Director - emergency care

Job Title: Director - Emergency Care

Position Overview:

The Director, Emergency Care provides strategic and operational leadership for a complex, multi-site Emergency Care program across SHN, ensuring a high‑performing, integrated system of emergency services that delivers safe, high‑quality, patient‑ and family‑centred, evidence‑informed care.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing and Allied Health Professional Executive, the Director will foster a culture of clinical excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, education, and research, strengthening partnerships across clinical programs, physician leadership, corporate services, and external stakeholders. The role is responsible for program performance, patient outcomes, quality and safety, staff engagement, and effective resource stewardship, ensuring alignment with SHN’s strategic priorities.

The successful candidate brings progressive leadership experience within a complex, multi‑site acute care environment, with demonstrated success in leading change, advancing patient flow and access, and improving the patient and staff experience, ideally within Emergency Care.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure systems, processes, and structures are in place to support timely, effective clinical decision‑making and patient flow across Emergency Care services and the broader organization.
• Collaborate with Medical Directors, Program Business Managers, and interprofessional teams to establish and execute a clear program vision and strategy aligned with SHN’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Champion a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards, professional practice expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish, monitor, and act on key performance indicators (KPIs), including patient flow, access, quality outcomes, and patient experience, leveraging data to inform decisions and drive improvement.
• Lead operational and capital planning, including stewardship of financial, human, and physical resources to optimize efficiency and value.
• Develop and advance business cases and strategic initiatives to enhance service delivery, capacity, and care models.
• Foster an environment of accountability, psychological safety, and team engagement, enabling high‑performing teams and strong leadership at all levels.
• Enable and support clinical education, leadership development, and workforce planning, strengthening capability across the program.
• Partner with academic institutions and SHN Research Institute to advance innovation, research, and evidence‑informed practice.
• Build strong internal and external partnerships, including with community providers and regional health system partners, to improve care integration and patient transitions.
• Demonstrate commitment to and embed the principles of Patient and Family Centred Care in all aspects of service delivery.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a clinical or health‑related discipline; CHE or equivalent leadership designation preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in a complex acute care, multi‑site environment, ideally within Emergency Services.
• Demonstrated success in leading system‑level change, improving patient flow, and achieving sustainable performance outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of quality improvement methodologies (e.g., LEAN), performance measurement, and benchmarking practices.
• Proven ability to lead in a unionized environment, with a solid understanding of labour relations and workforce engagement strategies.
• Exceptional relationship‑building skills, with demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups, including physicians.
• Experience fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and high performance, with a focus on staff engagement and well‑being.
• Strong team engagement, facilitation, and coaching skills to build team morale and improve culture and employee retention.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including planning, resource allocation, and utilisation management.
• Strong fiscal experience including preparing budget proposals, briefing notes, and business cases, monitoring fiscal performance, and implementing strategies to improve efficiency and outcomes.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with the ability to lead within a diverse patient and staff population.
• Strong track record of ethical leadership, professionalism, and organisational stewardship.
• Excellent work performance and attendance record.

Accommodation and Diversity Statement

Scarborough Health Network (SHN) embraces and celebrates our community’s unique multicultural heritage and diversity. SHN is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a culture of inclusiveness and diversity reflecting our diverse patients, staff and community alike.

We are committed to fostering an environment of equity and inclusivity where every person can work and receive care safely, openly and honestly. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nation of origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital or family status, belief system, or other factors related to one’s personal identity and/or values.

We are committed to providing barrier‑free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.