Specialist, Forecasting and Modelling

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 of role

The Specialist, Forecasting and Modelling, supports the Cancer Systems & Innovation Division in carrying out projects and initiatives to achieve organizational priorities. Reporting to the Manager, Decision Support and working closely with the Lead, Forecasting and Modelling, the Specialist will provide content-specific expertise on mathematic modelling and forecasting with a view to advancing pan-Canadian initiatives in health system change and sustainability. The Specialist will collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to support the application of mathematical modelling and scenario creation in several domains, including but not limited to OncoSim microsimulation modelling and health economic analyses. The Specialist will also support knowledge mobilization activities, such as reports, presentations, abstracts, manuscripts, and other knowledge products as needed.

Core Responsibilities & Activities

• Provide strategic and timely advice and expert counsel to the Director, Screening and Decision Support; Manager, Decision Support; Lead, Modelling and Forecasting; and program areas (including Leads advisors) to support the planning, analysis and implementation of work related to OncoSim microsimulation modelling and other portfolio-specific initiatives, as requested.
• Working with program areas, collaborate with external partners (e.g., provincial / territory partners), internal program teams and vendors (when required) to develop modelling projections, conduct a variety of analyses, and support initiatives pertaining to health system change and sustainability.
• Collaborate with program areas to help identify and answer data analysis and health economics questions in the context of their work and the work of their partners.
• Conduct analyses in a reproducible manner with clear documentation.
• Summarize findings from these analyses in reports, technical briefs, manuscripts, and presentation slide decks to describe the impact and implications of identified policy and program questions.
• Present analysis findings to diverse audiences including generalists and experts.
• Work collaboratively with the microsimulation modelling team at Statistics Canada, Advisors, and technical vendors to develop and maintain OncoSim.
• Assist key partners/stakeholders with the use of the OncoSim model to support evidence-informed decision-making in cancer control.
• Support OncoSim users in learning how to use OncoSim, troubleshooting their analyses and interpreting analysis findings.
• Act as a source of substantive information regarding technical details of OncoSim modelling projects.
• Assist the Director, Screening and Decision Support; Manager, Decision Support; Lead, Forecasting and Modelling; and program teams as necessary. Examples of work include onboarding OncoSim users, setting up agreements, collaborating on vendor deliverables, and organizing meetings.

Communication

• Communicate with internal and external partners to learn about their analysis needs.
• Attend and make presentations at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Communicate with internal and external teams regarding status of ongoing work.
• Provides guidance to internal partners on work related to OncoSim microsimulation modelling.

Competencies

The Partnership has core competencies which describe the behaviours we expect to be exhibited by staff. While the role overview and accountabilities describe what the successful incumbent will do, the competencies describe how we expect them to do it. The competencies are a key element to how the Partnership measures performance. There are universal competencies which need to be exhibited by all staff.

Universal competencies

• Inclusion: Contributes to a work environment where all people feel safe, have a sense of belonging, feel valued for their differences, and are empowered to participate and contribute freely.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Works well with others both internally and externally to achieve individual goals, team goals, and/or organizational goals. Understands that a combined effort leads to greater results than those achieved by individuals.
• Organizational Awareness: Contributes by aligning actions with the organization’s goals, core functions, needs, and values. Understands how the organization functions internally and externally in the broader system.
• Design-Thinking: Designs solutions with the end user in mind. Clearly defines problems to address the real needs. Adopts an iterative approach to designing solutions, integrating ideas or feedback generated at various stages.

Qualifications

• Masters in economics/health economics, Health Policy, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Public Health, Data Science, Mathematics, Engineering or related discipline, or combination of comparable education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of combined experience in forecasting projections using mathematical models and interpreting health data, preferably cancer data.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience providing customer or user support.
• In-depth understanding of mathematical modelling including mathematical equations, calibration and validation processes, and economic analysis.
• Good knowledge of R programming skills to work with R programming scripts.
• Familiarity with using Cloud services (e.g. Google Cloud) and GitHub are an asset.
• Demonstrated ability in statistical analysis, critical appraisal, systematic literature review and scientific writing.
• Experience in knowledge transfer of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with provincial, national, and international cancer organizations and professional associations.
• Understanding of the Canadian healthcare system and knowledge of the decision-making processes with the federal/provincial/territorial jurisdictions and broad knowledge of research methods used in the development and application of health technology assessments, cancer screening programs, and/or health economic research.
• Understanding of health services research methods.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive)
• Education and/or experience working with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations and/or other underserved populations in Canada is an asset.
• Bilingual in both English and French is an asset.

Apply now

To apply, please forward your CV and cover letter combined in one file in Word or PDF format to:
peopleandculture@partnershipagainstcancer.ca.

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer thanks all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required.

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer.