Manager, Clinical Genomics

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 191723 
Department/Program: Precision Medicine, Diagnostic Services & Maritime Medical Genetics 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: Management, Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $42.937 - $57.0505 /hour
Closing Date: November 24, 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

This is not a designated position, however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application. 

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Precision Medicine, the Manager, Clinical Genomics is responsible for providing leadership and managing the delivery of diagnostic genetics services for the Maritimes, as well as national and international referral services. The Manager works in a co-leadership model with the clinical scientific Division Head and collaboratively with other managers and medical team within the Department.

The incumbent is responsible for the planning, coordination, evaluation and improvement of patient and family-centred services at the IWK. Major responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, human resource management, fiscal management, professional/staff development, leadership, quality service delivery and program service development. Essential components of this position include a high degree of evidence-based decision-making, creativity, interpersonal skills, self-direction, initiative, critical thinking, professional development and informational roles to perform a wide variety of technical, human, conceptual, leadership and financial management functions and behaviour. As a leader, mentors team members by supporting, role modelling and coaching in an effective manner; ensuring completion of all aspects of performance management; performance evaluation reviews; managing performance issues on an ongoing basis; collaborating with physicians, physician leaders, and support staff to resolve key issues and improve operations; identifies and resolves issues that have potential or actual impact on patient safety and quality care or service; promotes a safe working environment through identification and resolution of potential risk issues; completing variance reports and other financial reports, as required; managing attendance; managing day to day operational expenditures, including coordination of capital expenditure, auxiliary amenities, and supply purchases; participating in the development of the service plan for the areas.

Accountabilities:

This role is also accountable for collaboration and business planning with clinical partners for diagnostic genetics service provision.  Duties include but are not limited to: 

• Leads service through change associated with new initiatives, reorganized workflow and financial constraints.
• Works with laboratory specialists, staff and managers to ensure that established quality assurance and quality practice guidelines and standards are maintained and monitored as identified in the Quality Management System and the 12 Quality Essentials.
• Supports the translation of research into clinical care
• Liaises with other healthcare providers regarding significance of complex diagnostic test results.
• Completes reports of activity, summarizing progress towards goals and evaluating significant quality indicators.
• Promotes a safe working environment through identification and resolution of potential risk issues.
• Liaises effectively with lab medical, other divisions, Departments, Programs, task groups and partners on clinical issues, research and service provision as appropriate.
• Represents the lab by participating on standing Health Centre Committees and adhoc task groups to provide content expertise as required to achieve organizational objectives.
• Coordinates trouble-shooting activities for procedures/instruments.
• Initiates feedback from users of lab services to validate and improve delivery.
• Acts as a resource to the Health Centre and other labs on services that are provincial or Maritime in nature.
• Establishes and executes sectional objectives and action plans to support strategic plan.
• Applies principles of leadership in relationships with others by dealing with issues appropriately, maintaining constructive relationships, problem solving appropriately and organizing workload based on priorities.

The Manager must remain up to date on recent advances in test procedures, instrumentation, software and other technology, evaluating service needs and constraints to determine optimum return on investment. 

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday; business hours; occasional on-call

Your Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a health-related field required (in progress will be considered and willingness to complete within a specified time frame)
• Graduate from Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Program; or Clinical Genetics Program preferred 
• Minimum five (5) years experience working in a clinical laboratory with a minimum of two (2) years of such experience in a leadership/management role. Experience in Clinical Genomics preferred.
• Valid license required; or exemption from NSCMLT
•  A combination of education and experience may be considered with completion of, or commitment to complete, a required management program within a specified time frame to support planning, coordinating, controlling activities and integrate the service within the Department and region, as indicated.
•  Experience in molecular methods required
• Commitment to additional technical training as required
• Strong research and report writing skills preferred
• Knowledge of managing a laboratory service preferred
• Excellent time management, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates ability to develop and sustain internal/external partnerships.
• Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to family centred care.
• Competencies in other languages an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.