Primary Care Ambassador

JOB SUMMARY

The Primary Care Ambassador supports a 2-year pilot that will lead and manage the implementation of the City of Ottawa’s new Primary Care Provider Recruitment and Retention Strategy. You act as a liaison between the primary care sector and the City of Ottawa, working together towards the goal of increasing primary care attachment within the City by recruiting primary care providers, and advocating for provincial changes to reduce barriers to practicing primary care in Ottawa. Further, you will work towards creating capacity within the primary care sector by reducing the administrative burden on providers and creating an environment to make choosing to practice comprehensive family medicine in Ottawa more attractive.

Consulting with local and provincial interest holders within the primary care sector, you are responsible to deliver on the City’s primary care strategy, specifically: 

• Join and participate in the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (EOPRA).
• Advocate to the Province for policy changes that will remove barriers to physician recruitment in Ottawa.
• Develop a centralized database of primary care vacancies in Ottawa.
• Design and implement a targeted recruitment plan.
• Collaborate with Ottawa Public Health to identify ways to improve residents’ access to primary care.
• ​Contribute to the development of non-profit medical clinics.
• Assist physicians in preparing proposals and navigating the Ontario Health application process to expand or establish new clinics.
• Undertake a review to streamline internal and external facing City administrative policies and employee benefits that require consultation with primary care providers.
• ​Identify partnership opportunities between City of Ottawa departments and the primary care sector.

Focusing on communications and marketing and using digital platforms, social media, and print media, you ensure that the City’s physician recruitment plan targets local, provincial and international candidates. You quickly establish rapport with health care professionals and candidates looking to relocate to Ottawa, and respond to requests from elected officials, residents, and the media.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of a 4-year University degree in Health Sciences, Health studies, Health Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field.

A minimum of 5 years of experience in health care administration, primary care recruitment, policy development, or economic development, including demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-interest projects or strategies involving the private and public sector.

Experience implementing or overseeing a patient/primary care recruitment strategy is considered an asset.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the Ontario Health Care delivery system and community resources.
• Expertise in program management, partner/client engagement including the ability to manage through influence when the resources necessary for a successful outcome are not directly within your control.  
• Expertise in program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledgeable of best approaches in quantitative data collection, assessment and analysis and generating insights from data.
• Thorough knowledge in communication and partner engagement best practices and approaches.
• Broad understanding of the health care system, related issues and trends, policies and legislation including primary care models.
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong planning, organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills including those used in presenting, persuading, consensus building and brokering solutions.  
• Ability to effectively transfer ideas, concepts, and information into strategies and action plans.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills to interact with a variety of internal and external clients, build positive working relationships, and exercise tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to show innovation and capitalize on opportunities that can address or meet potential challenges.
• Ability to adapt and respond to the evolving healthcare landscape.
• Political acumen and ability to navigate municipal governance structures.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends and travel internationally as required.

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work.  They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities.  Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.