Director, Systems - Center for Advanced Analytics Data Science and Innovation (Caadsi)

Fraser Health (FH) is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. The Fraser region is home to 32 First Nations communities and 6 Métis Chartered communities. Our team of nearly 45,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: better health, best in health care.

The Opportunity

The Senior Director of Business Intelligence and Data Management is seeking a data-driven leader for the new Director of Systems role at FH. This unique opportunity supports a growing team while developing and executing a systems strategy that identifies the usage of modern tools and technology stack to support strategic organizational data-driven initiatives. With technology oversight, the Director will lead and manage a team of system engineers and analysts in the development and maintenance of platforms in an evolving system landscape while ensuring functional interoperability with in-house and vendor-based solutions.

Our ideal candidate is a clear, caring and courageous leader that brings current knowledge of industry trends and emerging technologies, a strategic approach, healthcare project implementation experience and a technical mindset. While fostering collaboration, the senior leader will manage a team of systems engineering staff while identifying opportunities for process improvements and automation. This leader will be an advocate for continuous innovation and an agile mentor capable of attending to both transactional deliverables and team development.

The Key Details

As the Director, you will be accountable for:

• Guiding individual contributors in the design of server applications, web components/micro frontends, encompassing APIs and micro-services, containers, databases, cloud infrastructures and cloud services;
• Evaluating current architectures, identifying potential inefficiencies and ensuring all non-functional requirements (e.g. cost, performance, availability, scalability, security, compliance and disaster recovery) are articulated, delivered and documented;
• Providing leadership in the identification of technology partnerships, driving "buy vs build" evaluations and leveraging external resources (low-code and no-code);
• Championing and contributing to learning activities around modern software design and development core practices through communities of practice;
• Building integrated systems that work interchangeably to deliver end-to-end workflow solutions mitigating manual grind and error prone processes;
• Formulating project plans and providing input into operational/strategic plans while managing applications and core infrastructure and Business Intelligence systems;
• Managing the team responsible for the maintenance of servers and services in collaboration with data scientists, analysts and other teams while providing access to high-quality data and supporting cross-functional data initiatives;
• Researching and analyzing market, technology and industry trends and standards related to technologies for the purposes of addressing business needs with a focus on leveraging data;
• Evaluating innovation driven technologies and improving efficiency through technology selection and incorporation into the application development roadmap;
• Managing intersections with Information Technology partners to ensure diligent change control across interdependent systems while effectively working with business partners, source system teams, project managers and IT staff;
• Supervising designated staff and contractors while establishing clear definitions of responsibilities, reviewing workload assignments and adjusting schedules for clear expectations; and
• Conducting employee appraisals, facilitation and investigating work and staff issues while recruiting staff and contractors to ensure goals and objectives of the department are met.

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Completed post-secondary education in Computer Science or a related discipline;
• Expertise in the development of applications and systems engineering approaches, implementations and techniques;
• Senior leadership and management experience in a large and complex organization; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

The Next Steps

If you have any questions, or are interested in learning more about this rewarding opportunity with Fraser Health, please email Swetlana Patnaik, Client Partner of Executive and Senior Leadership Acquisition at executive.recruitment@fraserhealth.ca.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring & Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe manner.

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Advanced Analytics and Data Management, the Director is accountable for the designing and maintaining of platforms and managing the software (on premises and cloud). This position plays a strategic role to help guide decision making, set direction, inform, and develop strategies for the enterprise platforms that host and support the gathering and dissemination of information. This involves identifying, defining, aligning, and sustaining the critical paths and requirements of the technology solutions.

This position is also accountable for facilitating and promoting diverse technical solutions related to both analytic patient and employee reporting including providing leadership and overall project management and control for the successful implementation of several key projects. This position plays a strategic role to help guide decision making and setting direction and informing/developing strategies for the development of tools and platforms including advising in current and future trends to ensure the organization receives the high set levels of efficiency from our investments. The position will also be implementing and sustaining the architecture (on premises servers and cloud components) for the SaaS applications that we leverage\build. The Director develops, monitors and manages a budget and builds and leads a team to ensure all aspects related to the backend infrastructure.

1. Evaluates how technologies can drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance the organization's needs. By understanding the technological landscape, the Director shapes the strategic direction by selecting appropriate technologies and incorporating them into the application development roadmap.
2. Oversees a technical team and directs the activities of a technical team including system engineers and analysts.
3. Guides and influences Information Management/Information, HIIT team and decision support staff responsible for the technical backend. This involves developing priorities, coordinating and reporting on the group's performance and activities.
4. Manages intersections with various other parties including PHSA, HIIT, and others to ensure proper and diligent change control across many interdependent systems.
5. Delivers various data analytics initiatives by effectively working with business partners, source system teams, project managers and IT staff.
6. Supervises designated staff and contractors, establishing clear definitions of responsibility for each employee, reviewing workload assignments and adjusting schedules accordingly. Ensures all job descriptions within area of responsibility clarify and delineate position expectations.
7. Conducts employee performance reviews and coaching sessions including implementation of appraisals and facilitation of individual goal setting. Creates an environment that foster growth and development.
8. Investigates work and staff issues and where necessary initiates disciplinary action including termination.
9. Recruits staff and contractors through methods such as identifying vacancies and making hiring decisions to ensure goals and objectives of the department are being met.
10. Oversees the technical management and development for all infrastructure related projects. This involves providing leadership in development of project charts, plans including budget and timelines and managing deliverables.
11. Develops and maintains internal and external design documentation to detail technical design specifications and ensure knowledge transfer.
12. Drives evaluation and adoption of scalable data analytics solutions for FHA.
13. Identifies opportunities and implements reporting improvements by ensuring system enhancements are developed, tested, deployed and function according to agreed upon requirements. Maintains up to date knowledge regarding new and upcoming system functionality.
14. Maintains awareness of current analytics and reporting systems trends and issues and communicates to groups as appropriate.
15. Manages and provides a safe and healthy workplace for patients/clients and staff and ensures that health and safety requirements for operational area are met. Reports unsafe situations; investigates and takes corrective action and/or notifies appropriate personnel.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related discipline, plus ten (10) years’ experience in development of applications, including a minimum of five (5) years of recent, related management experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

COMPETENCIES:

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

Professional/Technical Capabilities

• Have a deep understanding of systems architecture and design principles. They need to be able to create and implement scalable and reliable IT solutions that align with the organization's goals.
• Enthusiastic leader and proven track record of developing team members including permanent and contract staff.
• Proven ability to effectively manage in a large and diverse environment.
• Proven ability to plan and execute complex projects with stringent timelines.
• Ability to strategize and utilize diplomacy in handling and maintaining relationships.
• Ability to provide, create and support innovation within limited resources.
• Ability to provide leadership, motivation and guidance while demonstrating commitment to excellence.
• Ability to develop strategies for team members and FHA staff with dealing with change and transition.
• Strong development experience.
• Knowledge of a modern development languages used in automation.
• Ability to adapt, learn and build on new technologies.
• Ability to translate business needs into data requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Keeps abreast of technological changes, anticipates opportunities and ensures readiness for future technology changes and enhancements.
• Utilizes effective facilitation, persuasion and negotiation abilities to achieve consensus, resolve conflict and achieve desired outcomes.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.