Acting Senior Manager, Post Market Drug Evaluation

Position: Acting Senior Manager, Post-Market Drug Evaluation

Status: Full time, temporary, 14 months

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, or Toronto, Ontario (hybrid)

Closing date: July 24, 2026

Salary range: $119,430 to $145,970 per year

Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) is a pan-Canadian health organization. We are an independent, not-for-profit organization with offices in Ottawa and Toronto. Created and funded by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments, we drive better coordination, alignment, and public value within Canada’s drug, health technology, and health systems landscape. We provide health system leaders in Canada with independent evidence and advice, empowering them to make informed decisions about drugs, health technologies, and broader health system strategies and investments, and we collaborate with national and international partners to enhance our collective impact.

CDA-AMC was named 1 of the National Capital Region’s top employers for the third year in a row. This recognition celebrates our dedication to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment that nurtures growth and innovation. It reaffirms our ongoing efforts to create an outstanding workplace where our employees thrive and feel valued.

Hybrid Work Arrangement

At CDA-AMC, employees participate in a hybrid workspace arrangement that allows for flexibility and enhanced work-life balance. We believe in the positive impact of in-person collaboration and the importance of team building. This position follows a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of 2 days onsite, though this requirement may vary based on business and operational needs.

Primary Focus

We are seeking to fill a current opening on our Pharmaceutical Policy and Post-Market Drug Evaluation (PMDE) team. The Acting Senior Manager, Post-Market Drug Evaluation provides strategic and operational leadership for the PMDE program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, timely, and impactful postmarket drug evaluations. Reporting to the Director, Pharmaceutical Policy and PMDE, the Senior Manager is accountable for overseeing a national network of multidisciplinary research partners (CoLab) and ensuring effective stewardship of the program’s financial and operational resources. The role provides leadership across all aspects of program planning, grants and contracts, research delivery, engagement, and performance management. The Senior Manager will work with the Director, Pharmaceutical Policy and PMDE to identify internal organizational synergies and set overall priorities that will shape how Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) approaches postmarket drug evaluations and life cycle health technology assessments.

What do the daily responsibilities look like?

On any given day, the Acting Senior Manager, Post-Market Drug Evaluation will:

• provide strategic and operational leadership for the PMDE program, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities of CDA-AMC and the delivery of high-quality, timely, and impactful postmarket drug evaluations
• provide strategic insight into the advancement of the PMDE program by proactively identifying opportunities to advance current work and identify opportunities to strengthen the effectiveness of the PMDE program
• proactively identify, assess, and escalate risks that may affect delivery, project scope, or reputation of the PMDE program
• monitor advancements in real-world evidence to ensure the PMDE program aligns with current standards and best practice
• oversee the program’s overall progress toward its business and strategic plan priorities and be responsible for reporting on the program to senior leadership and our funders by:
• providing oversight on the annual operating budget of the PMDE program, including CoLab grants, by monitoring quarterly and monthly performance, analyzing variances, and providing leadership with recommendations on reallocating funds as needed to ensure resources are allocated effectively
• overseeing the capacity, performance, and development of the PMDE team and national CoLab research network, while ensuring operational efficiencies (e.g., prioritization and resource allocation) where possible
• monitoring and managing projects to ensure the deliverable continues to meet customer needs, while managing contracts and other internal processes
• working collaboratively with others across the organization to enhance delivery, uptake, and impact of deliverables by the PMDE program
• building and maintaining strategic partnerships with CoLab partners and collaborators in the postmarket space (e.g., clinical experts, real-world data analysts, methodologists, and experts) to advance research excellence
• continuously seeking ways to improve the quality and timeliness of deliverables.
• lead the development, procurement, and management of grants, standing offers, and contracts, including competitive request for proposal (RFP) processes to engage high-quality research partners
• foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence across the CoLab network of funded and contracted research teams
• represent the PMDE program externally, meeting regularly with decision-makers (federal, provincial, and territorial drug plans) to better understand their needs and identify potential query topics, providing training and presentations as required, and keeping customers appraised of ongoing query work
• collaborate with the Strategy and Governance team to develop and maintain performance metrics and key performance indicators, such as time to completion, quantity and quality of outputs from CoLab, budgeting versus resource allocation, customer satisfaction
• provide oversight of strategic partnership agreements, including collaboration between PMDE and l’Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS), ensuring effective governance, delivery, and alignment with shared objectives
• coach, counsel, and develop employees, ensuring compliance with systems, policies, and procedures
• evaluate current practices and program outcomes and lead quality-improvement initiatives based on work priorities, directorate strategy, and goals
• lead and facilitate change management initiatives to support the implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement of organizational processes
• attend and/or lead relevant internal and external meetings to maintain awareness and to contribute to project deliverables
• work collaboratively with other directorates and/or interest holders to promote CDA-AMC products and high-quality standards
• perform other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Is this the right role for you?

The Acting Senior Manager, Post-Market Drug Evaluation will likely have:

• a graduate degree in a health research-related discipline, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a related area of study with progressive experience, including leadership experience; additional related experience may serve as a suitable equivalent for completion of postsecondary education
• knowledge and understanding of drug therapy, pharmacoeconomic and drug evaluation principles, health policy, and how best to optimize uptake and impact of evidence-based information in the health sector
• financial literacy, including the ability to review budgets and financial reports
• knowledge and experience in research methods used in the development and application of health technology assessments, ideally including real-world data and real-world evidence and knowledge of the academic research landscape
• an understanding of the health care systems in Canada and knowledge of the decision-making processes within the federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions, specifically around the drug life cycle
• a strategic mindset with demonstrated ability to understand long-term organizational strategy and vision
• strong people leadership and mentorship skills and experience
• the ability to provide inspirational leadership, energizing and creating a sense of direction and purpose for employees, momentum for change, and support in complex and demanding situations
• the ability to take an innovative and inventive approach to looking at organizational priorities and opportunities, take responsible risks and a drive for results and efficiency.

What will set you apart?

The following qualifications may help you stand out:

• fluency in French.

What’s in it for you?

At CDA-AMC, you will find:

• a team-focused, supportive, and inclusive work environment
• a competitive compensation package, including participation in a defined benefit pension plan with the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• a comprehensive benefits package for employees and dependents, including health, dental, life, and travel insurance; spending accounts to meet your health care and individual wellness needs; and an employee assistance program
• generous paid time off (including a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation, paid sick leave and life leave, a December holiday closure, your birthday as a paid day off, and other leave options)
• flexible hours and a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance
• opportunities to work with and learn from highly specialized professionals
• personal growth through professional development opportunities, corporate training, and support for continuing education
• a friendly culture in which community engagement is supported and people’s efforts and important milestones are recognized
• the opportunity to make a difference for people living in Canada and effect positive change.

To apply for this position, visit the Careers section of our website. Your application must clearly identify how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role. You can also share a portfolio or work samples to showcase your skills and experience to give us a clearer understanding of what you can do. Applications for this opportunity may be used for future staffing vacancies. We thank you for your interest; however, only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to help us get to know you, and for you to get to know us. It includes introductory calls, a panel interview, and opportunities to showcase your skills. You’ll also have time to ask questions and explore how you can contribute to the team and organization.

All applications are reviewed by our talent acquisition professionals at CDA-AMC, with hiring decisions made collaboratively with hiring managers. We use an HR system to receive and process applications, along with automated screening questions and sorting tools to support the initial review. Artificial intelligence (AI) features may also be used to assist with interview preparation and candidate assessment. These tools are designed to support our team and do not replace human judgment. If you have any questions about how your data are used, please reach out to us at ***email_hidden***.

At CDA-AMC, our employees share a passion for building the future of the health systems in Canada. We recognize that our employees bring diverse strengths, experiences, and backgrounds. One of our collective strengths is our culture and our commitment to creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

CDA-AMC is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We highly encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including Indigenous people, people of all places of origin and religions, people with disabilities, people who are neurodivergent, people who are racialized, women, and people from 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

We provide accommodations during all phases of the recruitment process. If you require any accommodations, please let the Talent Acquisition team know when they contact you. We will work with you to meet your needs.

Please note that, as a condition of employment, successful candidates will be required to complete a confidential pre-employment background check, including criminal, employment, and education verifications.

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada.