Lead, Forecasting and Modelling

Division overview

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 Lead, Forecasting and Modelling supports the Cancer Systems and Innovation Division in carrying out projects and initiatives to achieve the Partnership’s overall vision to reduce the burden of cancer on all people in Canada. Reporting to the Manager, Decision Support, and working closely with key experts, the incumbent provides content-specific expertise on mathematical modelling and forecasting with a view to advancing pan-Canadian initiatives in health system change and sustainability. The incumbent will lead the delivery of OncoSim, a web-based simulation tool, by managing analysis requests, model improvements and generating evidence to support the impact of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. Additionally, they will support provincial and territorial partners in evaluating the impact of cancer control interventions through predictive modeling and economic analysis, while developing evidence-based recommendations for healthcare resource allocation using forecasting insights.

Core responsibilities and activities

• Leads forecasting and modelling projects, ensuring continuous communication with partners, team members and internal program areas to ensure clarity of scope, roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Identifies and leads collaboration with programs across the Partnership to promote the integration of health economics and mathematical modelling that supports cancer system planning, change, measuring impact, and sustainability.
• Works with the Manager, Decision Support; Specialists, Forecasting and Modelling; and program teams to identify and share tangible impacts that support the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (CSCC) and cancer system priorities.
• Leads OncoSim tool improvements, analysis requests, partner collaboration, user support and enhancing the rigor and relevance of the OncoSim tool by partnering with Statistics Canada.
• Supports the uptake, use, and maintenance of the OncoSim tool, including partner engagement, and analyses.
• Works with the Manager, Decision Support, to prioritize requests and projects, report on progress, and plan for sustainability of OncoSim.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to multi-disciplinary team members to plan and conduct forecasting and modelling analyses, and to incorporate health economic evidence to support organizational and health system needs.
• Works with the Performance Measurement and Evaluation team, leading modelling to support impact analyses and evaluate progress toward the outcomes of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.
• Conducts analyses in a reproducible manner with clear documentation.
• Provides input on lessons learned from each project with a view to continuous improvement of processes and approaches, while capturing meaningful impact stories.
• Supports capacity building within the Partnership and among external partners (e.g. mentoring specialists and supporting trainees).
• Provides strategic and timely advice to the Manager, Decision Support, Director, Screening and Decision Support, and other Partnership program areas to support the planning and implementation of work related to forecasting, modelling and health economics.
• Establishes, develops, and maintains relationships with pan-Canadian, regional, and provincial/territorial cancer agencies, as well as professional organizations, and non-governmental organizations to further project/program objectives.
• Assists the Manager, Decision Support, with managing partner, vendor and advisor contracts.
• Collaborates with others throughout the Partnership to manage knowledge transfer and exchange activities/products.
• Keeps abreast of current trends and best practices in healthcare modelling/forecasting and health economics.

Communication

• Consults with healthcare modelling, economic and clinical researchers, clinical experts, and expert committee members throughout projects (e.g., clarity of roles and responsibilities, scoping, analyses, and implementation).
• Leads/facilitates meetings with partners.
• Supports and makes presentations at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Regularly communicates with internal and external teams regarding status of ongoing work.
• Collaborates and consults with Partnership staff for advice and/or opinion as appropriate.

General accountabilities

• Leads collaboration with expert advisors and facilitates the integration of expert advice into program/project work to further organizational outcomes.
• Works closely with others to contribute content expertise to projects.
• Supports team members to implement projects and achieve team objectives.
• Drives innovation and culture change through collaborative behaviour.
• Prepares and presents content and/or represents the team at meetings, both internal and external, and/or conferences and other forums as directed.
• Assists the Manager, Decision Support and Director, Screening and Decision Support with other duties and ad hoc projects as assigned.

Competencies

The Partnership’s core competencies are a key element to reviewing performance. While the duties and responsibilities of a position tell you the what, the competencies tell you the how. We have developed universal competencies which we expect to be exhibited by all employees regardless of level or position, as well as leadership competencies which we expect to be exhibited by staff in Level 7 or higher positions.

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.

Leadership Competencies

• Inspiration: Motivates others by bringing energy and optimism to the team. Creates a sense of direction and common purpose by helping others see themselves in the work. Explains the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ and the ‘how’.
• Strategy: Applies vision to think beyond the immediate situation and explores multiple potential paths. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to better drive decisions and more efficient implementation. Ensure that business goals are met by executing, monitoring, and adjusting the organizational action plan.
• Influence: Impacts others’ thinking, decisions, or behavior through inclusive practices and relationship building. Drives action through influence, often without authority.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Uses critical thinking to evaluate problems, gather information, understand causes, and identify best possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations.

Experience and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Engineering, Operational Research, Health Economics, Health Policy or related discipline, or combination of comparable education and experience.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience, preferably in the healthcare sector, or combination of comparable education and experience.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in consulting or providing client, customer or user support.
• In-depth understanding of healthcare modelling/forecasting methods, economic analysis, and epidemiology methods.
• Previous experience in health technology assessment, economic evaluation, healthcare modelling.
• Previous experience in using modelling software, such as Excel, R, and/or other tools and languages.
• 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.
• Strong understanding of evidence-based medicine principles and methods.
• Strong interpersonal communication and relationship management skills.
• Proficient in communicating complex information to diverse audiences.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, One Drive)
• 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.