Program Specialist

Job Opening

Non Union

Job Title : Program Specialist

Job Opening Id : 46444 # Required : 1

Business Unit : Public Health and Emerg Servs Division : Health Promotion and Foundational Standards

Worksite: : Regional Headquarters Standard Hours : 35.00 / week

Full/Part Time : Full-Time Regular/Temporary: : Temporary

Salary Grade : 5 Salary Range : $ 91,180.00 - $107,260.00

Post Date : 2026-10-30 Close Date : 2026-11-05

Temporary Duration

Approximate Duration: 12 to 18 months.

Division

Health Promotion and Foundational Standards

Important Notices & Amendments

This position currently falls within our hybrid model , allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

Job Summary

Job Description

Reporting to the Manager of Planning, Evaluation, and Continuous Quality Improvement, this role leads the delivery of complex strategic initiatives in public health, with accountability for strong project governance and successful execution of defined outcomes within scope, timelines, and approved resources. This position manages the full project lifecycle – from initiation and planning through implementation, performance monitoring, and close. The position also drives measurable quality improvement and process optimization using Lean and other continuous improvement methodologies to streamline workflows, implement standard work, and sustain gains through control plans, metrics, and KPI tracking. In addition, the role supports and facilitates divisional and departmental strategic/ priority planning, aligning operational execution with organizational priorities, legislative/regulatory requirements, and community needs. The portfolio may include business continuity and emergency management responsibilities such as hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRAs), emergency/ pandemic preparedness and continuity planning (including labour disruption planning), coordinating Emergency Operations Centre activation, and leading training, exercises, and after-action reviews to embed lessons learned. This role regularly handles sensitive and confidential information related to operational planning and resource allocation and is expected to exercise sound judgment and discretion.

Education

• Post-secondary degree in public health or a related discipline
• Masters level training in public health or a related field is preferred
• Other training in emergency management is an asset
  
  

Knowledge

• Three years of recent, relevant experience, working in a public health setting
• Knowledge of project management techniques/tools/software, as well as engagement and consultation principles and techniques
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies, such as Lean Six Sigma
• Experience conducting standardized assessments, such as HIRAs
• Skill in managing partnerships and engaging interested and affected parties
• Knowledge of evaluation and key performance indicator development
• Possess strong facilitation and presentation skills; and be able to translate knowledge to a wide range of audiences
• Outstanding oral/written communication skills, advanced analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in all MS office applications (Visio, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
  
  

Responsibilities

Lead and deliver complex strategic projects (including planning, implementation, and evaluation) aligned with departmental and organizational priorities, ensuring successful project completion within scope, time, and budget. The focus is execution, governance, coordination, and successful delivery of defined outcomes. (45%)

• Lead end-to-end project cycle, initiation through close
• Develop clear project roadmaps, including defining scope and objectives, creating project plans/charters and schedules, identifying tasks and milestones, determining budget and resource implications, determining risks and mitigation planning
• Ensure resources are properly structured and allocated, including proposing formal and informal roles and responsibilities for project teams, allocating and managing time and materials, and establishing workflows and processes
• Communicate effectively and consistently with interested and affected parties, facilitate meetings and regular status updates, report on progress, manage client expectations, and handle/incorporate feedback
• Identify potential project risks, analyzing impact and likelihood, create contingency plans, and monitoring emerging risks
• Create and track key performance indicators, compare actual versus planned performance, manage scope changes, and report on performance
• Provide strategic advice, analysis, and recommendations to management and senior leadership to inform decision-making, ensure organizational alignment, and support the successful execution of priority projects
  
  

Drive continuous process improvement to eliminate waste, reduce variation, and improve quality, efficiency and client experience. The focus is process optimization, root cause analysis, and measurable performance improvement. (35%)

• Lead Lean-based improvement initiatives across operational workflows
• Define project scope, objectives, timelines, and deliverables; develop detailed project plans
• Apply quality improvement (QI) methodologies and tools to streamline processes, eliminate inefficiencies, and enhance program and service delivery. This may include:
• Mapping current- and future-state processes
• Conducting root causes analyses
• Identifying waste and other opportunities for improvement
• Using data to measure baseline performance and improvement impact
• Implement and monitor standard work practices
• Facilitating Kaizen events process improvement
• Sustain improvements through control plans and metrics tracking
• Provide clear analysis, progress updates, and actionable recommendations to inform decision-making and drive effective implementation
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on project outcomes to assess effectiveness, ensure sustainability, and guide future improvements
• Embed QI principles and foster a culture of continuous improvement by creating platforms to promote, share, and celebrate QI initiatives
• Maintain and optimize QI tools and systems, ensuring accessibility, usability, and alignment across the department
  
  

Facilitate departmental and/or divisional strategic/priority planning processes, ensuring alignment between strategy and operations (20%)

• Lead and coordinate strategic planning processes within assigned portfolios, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, legislative/regulatory requirements, and community needs
• Facilitate the completion of various assessments to inform strategic priorities
• Synthesize findings and facilitate the development of departmental and/or divisional priorities, objectives, and performance measures in collaboration with senior leadership
• Develop and present recommendations to inform decision-making and resource allocation related to strategic initiatives
• Facilitate regular review cycles to assess progress, evaluate outcomes, and update plans to reflect emerging trends and organizational shifts
• Monitor and report progress toward strategic goals, identifying challenges, risks, and opportunities to enhance outcomes
• Support engagement and communication activities to ensure staff and interested and affected parties understand and contribute to the department’s strategic priorities
• Promote alignment and integration across teams to ensure coordinated execution of strategic and operational initiatives
  
  

Specific Portfolio Experience, Skills And Activities

Business Continuity/Emergency Response Portfolio

• Conduct Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRAs)
• Lead emergency response planning, pandemic preparedness planning, and business continuity planning, including labour disruption planning
• Facilitate the activation and coordination of Emergency Operations Centre
• Develop, deliver, and document trainings, exercises, and simulations
• Conduct after-action reviews and incorporate lessons learned into planning
  
  

Special Requirements

• Must maintain ability to travel on occasion in a timely manner to other offices, work locations or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.
  
  

About Us

Niagara Region serves a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000 and is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and community partners, the Region delivers high-quality programs and services that support the well-being of individuals, families and communities. Nestled between Lakes Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula is home to fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls, vibrant modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, and communities rich in history, recreation and culture. With a temperate climate, breathtaking countryside and easy access to neighbouring New York State, Niagara attracts more than 14 million visitors each year, along with new residents and businesses. Niagara Region values diversity in background and experience and is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the community it serves, strengthening programs and services across Niagara. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

We confirm that we do not use AI in screening of applicants, and this position is an existing vacancy.

If You Require An Accommodation For The Application Process In Accordance With The Ontario Human Rights Code And The Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act , The Alternate Formats For Contacting Us Are As Follows

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
• In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department