Why is this role important?
The Project Lead provides leadership and oversight for complex, time-limited data and analytics initiatives aligned with CIHI’s strategic priorities. Guides and advises project teams to ensure the achievement of specified outcomes within established scope, timelines, and interdependencies. The Project Lead plans and delivers program and product workstreams across the data and analysis lifecycle consisting of standards, intake, quality, analysis, indicator development, reporting and knowledge translation, while managing external partners and vendor relationships. This role balances technical and methodological rigour, stakeholder engagement, operational delivery and sound data stewardship to produce timely, high quality, policy relevant outputs. The Project Lead will lead the development and application of advanced health simulation models to support health system planning and policy. The current portfolio includes a microsimulation model focused on dementia, with opportunities to expand the approach to other health conditions, populations and health system applications.
The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in microsimulation modelling, including modelling individual-level health trajectories, transitions, health service utilization and outcomes over time using a range of statistical and computational methods. The role requires experience in model development, calibration, validation and sensitivity analysis, as well as data linkage and working with large health administrative datasets.
The Project Lead will provide technical and methodological leadership, guide analysts in model development and application, and collaborate with internal and external subject matter experts.
What you'll do
- Lead projects from initiation through implementation: prepare project charters, detailed workplans/Gantt schedules, budgets, resource plans, risk reporting, and regular status delivery; ensure milestones and deliverables are met.
- For data-related projects: lead and coordinate all aspects of the data lifecycle for assigned products including intake, validation, linkage, remediation, documentation and secure delivery (private and public reporting).
- For analytics projects: lead and coordinate activities to support development of reports, indicators and other information products. including contributing ideas for new work in line with CIHI’s corporate analytical themes, carrying out background research, designing and submitting project proposals, developing methodologies, supervising and guiding analysis, describing the findings and developing the required analytical products (reports, infographics, indicator results, data tables, presentations, etc.)
- Apply and champion methodological rigour: develop and review analytic plans, indicator specifications and validation approaches; coordinate reproducible analysis and QA processes.
- Advance data standards and interoperability: lead or contribute to content/EMR/standards activities, vendor engagement, pilots and implementation planning.
- Drive stakeholder engagement and client support: liaise with jurisdictions, data providers, clinicians, academics, vendors and other stakeholders; lead consultations, working groups and advisory committees.
- Ensure governance and privacy compliance: apply disclosure control, privacy and CIHI information security policies; incorporate Indigenous Data Sovereignty and culturally safe practices where relevant.
- Represent CIHI externally: present at forums, contribute to publications and promote adoption of CIHI standards/products.
What you'll bring to the table
- Undergraduate degree in Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Data Science, Public Health, Health Administration or related field, or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- Minimum 5 years relevant experience in health data/analytics, data management, health services research / policy, or health information projects.
- Minimum 1–3 years of supervisory experience.
- Domain experience relevant to portfolio (e.g., health system performance and analytics, primary care, specialized care, case mix, expenditure, workforce, Indigenous health).
- Experience with system dynamics modelling is strongly preferred, while experience developing user interfaces or interactive analytical tools (e.g., R Shiny or similar frameworks) is considered an asset.
- Proficiency with project tools (MS Project/Gantt), analytics and data tools (R, Python preferred) and visualization tools (Tableau, Qlik or equivalent).
- Practical experience with large administrative/clinical datasets and data quality practices.
- Thorough understanding of quantitative research and the ability to analyze and synthesize complex research and technical health information.
- Strong project and stakeholder management, facilitation and negotiation skills.
- Analytical rigour, problem solving and attention to quality.
- Clear written and oral communication, knowledge translation and facilitations skills.
- Collaborative leadership and ability to work effectively in a matrix and multi stakeholder environment.
- Conceptual understanding of the health determinants, health care system, health care policy, and sound knowledge of health information and its uses for policy development, planning, management, and evaluation purpose.
- Strong programming skills in Python and/or R, along with knowledge of relevant open-source modelling methods, packages and tools, are required.
- The role also requires the ability to translate complex modelling approaches, assumptions and results into clear, meaningful information for technical and non-technical audiences to support health system planning and policy decisions.
Additional Requirements
- Primary locations: Toronto or Ottawa.
- Occasional travel may be required.
- Must comply with all CIHI workplace policies, including privacy and confidentiality.
- Fluency in English is required, bilingualism in both official languages is an asset.
To find out more about this role and other exciting opportunities visit our website at www.cihi.ca and check out our 'Careers' section.
We thank all those who apply, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
At CIHI we are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible environment. Part of this commitment includes arranging accommodations to ensure an equitable opportunity to participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.
