Vice President - Medicine and Quality

Req ID: 226158
Location: Flexible within the province 
Department: VP Medicine
Type of Employment: Permanent Full-time
Posting Closing Date: 16-Sep-26

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Vice President is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and helps set the organization's overall vision, direction, and priorities. The Vice President is an experienced physician leader who oversees medical staff affairs and provides the clinical, operational, strategic, and cultural leadership needed to deliver integrated, high-value health services across the continuum of care while improving the health status of the populations served. The Vice President is responsible for quality and for overall leadership of medical programming and staffing within the health authority. Working in co-leadership with other Vice Presidents, this includes overseeing medical leadership in the delivery of quality health care and service, and overseeing medical structures such as zone and provincial medical advisory committees in accordance with medical by-laws. 

The Vice President builds effective relationships with key stakeholders such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, IWK Health, Government of Nova Scotia, Doctors Nova Scotia, the medical community, and other clinical and corporate services. The Vice President champions a research and innovation agenda, and supports interprofessional learning and medical education for students, residents and physicians. Other key responsibilities include leading physician recruitment and retention activities, including tracking and monitoring vacancy and recruitment efforts; supporting physician resource planning in collaboration with the Department of Health and Wellness; overseeing medical by-laws and medical, scientific, and dental staff privileging and credentialing processes, including performance planning and discipline; and leading physician leadership development, communication, and engagement.

Accountabilities

Strategy, Planning & Systems Performance

• Works with the Executive Team to establish a compelling vision for health services aligned with Nova Scotia Health’s mission, vision, and values, with a focus on improving health outcomes.
• Advises the President & CEO and Board on the organization, structure, policies, and practices of the provincially integrated medical function.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based health services plans that respond to population needs.
• Champions research, innovation and continuous improvement to advance health outcomes.

Quality & Patient Safety

• Leads the development and implementation of quality, patient safety, and quality improvement strategies to reduce risk and improve care.
• Establishes systems and metrics to measure quality, patient-centred care and organizational performance.
• Provides medical expertise to ensure safe, high-quality care and that medical staff meet provincial, regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Oversees quality, safety and risk management in collaboration with key departments and establishes appropriate governance and accountability structures.
• Ensures improvement initiatives and performance measures align with organizational priorities and supports meaningful physician involvement in quality and patient safety.
• Provides operational oversight of policy development and the Privacy Office.

Leadership, Partnerships & Relationships

• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with clinical, academic, government, and research partners to inform health service planning and decision-making.
• Represents Nova Scotia Health in regional, provincial, and national committees, working groups, and medical affairs.
• Develops strong relationships with physicians and key partners to support physician recruitment and retention.
• Serves as the primary organizational interface with the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Physician Leadership & Development

• Leads strategies to recruit, develop, engage, and retain physician leaders and support succession planning.
• Oversees physician recruitment, retention, and workforce strategies in partnership with government, IWK Health, and the medical community.
• Leads the Medical Affairs Office, including physician support and medical education.
• Strengthens physician performance management and promotes innovation, transformation and continuous improvement.
• Fosters a healthy, diverse and respectful workplace through effective talent management and employee development.

Communication & Engagement

• Leads communication and engagement strategies to ensure physicians understand organizational priorities and have opportunities to contribute to planning and improvement.
• Engages community physicians and partners in disease prevention, health promotion, and long-term health strategies.
• Promotes physician participation in quality improvement and process redesign.
• Serves as the public relations and media interface for issues affecting the medical portfolio.

Financial Stewardship & Accountability

• Ensures fiscally responsible management through effective business planning, forecasting, revenue/expenditure monitoring, and reporting.
• Ensures compliance with accountability, risk management, and procurement frameworks.
• Supports data-driven tools and approaches to manage cost and quality across the health system.
• Identifies opportunities to reduce variation in cost, quality, and resource utilization while improving clinical outcomes.

About You

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, with or without a specialty designation. A CCPE, MBA, or CHE designation is required, along with evidence of ongoing leadership development and training. Must be eligible for licensure in Nova Scotia.
• Certified Physician Executive (CPE) designation is considered an asset.
• Provincial and national committee experience preferred.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience as a practicing physician.
• Minimum of 7 to 10 years’ senior leadership experience within complex organizations, including responsibility for the planning, execution, and evaluation of strategic initiatives related to quality, performance, risk management, engagement, and safety across multiple sites, and in collaboration with diverse partners and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems, with a results-oriented approach and strong issues management skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written, with tact and diplomacy required to navigate complex relationships and achieve organizational objectives.
• Strong human resource and financial planning experience and competencies, with experience in resource management, budgets and long-term financial planning.
• Ability to exercise initiative and vision, be resourceful, work independently, work cooperatively, adapt easily to changes in direction, and to provide effective leadership.
• Experience engaging, mentoring, and empowering teams and stakeholders in a collaborative, participative manner to respond to the mission, vision, goals, and objectives.

Please ensure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant education, experience, training, and certifications.

Hours

• Permanent full-time position; 75 hours biweekly

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Scale Type: Executive
Band: NSHA VP Medicine
Hourly Rate: $167.38 - $209.22
Annual Salary: $326,386 - $407,982

Successful candidates may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health, dental, and travel insurance; long-term disability and life insurance coverage; and a defined benefit pension plan. Additional wellness, development and employee support programs may also be available.

What you'll love about Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health is more than the province's largest provider of health services; we're a team driven by excellence in health, healing and learning. Across hospitals, health centres and community programs, our people deliver innovative, high-quality care that impacts lives across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

From vibrant city life to scenic coastal communities, Nova Scotia offers a lifestyle as rewarding as the work itself. At Nova Scotia Health, you'll find meaningful career opportunities, supportive teams and the work-life balance to enjoy everything our beautiful province has to offer. Join us and discover why so many people are choosing to call Nova Scotia home.

Once You've Applied

Thank you for your interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Nova Scotia Health is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity, and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. We encourage all qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotian, Persons of Colour, Foreign Nationals/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply and self-identify.