada, including senior administrators and leaders, clinical specialists, researchers and patient partners, and be able to  provide and maintain a psychologically safe and inclusive work environment for all staff and the stakeholders with whom we partner. 

Formula for success

• Lead a diverse team of professionals. Fostering and nurturing the growth and development of people is a critical function of the Associate Director role. All leaders are expected to help provide/maintain a safe and inclusive work environment for all staff across all programs.
• In close collaboration with the Director, OTDT, and the other Associate Directors, you will oversee the program’s system development activities, ensuring direct reports, indirect reports, and other staff have the direction and resources they need to effectively and efficiently execute these activities. 
• Establish and maintain a long-term business direction for national system development focused on: deceased donation, living donation, transplantation and tissue donation.
• Prioritize system development initiatives to ensure capacity to respond efficiently and effectively to emerging threats to trust in, and the integrity of, the OTDT system in Canada.
• Oversee the operation and continuous improvement of the program’s system development work (leading practice development, professional education and awareness, knowledge mobilization and research) in the areas of deceased donation, living donation, transplantation and tissue donation.
• Role models program, organization, and system-wide collaboration in service of advancing patient outcomes and system-level priorities.
• Participate in the development and promotion of a compelling vision and direction for the OTDT Program and communicate and align this vision with the plans and priorities for all activities related to the system development functional area.  
• Set and achieve operational targets, evaluate the team’s activities that advance those targets and oversee their efforts to improve them. Manage a team of skilled resources and set performance goals, monitor performance and ensure personal development plans are identified and supported. 
• Proactively engage medical advisors, clinical experts, researchers, Organ Donation Organizations, transplant programs, and partners within the OTDT community to ensure bi-directional information sharing related to clinical practice, quality of care, patient safety, operational challenges and opportunities for improvement and growth.
• Provide direction to medical advisors, external OTDT partners, and administrative and clinical thought leaders and foster a high degree of collaboration and partnership in achieving high quality outcomes through planning, managing, leading and implementing national improvement initiatives.

Desired education and skills

• Minimum of a master’s degree or a professional degree in political science, policy, governance, health services administration, business administration, or related area of study.
• Ten years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience managing and mentoring direct reports.
• Experience overseeing or managing advisory committees.
• Experience in project management, portfolio management and change management.
• Experience providing strategic and operational advice to senior executives.
• Proven stakeholder relationship management skills and political acumen.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience in organ and tissue donation and transplantation health care services is an asset.
• Experience working in government or with government officials (federal, provincial, municipal) is an asset.
• Demonstration of ongoing professional development and knowledge of current and latest trends and best practices in organ and tissue donation.
• Must possess strong written and verbal communications skills, including presentation delivery.
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.

What we offer you

• 4 weeks' vacation
• Annual performance award up to 10%
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources

What you can expect

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at Canadian Blood Services location 40% of the time/days of the week.
• You will be required to travel 4-5 times per year for conferences, as well as 4 times per year for meetings, and as required.