Pharmacy Innovation Lead - CASCADES

Date posted: May 16, 2023
Number of vacancies: 1
Location: The successful candidate will have the option to be based out of offices located in Toronto, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; or Halifax, Nova Scotia
Project: Creating a Sustainable Canadian Health System in a Climate Crisis (CASCADES)
Position type: Part-time or Full-time six-month contract (with possibility of permanent full-time at one of three collaborating universities)
Start date: As soon as possible
Hourly wage: Salary will be commensurate with experience and consistent with the university compensation policy

Degree/credential level: Completion of Bachelors of Science Degree in Pharmacy, or equivalent required. Certificate of competency from the Pharmacy Examination Board of Canada preferred. Active registration with the Provincial College of Pharmacists preferred. Familiarity and interest in environmental sustainability and/or healthcare preferred.

Tech resource requirements (for remote work): computer, internet, webcam, mic, phone, Microsoft Office Suite

How does climate change impact pharmacy and what can pharmacists do?
Climate change has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a significant threat to human health in the 21st century, with harms already evident and accelerating. Healthcare services and systems contribute to climate change and other global environmental challenges. Surprisingly, medications can be highly damaging to the environment during manufacturing, excretion by the user, or through improper disposal. Pharmacy professionals can play a crucial role to minimize the environmental harm of medications throughout their lifecycle and address increased medication-related risks due to climate change.

About us

Situated within the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (within the Dalla Lana School of Public Health) at the University of Toronto, Project CASCADES (Creating a Sustainable Canadian Health System in a Climate Crisis) is a nationally coordinated effort by the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, and the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare to mobilize the transition to a high quality, low-carbon, climate resilient health system. Directed by Professor Fiona Miller, CASCADES’ objectives are three-fold: (1) To build capacity across Canada’s healthcare community to promote and deliver sustainable healthcare; (2) To coordinate a national approach to the cultivation, selection, support, and scaling-up of sustainable healthcare innovations in service delivery and system design; and (3) To facilitate pan-Canadian policy development.

Innovation Leads will support CASCADES’ efforts to test and spread sustainable innovations, based in: Western Canada (University of British Columbia), Central Canada (University of Toronto), Eastern Canada (Dalhousie University) and Quebec (Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care).

The successful Innovation Lead will have the option to be based at one of the following collaborating universities:

University of British Columbia, Planetary Healthcare Lab, Vancouver, BC;
Dalhousie University, Healthy Populations Institute, Halifax, NS; or
University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluations, Centre for Sustainable Health Systems, Toronto, ON.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have a significant role amongst the CASCADES team to lead pharmacy innovations that support the transition to an environmentally sustainable and resilient health system and build and strengthen relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance.

Dedicated responsibilities:

Identify and catalyze sustainable healthcare innovations by:
- Collaborating with innovation teams: e.g., arrange meetings, maintain terms of reference/project charter, minutes and agendas; support information gathering activities; review and assess requirements needed to meet project timelines; research, analyze and recommend solutions to project challenges.
- Helping to design and coordinate annual competitions (with the support of the CASCADES Events and Communications Coordinator).Assisting with innovation test efforts: e.g., team building, innovation clarification, innovation implementation, innovation measurement/evaluation, coordination and engagement with external stakeholders.
- Strategic planning and overseeing the implementation of an evaluation framework for projects.
- Implementing and executing qualitative and/or quantitative research methods for project evaluation, for example by designing surveys, interviews or data extraction forms.
- Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance.
- Activating CASCADES support options for innovations, as and where relevant: e.g., access to training programs/ knowledge translation materials; access to professional services such as carbon accounting, project management, expert facilitation, part time research assistance.
- Researching and analyzing processes, programs and services and recommending changes for improvement
- Assisting with preparation for and learning from expert review.
Work with other CASCADES Innovation Leads and the Education and Training Lead on the national spread of sustainable healthcare innovations by:
- Sharing knowledge and networks across regions.
- Coordinating national spread initiatives: e.g., team building, innovation clarification, innovation implementation, innovation measurement/evaluation, coordination and engagement with external stakeholders.
Deliver presentations to promote programs, opportunities and/or initiatives.
Draft documents for knowledge translation purposes.Ensure the development of final reports and deliverables.
Support CASCADES reporting requirements (e.g., provide updates on activities, financial forecasts and expenditures as required to meet reporting obligations; support data collection and reporting for key performance indicators).

Qualifications

Experience:

Minimum three years related experience, preferably in a healthcare environment and with a sustainability focus.
Proven ability to implement, establish, and set priorities, to develop and execute project plans and strategic plans.
Experience and ability to oversee all aspects of project management.
Solid experience in working effectively in collaboration with others, as well as independently.
Demonstrated experience analyzing data, interpreting findings and making recommendations for improvement based on insights and best practices
Hospital pharmacy practice experience is an asset.
Membership in the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists and/or other professional societies an asset.

Skills

Exceptions time management and project management skills and ability to work accurately and under pressure to meet deadlines.
Exceptional interpersonal skills (verbal and written), highly effective in creating partnerships and working with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong initiative taking skills, proactive, and highly resourceful.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet the demands of a fast-paced environment.
Attention to detail and accuracy is essential.
Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Design skills and familiarity with Canva is strongly preferred.
Expertise in sustainability and/or healthcare is strongly preferred.

To be successful in this role you will be:

Communicator
Organized
Possess a positive attitude
Problem solver
Resourceful
Leader

Application Materials

Applicants should submit:

A cover letter clearly indicating their interest in the position, their relevant experience, and the date they are available to begin
A resume/CV

Please send application materials to CASCADES@utoronto.ca. Please write “Pharmacy Innovation Lead, CASCADES” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

All applications are appreciated, however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

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