Joining the team

This job ad from monster.ca is unusually frank in its requirement that the new manager must fit in.

DEPARTMENT MANAGER, DOCUMENTATION
About the Job

What will TD Insurance do for you:

We are a growing organization that offers challenging opportunities in a dynamic, team environment.​ We offer flexible benefits and compensation packages that allow our employees to make choices that fit their individual lifestyles.

Benefits include:

* Competitive Salary, plus bonus
* Comprehensive Benefits Program
* Pension Plan and RRSP
* TD Banking benefits
* Ongoing Training & Development
* Education Assistance Program
* Fun and Friendly Work Environment

DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Manager, Administrative Services, the incumbent is responsible for managing the day-to-day Claims Documentation functions.​ The Department Manager is responsible for providing leadership and direction to members of personnel; delivering and maintaining the quality of service to internal clients in accordance with Company policies and procedures; and working closely with management team to ensure efficiency of the departments.​ The incumbent is also responsible for organizing and implementing the closed claim file archiving process.​ Scheduled hours of work: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

· Organizes, directs and manages the workload and output of the Documentation department in support of Claims functions.

· Monitors the quality of the workload and output of the department and ensures it meets Company standards.

· Monitors the quantity of workload and reallocates resources as necessary to ensure efficiency and productivity levels are achieved.

· Tracks interruptions/​problems of workflow and offers solutions.

· Liases with management team regarding issues relating to the efficiency of the department.

· Communicates expectations to team members; manages performance and provides ongoing coaching, feedback and recognition on all productivity and quality aspects.

· Creates and fosters a motivating work environment.

· Manages the implementation of change within the team.

· Establishes and maintains effective relationships with the Claims Team.

· Ensures all client requests are handled in a timely manner.

· Remains current on all company philosophies and procedures.

· Works on special projects, as required.

SKILLS AND CRITICAL COMPENTENCIES:

· You have a minimum of three years experience managing a team.

· You are able to create and sustain positive team spirit and a constructive working environment within the team.

· You have a superior client service orientation.

· You take a pro-active approach to meeting the needs of internal clients.

· You demonstrate superior interpersonal and communication skills.

· You demonstrate strong leadership skills.

· You possess excellent organization and time management skills.

· You have the ability to prioritize tasks effectively and efficiently.

· You have a thorough understanding of the coaching process and the techniques required to coach people.

· You demonstrate support for change and understand basic change principles.

· You display flexibility in working relationships.

· You demonstrate team spirit and promote a positive morale.

· You are analytical and detail oriented.

· You are able to function effectively in a fast-paced environment.

· You are able to work under pressure and under minimum supervision.

· You demonstrate a professional image and manner.

· You have excellent communication skills (verbal and written).

· You are flexible in your hours of work.

· Your knowledge of AS400, Microsoft Office and Outlook programs is an asset.

Please submit your resume to ontario.​career@​tdinsurance.​com

with reference code DMETO on the subject line of your email.

An imaginative brochure

an illustrated handbook of birds, originally uploaded by ip_cynthia.

I’m fascinated by the myriad ways that people can use paper to entice readers, especially in brochures and mail.

Cynthia in Hong Kong has produced “An illustrated handbook of birds” that is shaped like a bird. It’s meant to attract and educate children and to interest them in conservation.

You can see a more images of the brochure on Flickr.

Ars Technica: Software patents

Ars Technica has an interesting point about whether we need software patents. They seem to stifle innovation, while copyright laws would do what the patents are supposed to do: protect the software designer’s original work. Read their article: “Software patents—there’s no baby in that bathwater.”

DMCA claims made simple

Sendspace, a free file hosting service, has explained clearly and simply who can make a claim of copyright infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and who can not:

You MUST provide the following information:

1. Identify yourself as either:
   • The owner of a copyrighted work(s) or
   • A person “authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.”
2. Provide contact information that is reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, a valid electronic mail address.
3. State that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agents, or the law.
4. State that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

(For more details on the information required for valid notification, see 17 U.S.C. 512(c)(3).)

You should be aware that, under the DMCA, claimants who make misrepresentations concerning copyright infringement may be liable for damages incurred as a result of the removal or blocking of the material, court costs, and attorneys fees.

Unfortunately, their privace policy does not assure users that the content of their submitted files will not be read, reviewed, examined, combed over, analyzed, used for marketing research, aggregated, nor sold. That is a serious security omission for anyone with confidential information and makes me unwilling to use the service until I hear back from them about it.

Wikepedia: should it be exclusive or inclusive?

One of the things I really like about Wikipedia is that it’s great for finding about popular culture. If you want to know the discography of an obscure grunge band or the backstory of an anime character, Wikipedia probably has it.

But, apparently, there’s a large-scale disagreement among its editors about how much to include—see “Wikipedia approaches its limits.” The original aim was to include articles about significant topics. But, each trade or hobby has its own significant topics—its own history, jargon, prizes, heroes, and villains.

I tend to side with the inclusionists because I can ignore what I don’t want; in fact, it won’t even come up in my searches. How much would you include?

Nondisclosure agreements

What do you get when you cross a lawyer with an orc?

Content strategy

Rachel Lovinger, a content strategist, has an article on Boxes & Arrows about what Content Strategy is. Hint: It includes design. She contends that

as interactive experiences become more complex, so does the nature of content. A superficial understanding of content isn’t going to cut it anymore. Content strategists in the digital age need to become data philosophers and explore the metaphysics of content, starting with the question “What is content?”

Hat tip: Writer River

STC is retiring its discussion forum

The STC international organization is retiring its STC Forum as of July 31. As of July 8, the forum was closed to new posts. Members have until the end of the month to retrieve their posts to save elsewhere.  Here’s the notice:

The STC Forum will be retired July 31, 2009 in favor of new activities and closed to new posts on July 8. If you have posted information there that you want to keep, please capture it.

“The Forum served members and nonmembers by providing opportunities for questions, comments, and suggestions in more than two dozen areas,” lauded STC President Cindy Currie. “The discussions have been of use as a snapshot of how the contributors felt about issues and, at times, have been an outlet for members and nonmembers to vent about industry and other challenges.”

“Currie indicated several options for the next generation of a hosted service are being considered by the Board of Directors. In the meantime, Bill Swallow has created a password-protected website on Ning (stcideas.ning.com) to capture discussions about how STC can deal with the current economic crisis and invites members to participate. He can be contacted by Email.

I have heard that the STC Forum wiki will also disappear, but I’m not sure whether that’s the case. It seems likely, though.

Jobs in science and technology

Here are a few links for career opportunities or contracts in science and technology:

• Hydro One in Brampton is looking for…
  
  • Manager of Engineering, responsible to lead a team of technical staff in the Engineering Design, Planning and Standards, Projects, and Technical Services Departments. This position reports to the Vice President of Engineering & Operations and has 5 management level direct reports. The successful candidate will be an Electrical Engineer with extensive distribution utility experience and excellent organizational, communications and supervisory skills.
  • Drafting & Records Supervisor, who will be responsible for the GIS Records System, including the creation, accuracy and maintenance and development of many supporting corporate databases; be responsible for the creation, maintenance and accuracy of all Engineering & Construction Drawings, Schematics and Miscellaneous Drawing Products; and who will supervise and monitor the activities of the Drafting & Records staff.

Indexing Society of Canada’s 2009 conference

The Indexing Society of Canada/ Société canadienne d’indexation (ISC / SCI) are holding their national conference today and tomorrow in Toronto at the University of Toronto.

You can find the programme here.