Screening Advisor, Cervical Screening

This opportunity is for independent consultants only. The successful consultant will sign a vendor services agreement with the Partnership. Consultants are not considered Partnership employees.

The Cancer Systems and Innovation Division supports initiatives to improve equitable access, to better experiences and outcomes, and to advance reconciliation throughout Canada’s cancer system. The division enables system change with data, research, innovation and modelling. Work of the division is primarily accomplished through partnerships across Canada to implement evidence-informed and co-developed solutions, encompassing everything from prevention and screening to diagnosis and clinical care through to palliative care and survivorship.

Overview

To achieve the work of the Strategy, the Partnership engages with experts across the country as part of our advisory structures. These structures foster collaboration, content credibility, and deepen the involvement of a cross-section of cancer and health system experts, clinicians, health care providers, patients, and families across the organization. Advisory structures include Screening Advisors who supply expertise to the Partnership in a specific area across the cancer control continuum in addition to the full spectrum of its work with several committees, networks, and other advisory structures. Screening Advisors help to ensure that Canada’s Cancer system is well connected to emerging evidence and best practices globally. Together, our work is enriched through the involvement of those who devote their time, knowledge, expertise and points of view to further the Partnership’s mandate.

The Partnership is currently seeking one (1) exceptional individual to serve as a Screening Advisor, Cervical Screening to advance the priorities of the Strategy. Specifically, the Screening Advisor will provide content-specific expertise and strategic guidance to ensure that cervical cancer screening initiatives support the delivery of high quality and patient-centered screening services with a focus on health equity.

The Screening Advisor, Cervical Screening will provide their knowledge and expertise while working with Partnership staff and key system partners to inform the development and implementation of Partnership initiatives to drive the Strategy forward. The work of the Screening Advisor will have a particular focus on Priority #2: Diagnose cancer faster, accurately and at an earlier stage.

Core responsibilities and activities

Screening Advisors are recognized leaders in their respective areas who offer vision and oversight, working with staff and partners to leverage expertise, synthesize efforts and identify synergies within the Partnership’s broad portfolios. The Screening Advisor provides advice, counsel, and subject matter expertise to the Screening Team for cervical screening programs, supporting implementation of strategic initiatives and the Partnership’s projects and initiatives, and driving the work forward. 

The Screening Advisor will be responsible for providing advice to the Director, Screening to advance the Strategy and assist in identifying synergies across cancer control initiatives. Additionally, the Screening Advisor will be expected to chair one of the Partnership’s Pan-Canadian Cancer Screening Networks (Pan-Canadian Cervical Cancer Screening Network). The network includes representatives appointed by Ministries of Health and Cancer Agencies/Programs, professional organizations, and Patient, Family and Caregiver Advisors, each serving a unique role as implementers of change in the cancer system and taking aim to foster knowledge sharing and provide a venue to discuss and take action on cancer screening priorities. ​ As chair of their respective networks, the Screening Advisor will support members in advancing priorities and actions towards realizing the Strategy. 

The Screening Advisor will also contribute to an annual Screening Steering Committee, which is made up of all the Screening Advisors from the different disease sites (breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung), and which provides strategic guidance to identify and advance integrated approaches to cancer screening and address common opportunities and challenges. The Screening Advisor may also contribute or participate in other Partnership screening or advisory structures. The successful individual will be expected to stay informed and bring forward new developments within the respective screening modality and be connected to national and international leaders to contribute broad new thinking to the Partnership’s work and strategic direction in screening. From time to time, the Screening Advisor will serve as external ambassadors for the organization by participating in forums or responding to media requests.

The Screening Advisor will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic guidance and leadership to shape the plans, goals and objectives for the network and related cancer screening initiatives aligned with the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.
• Providing content expertise on screening initiatives and evolving evidence and research in cancer screening.
• Actively engaging with the scientific, research and cancer screening community, both within Canada and internationally, and bring forward learnings to the Partnership, including emerging and leading practices across the cancer continuum.
• Representing the Partnership, and the respective Pan-Canadian Screening Network at key internal and external meetings as required, including but not limited to sharing successes with other Partnership advisory groups and acting as spokesperson for media other queries related to cancer screening.
• Convening and chairing the respective Pan-Canadian Screening Network meetings and webinars together with the Partnership to advance the network’s priorities and actions.
• Working with Partnership staff (e.g., managers, technical staff and coordinators) to set agendas and objectives for network meetings.
• Reviewing and providing input on knowledge products, resources and the development of surveys, indicators, and reports.
  Participating in related workshops and/or projects.

Qualifications

• A PhD, MD and/or relevant experience in leadership and operational roles in cervical cancer screening.
• Credible leader in the field of cervical cancer screening with a depth of experience and expertise in Canadian cancer screening systems and population health field, including clinical expertise, knowledge of implementation and research priorities in cancer screening and/or experience with screening program operations.
• Experience or expertise in health equity and/or improving equitable access to cancer screening services for those who historically and currently experience disparities in cancer care in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and achievements, excellent interpersonal skills and strong group facilitation skills to foster dialogue, sharing, and problem-solving amongst multidisciplinary and jurisdictional partners and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to chair provincial and/or national forums, excellent oral communication and presentation skills, and demonstrates a commitment to the priorities and enablers of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.
• Bilingual in both English and French is an asset.

Terms of contract

• The successful candidate will be hired on a contract bases for a 12-month term from April 2025 – March 2026.
• The incumbent will be able to commit an average of 8-16 hours per month, with an understanding that the workload will vary depending on the phase of the work. The incumbent must be able to attend meetings with the Partnership and partners during business hours at a time mutually agreed upon.

Other Information

To apply, please forward a completed letter of interest along with a resume in one file in Word or PDF format to peopleandculture@partnershipagainstcancer.ca, by February 24, 2025.

Should you have any questions about the role, please feel free to contact the Screening team by email at screening@partnershipagainstcancer.ca