Summary of Duties
The Manager, Decision Support and Advanced Analytics is accountable for leading a team in the development, deployment and maintenance of reporting and analytics, including business intelligence (BI) solutions, ad-hoc requests, briefing notes and presentations. The Decision Support team is accountable for mandatory external reporting as well as internal reporting to Board Committees, Senior Leadership and Clinical Program Areas. The team prioritizes accuracy, integrity and timeliness of information, as reporting directly informs strategic corporate decisions, reporting on the public website, mandated requirements and external communications.
This role requires a strong working knowledge of the Ontario Health and Ministry of Health funding environment, including volume-based funding models, utilization metrics, and the data needed to support funding submissions, Accountability Agreements and related negotiations. The Manager ensures Sunnybrook's data and analysis put the organization in the strongest possible position when funding decisions are made.
This role also requires excellent project management skills to guide the team in an agile work environment leading multiple high priority projects, enhancements, operational work, support requests, and the evolution of best practices and standards for analytics and reporting in a dynamic healthcare environment. Strong communication skills are required to translate technical and complex analyses, including outputs developed with the support of AI-enabled tools, into conclusions that are clear, concise and accurate. The Manager brings practical, day-to-day fluency with AI tools, using them as a routine part of analysis, reporting and communication, and works closely with the Business Intelligence team to develop and manage data flows, supporting streamlined and scalable analytical reporting solutions.
Advanced analytics and applied AI are core areas of focus for Sunnybrook. The Manager, Decision Support and Advanced Analytics co-chairs the Advanced Analytics Working Group and leads the organization's Analytical Roadmap, including the application of predictive analytics, simulation, natural language processing and generative AI tools, such as Claude and Copilot, to support evidence-informed decision making and quality improvement across the organization, within appropriate data governance and privacy guardrails.
Areas of Responsibility:
Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics
- Co-Chair of the Decision Support Business Intelligence Governance Steering Committee: developing and executing a vision for business intelligence, providing oversight for key working groups including metadata management, data quality, privacy and security, Power BI and user experience.
- Shape data governance as an enterprise-wide framework of people, policies, processes and standards that ensures the secure, high-quality management of clinical, corporate and operational data across its lifecycle.
- Lead the BI engagement strategy, ensuring high uptake of reports, ease of navigation and routine review of user needs.
- Foster data literacy across the organization, advancing self-service analytics and building the capability of leaders, clinicians and staff to use data and analytics for evidence-informed decision making and continuous improvement.
- Support the training and skill development of Decision Support analysts and consultants in the creation and maintenance of BI dashboards and reports, applying best-practice techniques.
- Develop and execute the Advanced Analytics Roadmap within Decision Support, defining key projects, outlining appropriate methodologies and guiding end-to-end deliverables for high-need areas across the organization.
- Embed AI-enabled tools into the team's day-to-day operations, from ad-hoc requests to routine reporting, identifying opportunities to accelerate analysis, automate repetitive work and enhance conversational access to data, while establishing governance guardrails that protect data privacy and integrity.
Reporting and Communication
- Support senior leadership in the development, reporting and interpretation of indicators and statistical analyses, supporting strategic initiatives.
- Provide strategic advice on the impact of clinical and operational changes on hospital funding (e.g., GEM, QBP, other volume funding), efficiency and utilization metrics, and Accountability Agreement deliverables.
- Maintain current, detailed knowledge of the Ontario Health and Ministry of Health funding environment, translating policy and methodology changes into practical implications for Sunnybrook, ensuring this intelligence informs funding submissions and negotiations.
- Validate, monitor and provide interpretation on benchmarking and comparative reporting; understand drivers of performance and provide analysis and recommendations to support improvements in efficiency, utilization and operations.
- Provide analysis, advice, interpretation and recommendations on the completion of Ministry of Health and Ontario Health reports, surveys and questionnaires.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with Ontario Health, the Ministry of Health, CIHI, academic institutions and peer hospitals to advance analytics, performance measurement and system-level reporting.
- Manage the reporting cycle for key dashboards (strategy reports, program dashboards, etc.), including report design, implementation and maintenance, as well as interpretation and translation into material for Board Committees, Senior Management and external publication.
- Manage the production, analysis and interpretation of Quality & Patient Safety and Patient Satisfaction reporting to internal committees and the Board.
- Provide leadership and expertise in enhancing reports to increase analytical capability, including the day-to-day use of AI-assisted synthesis to prepare clear, decision-ready narratives for Senior Leadership and the Board.
- Liaise with Quality & Patient Safety, Infection Prevention & Control, Information Services, Health Data Resources, Finance and other departments to ensure internal performance measurement activities are aligned with external reporting requirements.
High Performing Team
- Provide leadership and management to the team, including hiring staff, training and advising new and existing staff, evaluating staff performance, coaching and mentorship, delegating and coordinating work among staff, and providing guidance, direction and clarification to staff.
- Liaise with the Business Intelligence team and other departments regarding the preparation, use and submission of clinical and financial information.
- Accountable for the output and performance of the team; identify and resolve issues in a timely manner.
- Support and oversee the team's involvement in strategic initiatives; prioritize multiple deadlines and ensure balanced workload.
- Build team fluency in applying AI tools as part of everyday analytics and reporting work, not just discrete projects, ensuring staff use these tools with sound judgment and in compliance with privacy and data governance standards.
Qualifications/Skills
- Baccalaureate degree required; Master's degree preferred.
- Proven track record of leading a team for 5+ years.
- Exceptional technical skills related to working with complex data models (relational and multi-dimensional), including SQL skills; Microsoft Power BI experience is an asset.
- Advanced understanding of analytical and statistical techniques.
- Advanced understanding of project management and documentation tools such as JIRA Kanban, SharePoint, etc.
- Expert knowledge of Ontario hospital funding and case-mix methodologies (e.g., CMG+, HIG) and key provincial datasets (e.g., DAD, NACRS), with experience assessing the impact of clinical and operational change on utilization and funding.
- Strong, current understanding of the Ontario Health and Ministry of Health funding environment, and how data is used to inform and support funding decisions.
- Practical, day-to-day experience leveraging generative AI tools in routine analysis, reporting and business communication, with sound judgment for their responsible use on sensitive health data.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Understanding of business intelligence development and deployment best practices.
- Understanding of hospital operations and healthcare performance indicators.
- Understanding of hospital clinical and administrative data.
- Advanced project management skills.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Strong leadership and mentorship for staff.
- Able to organize, plan and prioritize work with time constraints and strict deadlines.
- Self-motivated, a team player who can engage the team to excel.
- Proven ability to work effectively in large and complex organizations.
