Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing and Cytology Advisor

Role title: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing and Cytology Advisor

Reports to: Provincial Medical Director, Cancer Control

Operational accountability: Riley Crotta, Manager, Ontario Cervical Screening Program

Location: Virtual

Anticipated time commitment: Maximum of 111 hours per year

Term: 2 years with option for 2-year renewal

Number of opportunities: 1

Posting date: August 27, 2025

Closing date: September 26, 2025

Position summary

Ontario Health is seeking expressions of interest from qualified candidates for the position of HPV Testing and Cytology Advisor. This is a unique opportunity to provide expertise to support Ontario Health’s Ontario Cervical Screening Program (“OCSP”). This opportunity is open to all qualified candidates.

Ontario Health has four organized population-based cancer screening programs (breast, cervical, colorectal and lung). Ontario Health has recently implemented human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in cervical screening and colposcopy. The HPV Testing and Cytology Advisor will support Ontario Health’s efforts to provide high quality cervical screening by providing guidance and expertise on the HPV test system, cytology/cytopathology and related laboratory processes.

Questions about the role may be submitted by email no later than September 15, 2025.

A consolidated list of all questions and answers will be available to any party, by request, by September 19, 2025.

Interested parties should forward their expression of interest and curriculum vitae, electronically, with the subject line as “Application for HPV Testing Cytology Advisor - [Your Name]” no later than 5:00 P.M. on September 26, 2025.

To send a question, receive a copy of the consolidated list of questions and answers, or to submit your expression of interest, please contact Sourcing@ontariohealth.ca.

*Note: Responses to the expression of interest should address all of the qualifications listed and any potential conflict of interest.

Accountabilities

The key responsibilities of this role are:

• Provide cytology, molecular HPV assay and platform expertise for the OCSP
• Provide expertise for the laboratory quality program for HPV and cytology testing, which encompasses pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processes, including internal quality control, proficiency testing and external quality assurance
• Assess laboratory quality assurance results and performance data, including internal quality control results as well as external quality assurance results
• Review technical laboratory reports, including analytical test performance reports for operational and quality monitoring purposes as well as program reports
• Identify and advise on laboratory service provider and HPV testing platform issues or risks, including recommended strategies for mitigation and resolution
• Work with the OCSP and laboratory service provider to identify opportunities for continuous program improvement, as required
• Provide expert input to the program to support the phased expansion of self-collected HPV testing including monitoring of requirements for test characteristics and laboratory standards, and review of evidence, test system validation methodology and other related materials

Qualifications

• Education and experience in molecular biology, laboratory medicine and pathology or equivalent
• In-depth knowledge of cytology, molecular HPV assay and platform technologies and performance is required
• Experience reviewing clinical validation studies published in the peer-reviewed literature and performance data for HPV assays or viral assays is required
• Knowledge of international validation criteria (i.e., 2009 Meijer criteria and VALGENT protocol) used to determine the suitability of HPV assays for use in primary cervical screening is required
• Knowledge of available and emerging HPV test self-sampling technologies is required
• Experience overseeing or assisting with HPV test platform method validation in a laboratory setting is required
• Experience working with HPV assays and platforms in a medical laboratory setting is an asset
• Experience of implementing new technology in cervical screening is required
• Experience providing quality oversight for HPV testing and cytology in a population-based cervical screening program is required
• Knowledge of population health, organized screening programs, disease prevention and health promotion including analysing data in an organized screening program is required

How to apply:

Interested parties should forward their expression of interest and curriculum vitae, electronically, with the subject line as “Application for HPV Testing Cytology Advisor - [Your Name]” no later than 5:00 P.M. on September 26, 2025 to Sourcing@ontariohealth.ca.

*Note: Responses to the expression of interest should address all of the qualifications listed and any potential conflict of interest.

We will evaluate all applications against the skills and experience requirements for the position. Those candidates selected for interview will be contacted directly by a representative from the Business Unit. Ontario Health may consider applications from incumbents currently in the position. If you have not been contacted within 3 weeks after the close of the posting, you can assume you are not under consideration for this position.

More about Ontario Health:

Ontario Health is an agency created by the Government of Ontario with a mandate to connect and coordinate Ontario’s health care system in ways that have not been done before, to help ensure that Ontarians receive the best possible care.

Ontario Health oversees health care delivery across the province, which includes ensuring front-line providers and other health professionals have the tools and information they need to deliver the best possible care within their communities. This also means simplifying the current system and connecting and coordinating its many complex parts in new and innovative ways. This involves keeping a close eye on how the health system is performing and providing evidence-based standards and improvements to address any gaps.

Ontario Health helps to support significant and important transformation in Ontario’s health system, working to ease the transition between points of care for Ontarians and helping to ensure they have access to the care they need. Ontario Health is adapting world-renowned practices from areas such as cancer care and renal care to other parts of the system, including mental health and addictions.

Through integration, coordination, connection, and clinical excellence, Ontario Health is working to reduce strain on the system which will enable investment of more resources on the care Ontarians need, and, most importantly, improve health outcomes and overall wellness for all.

As an operational service agency of the Government of Ontario, Ontario Health is accountable for conducting a fair and transparent process, providing equal treatment to all qualified parties, in selecting a candidate for the above mentioned role.