Vice President, National Microbiology Laboratory (NML)

Important messages

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is a Government of Canada agency in the Health Portfolio, established by the Public Health Agency of Canada Act in 2004. It was established to assist the Minister of Health in exercising or performing the Minister's powers, duties, and functions in relation to public health, and the Chief Public Health Officer in performance of that position’s duties. Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) plays an integral part in the achievement of this important mandate. The NML is a recognized leader in laboratory-based infectious disease science, both nationally and internationally, and its Science Centre for Human and Animal Health is home to the country’s only containment level 4 microbiology laboratory.

We are looking for a seasoned leader renowned within the medical community to join our senior management ranks as the Vice-President of the NML. As the Vice-President, they will be responsible for providing executive and scientific leadership and direction to the NML and contributing to the achievement of the Agency’s mandate of promoting and protecting the health of Canadians. They will lead laboratory facilities in multiple locations and a workforce of over 600 employees. They will also have an essential role in Canada’s pandemic response capabilities, as part of the Laboratory’s mandate to detect and respond to emerging infectious disease threats.

The VP will work alongside and be supported by a team of management, including the Director General, Science Operations and Response, Director General, Science Reference and Surveillance, Director General, Medical and Scientific Affairs and a Executive Scientific Director who will act as, the foremost voice for clinical and laboratory medicine within the NML and who leads, promotes and supports the overall scientific agenda of the NML. The Executive Scientific Director will hold a tenured-track faculty position at the University of Manitoba and will be assigned to the full-time position at the NML to continue to build on the existing shared research and training environments that characterize the relationship between the University and PHAC.

The successful candidate for the VP position holds a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization related to the position (medicine, microbiology, public health and preventive medicine, etc) and extensive experience in the leadership of a laboratory. Additionally, extensive experience in managing significant financial and complex human resources matters with a track-record of progressive experience in leadership roles within science-based or public health environments is key to success.

The successful candidate will have the capacity and vision to shape the NML as a world class infectious disease organization through national and international collaboration, public health programming, and research and training, and provide the leadership necessary to address the social, behavioural, and economic determinants of health in relation to infectious diseases. They are a credible expert who leads through influence and persuasion and has the ability to navigate the intricacies of government decision-making processes.

Finally, an innovative and confident leader, they have a track record for building highly effective multidisciplinary teams aligned with a culture of innovation and excellence while upholding integrity and respect.

Effective October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada implemented a new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, impacting the core public administration. This policy requires that all new hires on or after the effective date of the policy be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, and to attest that they are fully vaccinated prior to their start date unless accommodated due to certified medical contraindications, religion, or other prohibited grounds under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Intent of the process

The Public Health Agency of Canada is very excited to find the new leader of the NML!

If you feel you are the ideal candidate for this position, we are interested in reading about you! Please address a copy of your Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) in confidence to EX Staffing at . In your Cover Letter, please tell us why you are interested in this position, and outline the experience, skills and knowledge that would make you the ideal candidate.

Important: If you live outside Canada and are not a Canadian citizen, please note that you must possess at a minimum, a valid work permit to temporarily work in Canada. Permanent resident status is required for full-time permanent work in Canada. Therefore, if you are interested in working in Canada, it would be best to visit the Immigration and Refugee and Citizenship Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html. You may also contact your local Canadian embassy for more information on immigration.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "(5,000) words: In your Cover Letter, please tell us why you are interested in this position, and outline the experience, skills and knowledge that would make you the ideal candidate."

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

EDUCATION:

In order to be considered at the EX group and level, you must meet the minimum education qualification:

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization related to the position

OR

In order to be considered at the MD group and level, you must meet the minimum education qualification:

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:

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.

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 non-governmental organizations.

Significant* experience in leading the delivery of laboratory public health, health, or emergency preparedness programs.

Significant experience in managing a large multi-disciplined scientific, regulatory, medical or health related organization.

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.

Please note that candidates will be assessed against the ideal candidate profile outlined in the section “Important Messages”. Only the top candidates who demonstrate the most significant and pertinent experiences, skills and knowledge will be retained and considered.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
Bilingual Non-Imperative CBC/CBC

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

ABILITIES:
Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Top Secret Security Clearance
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless accommodated due to certified medical contraindications, religion, or other prohibited grounds under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Education:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized school of medicine with specialization in microbiology or public health and preventive medicine

Degree equivalency

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

A random and/or top down selection will be used in the process in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process;

Any assessment tools that are deemed appropriate to determine whether the individual meets the essential and other qualifications may be used in this process.

While we appreciate all the candidates’ interest, only those being considered in the process will be contacted. Should your application be retained, you will be contacted for further assessment. The qualifications you will be assessed against will be communicated to you in advance.

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

We are dedicated to an inclusive selection process and work environment. If you require an accommodation, please advise the HR Representative when you are invited to meet with us regarding this employment opportunity.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information: https://.cicic.ca/

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

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.