DIRECTOR PUBLIC HEALTH

• Job ID: 56966 
• Job Category: Health Services
• Division & Section: Public Health, Strategy & Clinical Services
• Work Location: Hybrid, Union Station - 2nd Floor / Potential Transition to Metro Hall
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Temporary Vacancy (12 months) 
• Salary: $162,467.00-$215,307.00
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1 
• Posting Period: 14-JUL-2025 to 04-AUG-2025
  
  

Toronto Public Health is seeking a visionary and results-driven leader to oversee the planning, delivery, and evaluation of various public health services and programs within the City of Toronto. This high-impact role demands a strategic thinker who excels in operational leadership, change management, and stakeholder engagement. The Director, Public Health ensures alignment with the Ontario Public Health Standards, municipal by-laws, and directives from the Board of Health and City Council, while championing innovative solutions to improve the health and well-being of Toronto's diverse communities.

Driving continuous improvement through the integration of evidence-based strategies, you will ensure your team can respond to the evolving and complex public health needs of the City of Toronto. You will identify emerging issues, design proactive interventions, and provide strategic guidance and support to the Medical Officer of Health, and leadership in Toronto Public Health and the City of Toronto.

Your leadership will extend beyond your direct team, advocating for transformative public health initiatives and amplifying their impact across the city. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a purpose-driven leader to shape the future of public health in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. By joining Toronto Public Health, you will play a pivotal role in advancing equity, innovation, and measurable impact in public health service delivery.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develops, designs and implements functional policies and programs that make major changes in overall business performance based on long-term needs. Contributes to the continuous improvement of divisional performance through analysis and the development and implementation of sound management practices and procedures, provides program management staff with direction and guidance, processes and tools to increase efficiencies and improve effectiveness of the services provided by the directorate.
• As a Senior Manager, contributes actively towards the collective attainment of the Divisions strategic directions and performance objectives. Participates in the overall planning, development, monitoring and evaluation of Public Health services, ensures the coherence and communication of business strategies across the Division, and assists in responding to emerging health issues.
• Provides advice on strategic issues, priorities and key major projects for Toronto Public Health.
• Represents Toronto Public Health and supports the Medical Officer of Health at meetings of the Board of Health, City Council and related Standing Committees.
• Manages information and action requests from members of Council through verbal response, reports and briefing notes. Establishes and maintains relationships with other municipal departments/divisions and other levels of government on programming and policy issues.
• Directs, through subordinate management staff, all activities of the directorate, delegating management responsibility.
• Leads and motivates a diverse workforce, ensures effective teamwork, provides resolution to controversial labour relations issues, ensures high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the directorate, and ensures that the directorate's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Manages staff complement control, negotiates service contracts and performance targets with funders and service providers, and prepares business cases and procurement requests in accordance with corporate requirements. Establishes employee recruitment, retention and recognition strategies. Ensures due diligence related to occupational health and safety.
• Provides overall direction to city-wide program planning and development and oversees the delivery of matrixed and holistic interventions of a specified portfolio of sub-programs within a directorate.
• Ensures effective media/public relations, coordinates timely response to media requests and strategic advice to the Medical Officer of Health and Executive Management Team.
• Ensures media coverage of priority initiatives and community education campaigns. Speaks on behalf of the Medical Officer of Health in the local, provincial, national and international media
• Directs and holds responsibility for compliance with public health legislation and standards, applicable statutes, municipal by-laws and Board of Health and City Council directives. Directs activities related to accreditation standards, quality assurance, risk management and serious occurrence response within the directorate.
• Provides guidance and direction for case management involving high-risk clients, including consultation on the legal duty to report to the Children's Aid Society and legal issues related to client follow-up, as required.
• Directs operations within a directorate by providing leadership, direction and support to subordinate management staff who are accountable for the day-to-day execution of the interventions. Monitors program performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure program targets are met.
• Facilitates and supports the continuation and development of team-based work groups, integration of intervention design and delivery activities and effective use of TPH staff capacity
• Builds effective management teams and supports the development of collaborative working relationships and the coordination of activities across all programs delivered through local offices. Provides guidance and direction regarding issues management when there are implications for other city services, intergovernmental liaison and political sensitivity.
• Monitors provincial, national and international initiatives in the field of public health as well as intervention innovations and best practices from other sectors to ensure that innovations and best practices are incorporated into TPH intervention design.
• Monitors community health indicators and identifies emerging issues and priorities in the external environment that could impact on community health needs and/or service delivery pressures and uses this information to direct the establishment of public health interventions that improve the health of the City’s residents. Develops multi-year strategic and operating plans that are innovative and evidence-based, maximize service delivery efficiencies, and integrate access and equity principles.
• Leads and directs the development and maintenance of appropriate communication, consultation and/or partnership strategies to ensure effective working relationships with external agencies and health service providers, and establishes protocols that support referral, service coordination and continuity of service. Ensures community input and participation in service planning as appropriate.
• Leads and facilitates the development of multi-year divisional strategic and operating plans and priorities that are innovative and evidence-based, maximize service delivery efficiencies and integrate access and equity principles.
• Ensures divisional strategies and objectives get cascaded into the strategies and plans of each directorate. Monitor organizational activities to ensure alignment with and coordinated, integrated contribution to these organizational priorities.
• Oversees the development and delivery of engagement activities for the organization, including engagement with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Establishes mechanisms (including information management and data collection systems) to support and monitor compliance with the applicable practice standards for regulated health professionals.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities for revenue generation, including fee-for-service programming and alternate funding sources.
• Participates in the review, planning and conduct of applied research, including the preparation and review of research proposals and the submission of abstracts and delivery of presentations.
• Provides municipal leadership and represents the division and its interests on community advisory bodies. Participates in the development and implementation of the Toronto Public Health Emergency Response Plan as it relates to overall incident management and the training and redeployment of directorate staff.
  
  

Key Qualifications:

1. Extensive leadership experience in public health or a health sector, with demonstrated ability to meet operational objectives.
2. Post-Secondary education in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
3. Considerable experience providing guidance to senior executives, political leaders, and decision-makers with a deep understanding of the complexities of operating within government or large public sector organizations.
4. Experience developing, monitoring, and reporting on large operational budgets.
5. Strong track record of establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with internal and external partners, including government officials, external agencies, and community organizations.
6. Proven ability to develop and lead best practice, community informed, innovative health programs serving the public.
7. Experience leading diverse, high-performing teams, with a focus on fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. Experience leading in a unionized environment and fostering a positive workplace culture.
8. Highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills with the ability to resolve conflicts, build consensus, and navigate complex political dynamics.
9. Proven commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and reconciliation.
10. Familiarity with relevant government legislation in the area of governance, budgeting, financial reporting, service delivery, employee and labor relations and occupational health and safety.
    

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.