Director, Innovation - CareNext

Work Type: Full Time – Director, Innovation - CareNext Location: WRHN @ Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital, KW Campus) Home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care services, Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) is committed to meeting the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. WRHN is redefining the health-care experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered community-driven health care. At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities. By listening to patients and partners, we strive to connect communities to the right care, at the right place, and at the right time. Please Note: New employees must provide documentation/proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, a 2-step TB test, as well as proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) prior to their start date at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN). New Employees will require clearance from Employee Health, Safety and Wellness before they are able to begin any position within WRHN. Position Summary : The Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) is establishing CareNext, an innovation initiative that brings together WRHN, the University of Waterloo, and industry leaders to transform healthcare delivery. CareNext is designed to bridge gaps between clinical care, research, and technology to drive the development, testing, and adoption of healthcare innovations. This position would lay the foundation for a sustainable, high-impact innovation function within the organization. Leading expertise in healthcare innovation, technology adoption, and organizational transformation. This role will be responsible for operationalizing CareNext, building WRHN’s innovation capacity, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the health network. Responsibilities: 1. Establishing and Leading WRHN’s Innovation Function

• Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy aligned with WRHN’s vision, ensuring innovation is integrated into the health network’s strategic plan.
• Position CareNext as WRHN’s primary innovation hub, supporting clinicians, researchers, and external partners in the development and scaling of transformative healthcare solutions.
• Structure, staff, and operationalize WRHN’s innovation team, ensuring it is resourced appropriately to drive both grassroots and strategic innovation initiatives.

2. Building Innovation Capacity Across WRHN

• Create internal innovation pathways and frameworks to support the identification, validation, and scaling of promising ideas within WRHN.
• Implement innovation readiness assessments to identify barriers and strengths within WRHN’s clinical, operational, and technological environments.
• Lead the development of training programs to equip WRHN staff with innovation skills, including human-centered design, design thinking, and strategic foresight.
• Establish a Co-Creation Unit to drive collaboration between clinical teams, researchers, and external partners on innovation projects.

3. Leading Key Innovation Initiatives

• Lead high-impact pilot projects that address clinical pain points, operational inefficiencies, and patient experience challenges.
• Implement technology evaluation protocols to assess feasibility, usability, and scalability of emerging digital health solutions.
• Develop and oversee idea generation platforms such as hackathons, innovation challenges, and internal crowdsourcing programs to harness the creativity of WRHN’s workforce.
• Position CareNext as a testing ground for new medical technologies and digital health tools.

4. Embedding a Culture of Innovation

• Implement incentive programs and recognition frameworks to celebrate innovation efforts across WRHN.
• Implement and nurture an Innovation Clinician and Administrator-in-Residence program to embed innovation into frontline care.
• Manage the creation of a community of practice for healthcare innovation, enabling knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving among clinicians, researchers, and external partners.

Position Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Innovation Management, Healthcare Administration, Business, Design Thinking, Health Informatics, or a related field.
• Additional training in human-centered design, digital health, or system transformation is an asset.
• 5+ years of experience in healthcare innovation, transformation leadership, or digital health strategy.
• Proven ability to operationalize innovation functions within large, complex organizations, preferably in healthcare.
• Experience designing and implementing co-creation processes, including working with frontline healthcare teams, researchers, and industry partners.
• Demonstrated experience in securing funding, managing innovation portfolios, and scaling successful pilots into system-wide initiatives.
• Familiarity with public-private partnerships, industry collaboration, and technology commercialization in healthcare.
• Strong understanding of Canadian healthcare systems, regulations, and funding mechanisms.

Application Instructions: EMPLOYEES OF LEGACY ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION ELECTRONICALLY USING INFOR. As per the collective agreement, the internal recruitment process will be completed prior to the consideration of external applications. Waterloo Regional Health Centre is committed to fair and equitable employment and in our recruitment and selection practices. We strongly believe in inclusion and diversity within our organization, and welcome all applicants including, but not limited to racialized communities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, Indigenous people, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Hospital community. We are committed to providing and fostering a respectful workplace for all employees, free from violence and harassment. Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. WRHN is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to provide an inclusive, barrier free workplace. We will accommodate the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Should you require this accommodation, please contact Human Resources. International Applicants If you are seeking employment on a temporary work or study permit we recommend reviewing work permit restrictions as it applies to healthcare organizations in Canada. Individuals holding a work or study permit seeking employment in the healthcare sector may be required to complete additional steps in the process. This may also apply to current employees seeking renewal of their work permits. It is the accountability of the applicant and/or employee to ensure they are adhering to their specific work permit restrictions. We would like to thank all candidates in advance for their interest and only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we are unable to confirm the receipt of individual applications or resumes.