Director Quality Assurance, Medical Services and Innovation

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular full‑time Director Quality Assurance Medical Services and Innovation to join the Office of VP Quality & Reg Affairs within the Quality and Regulatory Affairs division.

Responsibilities include leading and maintaining the quality assurance program that ensures the safe, compliant, and high‑performing delivery of Canadian Blood Services medical products and services. This includes oversight and continual improvement of quality systems for regulated areas such as stem cells, organs, tissues, donor and patient testing, and establishing the Quality Management System for new and emerging products and strategic innovations.

• Leveraging your demonstrated knowledge and expertise you will provide strong leadership, management and direction with respect to the development operation and continuous improvement of the quality assurance program within medical service business lines.
• You will ensure all activities within the Quality Assurance (Medical Services and Innovation) group are aligned with Canadian Blood Services corporate objectives and priorities and fully consider external developments, trends and the quality and regulatory environments.
• Drawing on your service‑oriented approach you will maintain a current awareness of all activities within the Quality Assurance Medical Services group and the QRA Division as a whole (e.g., projects, strategic plans) and provide direction, advice, guidance and assistance to the functional area Directors regarding Quality Assurance related activities or requirements.
• Concentrating on your strong attention to detail you will ensure that all activities with respect to quality assurance are in a state‑of‑control, complete and in compliance with applicable quality, regulatory and Canadian Blood Services requirements.
• You will be responsible for leading strategic planning activities for the Quality Assurance Medical Services group.
• Harnessing your strong risk management skills you will develop and lead the Quality Management System for novel and emerging medical products and services to ensure safe, compliant and efficient implementation. Design and implement risk‑based quality processes that support development through to operational launch and embed quality by design principles into research innovation and product development activities.
• You will align quality standards with evolving regulatory and accreditation expectations for cellular therapies, genomics and other related innovations.
• Focusing on your strong interpersonal skills you will provide guidance and support regarding quality assurance requirements and activities to the different Canadian Blood Services Divisions, Groups or Departments.
• Leveraging your excellent organizational skills you will ensure that all Divisions, Groups or Departments and/or sites are provided with all necessary information, guidance and tools required to effectively implement policies and procedures developed by the Quality Assurance Medical Services group.
• Using your ability to apply appropriate personnel management practices, you will recruit, evaluate and manage all employees of the Quality Assurance Medical Services group in the performance of their function and provide direction in the development of staff through effective coaching and performance management.
• Utilizing your ability to lead and work collaboratively across diverse teams you will provide leadership and direction in Canadian Blood Services corporate and QRA Division initiatives and provide direction to staff on quality assurance‑related issues, requirements, policies or procedures.
• You will actively participate in developing the clinical trial capability within the organization.
• You will prepare departmental budgets as required and monitor expenditures to demonstrate continuous improvement in departmental efficiencies and to ensure financial targets are achieved.
• Drawing on your excellent communication and presentation skills you will establish and maintain effective working relationships with various stakeholders and make presentations to the Board or Executive Management team as required.