Vice-President, Academics
Women’s College Hospital

Position Description

Reporting to the CEO and as a member of the hospital’s Executive Team, you will be the key leader for advancing WCH’s goal of sustainable, world-class research, innovation and education. The creation of a new integrated academic structure has allowed for the launch of this exciting new role that breaks down silos in the academic enterprise. 

The Vice President, Academics will be a key participant in the Executive Team of the hospital, bringing the perspective of scholarship and training to all discussions, and advancing the strategic priorities of the organization in the academic sphere.

You will be responsible for leveraging the collective strengths of the Women’s College Research Institute (WCRI), Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), and the hospital’s interprofessional teaching and education scholarship portfolio into a new integrated research, innovation and education portfolio that is under your leadership. Working closely with internal stakeholders, the University of Toronto and other key external stakeholders, the Vice-President, Academics will lead the implementation of the vision for the future of Academics at Women’s College Hospital. Ongoing areas of focus for scholarship in the organization will include women’s health, health equity, ambulatory care innovation (including for complex chronic disease), and virtual care. Leadership of this newly consolidated portfolio will involve bringing together a team of world-class scientists and researchers, innovators, clinician innovators and educators and building the necessary infrastructure to support their work.

While the role includes defined responsibilities and specific functions, success will be measured by the following priorities:

1. Provide overarching strategic leadership

Ensuring the development of an integrated and overarching academic plan for research, education and innovation across the organization.

2. Maximize the academic potential of Women’s College Hospital

Integrating the academic plan with an interdisciplinary vision and ensuring it makes a measurable contribution to the excellence of patient care.

3. Being an ambassador of Women’s College Hospital

Emphasizing the leadership role of Women’s as an academic centre of the highest quality, by using a network of collaborative and innovative partnerships and ensuring external liaisons.

4. Ensuring adequate funding

Influencing and establishing financial systems that can support the efforts and challenges relating to the academic mission.

5. Fostering innovation

Creating, influencing and maintaining a culture of innovation and collaboration that ultimately transforms the health system.

Specific Accountabilities

Vision and Strategic Leadership

• Defines the academic mission of the Hospital; contributes to its achievement and ensures its inclusion in the Hospital’s annual operating plan;
• Contributes to the development, implementation and evaluation of the Hospital’s goals, objectives, priorities and strategies;
• As a key member of the hospital’s Executive Team, participates fully in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Hospital’s annual strategies, operating plan – considering budgets, resources and the service plan – and in the identification and execution of priorities and initiatives for the organization;
• Ensures liaison and compliance with the contractual agreement with the University of Toronto for the development of the academic mission of Women’s College Hospital;
• Recommends revenue-generating strategies and means.

Team Leadership and Operational Management

• Administers and participates in the development, implementation (including the budget, service plan, resources), advancement and evaluation of the Hospital’s education, research and innovation plan;
• Fosters an environment of collaboration and integration amongst the team;
• Develops the business and operating plans for the academic portfolio including financing, necessary resources and potential partners;
• Creates the systems and structures required for an integrated portfolio;
• Ensures that coordination procedures between the various programs and disciplines are implemented and are appropriate and effective.

Stakeholder and Internal/External Relationship Management

• Develops and promotes strategies to enhance collaboration, integration and translation from discovery to clinical impact;
• Negotiates and defines affiliation agreements with academic institutions;
• Expands the network of national and provincial partners and participates in the negotiation of agreements with them concerning their contribution to the academic axis;
• Participates in projects of development, consolidation, partnership and networking;
• Initiates and promotes cooperation, collaboration and partnerships with other hospitals and community organizations;
• Establishes priorities and innovative approaches for academics, in collaboration with stakeholders, including medical and administrative leaders, to enhance the organization’s strategic priorities and direction;
• Builds and leverages relationships with internal and external stakeholders at the local, provincial, national and international levels, with the goal of securing continued investments in academics;
• Participates in the analysis of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and recommends appropriate policy instruments.

Ideal Candidate Profile

As the ideal candidate, you are an inclusive and strategic leader. You possess the communication and interpersonal skills that will allow you to collaborate effectively with all internal and external stakeholders and partners. You are deeply committed to and demonstrate a track record of fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout your sphere of influence. Your experience leading within an academic healthcare environment will be evident in your collaborative and results-driven approach to mission-driven, multidisciplinary leadership. A postgraduate degree in a related field is strongly preferred.

More specifically the ideal candidate should possess the following:

Vision & Strategic Leadership

• Exceptional communications skills and the ability to articulate a clear direction
• A reputation as a passionate and inspiring leader who is committed to excellence in research, education, and innovation
• A system’s perspective and a strong record of driving innovation and collaboration within a complex academic or healthcare milieu

People/Organizational Management

• A track record of challenging the status quo, embracing the concept of inclusive excellence, and achieving tangible results in the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion
• Demonstrated experience developing and championing cultures that catalyze inter-professional collaboration
• Experience leading, delegating, empowering, and providing direction to a highly skilled and experienced team
• The ability to motivate and inspire skilled teams and exceptional academics and researchers to excel even further
• Experience with best practices in human resources/talent management, performance management, succession planning, recruitment and retention, etc.

Academic Leadership

• A record of scholarship at the international level
• The experience and ability to harness the full value of academics to have real, measurable impact
• A track record of securing major funding
• A broad and deep understanding and genuine respect for all forms of academic work that cuts across all boundaries
• Familiarity with the broader innovation environment
• Experience identifying and nurturing opportunities for translation of discovery into clinical impact
• A track record of developing innovative mechanisms for seeding new ideas
• Experience catalyzing innovative change and creativity in academic programming
• An understanding of program accreditation processes

Stakeholder/Community Engagement

• A record of success developing relationships with a range of important stakeholders, including administrative, clinical, and academic leaders, faculty, students, community leaders, partner institutions, industry partners, government, etc.
• Experience identifying, developing, and negotiating strategic, multi-year partnerships
• Skills and experience as a key representative, making presentations to large and small groups, including the media, governments, the business community, and the public

Financial and Operational Stewardship

• Experience overseeing budgets in a complex academic or healthcare setting
• The ability to skillfully and equitably set priorities, allocate resources, and make difficult decisions
• Strong facilitation and negotiation skills and a commitment to transparency, impartiality, diversity, and fairness in all forms of decision making