Head and Chief, Department of Pediatrics: Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine, IWK Health and Central Zone Nova Scotia Health

About the Opportunity 

The Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health are jointly recruiting a new academic and administrative leader for the Department of Pediatrics. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced and accomplished individual with proven leadership, vision, and clinical and academic credibility. The Head position is a five-year, limited-term appointment. The Head position is subject to renewal for a second five-year term, conditional on satisfactory annual performance evaluations and a positive review of the first term as Head. A Continuing Appointment in the Department of Pediatrics will also be offered to the successful applicant. 

Dalhousie University’s Medical School serves the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and for selected pediatric services, Newfoundland and Labrador.  IWK Health is an internationally recognized academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As one of two provincial health authorities in Nova Scotia, IWK Health is shaping, cultivating and stewarding the health agenda for families and has charted an ambitious course to world-class outcomes. The Department of Pediatrics encompasses a full range of pediatric subspecialties and has active teaching and research programs in both clinical and basic science. Nova Scotia Health, the largest health authority in Nova Scotia is responsible for providing pediatric services outside of IWK Health.

The Head and Chief provides dynamic leadership, and vision to meet the goals and objectives of IWK Health ensuring the highest quality of care, education and research aligned strategically and operationally to meet the needs of an integrated health system. The incumbent must be a strategic systems level thinker with excellent interpersonal skills to negotiate, nurture and leverage opportunities that maximize productivity through collaboration, partnership and integration of academic and clinical practice.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is a vibrant and growing ocean-front city with a population of approximately 500,000. Halifax boasts diverse neighbourhoods many of which are an easy walk, bike, or short drive to IWK Health. Enjoy many excellent restaurants and cafes as well as frequent community events around the city. A quick drive outside the city will bring you to spectacular beaches, vineyards, hiking and mountain bike trails, sailing, surfing, and other outdoor adventures. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. Nova Scotia has the highest percentage of people with disabilities and the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face.

Experience and Qualifications 

The successful candidate will have an MD Degree or equivalent, hold or be eligible for medical licensure in Nova Scotia and hold or be eligible to sit for certification in a medical specialty by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada, or equivalent.

To be considered for this role you must embody the principles of accountability, transparency, and fairness. You are an experienced academic and clinical leader; team player and outstanding communicator and you will use your skills and experience to create a positive and effective environment to enable an excellent care and learning experience. In addition, you can balance and achieve alignment between the academic mandate of the department and the IWK's strategic directions. Finally, it is essential that the candidate bring a breadth of experience and proven leadership related to issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The work environment is strongly collaborative and professional and is distinguished by close-working relationships and dynamic partnerships. 

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians) and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, and persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.

If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.

While applications will be accepted until the position is filled, we strongly encourage you to apply through this link by Jan. 17, 2025, when candidate review will begin. This position could commence as early as July 1, 2025.

How to Apply

Applications must include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and summary of teaching and research statements. You will also be prompted to complete a self-identification questionnaire via the application portal (PeopleAdmin), which is a required component of the application. Apply here: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/18007.