Chief Executive Officer

MNP Executive Search & Professional Recruitment; Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Health Region seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization’s strategy, governance, and performance across northern Manitoba’s healthcare system.

Reporting to the Board, the CEO will oversee regional planning, financial stewardship, workforce development, Indigenous partnerships, and a commitment to culturally safe care. This role requires travel to outlying communities and a deep dedication to improving health outcomes in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to advance the Northern Health Region's mission, vision, values, and long-term priorities.
• Oversee regional governance, performance reporting to the Board, and ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
• Lead Indigenous partnerships, reconciliation, and Indigenous health equity initiatives across organizational planning and service delivery.
• Direct quality, patient safety, and service excellence across all communities served by the region.
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, procurement, and resource allocation to ensure sustainable healthcare delivery.

Job description

About Northern Health Region

The Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering healthcare services across northern Manitoba, serving a population of more than 76,000 residents over an area that represents approximately 60% of Manitoba’s land mass. Through a network of hospitals, long-term care facilities, primary care clinics, and specialized treatment centres, the NRHA provides essential health services to diverse urban, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities throughout the region.

About Northern Health Region

The Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering healthcare services across northern Manitoba, serving a population of more than 76,000 residents over an area that represents approximately 60% of Manitoba’s land mass. Through a network of hospitals, long-term care facilities, primary care clinics, and specialized treatment centres, the NRHA provides essential health services to diverse urban, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities throughout the region. The region’s primary service hubs, Thompson, The Pas, and Flin Flon, offer the broadest range of healthcare services and provide critical support to communities across the North. The NRHA’s healthcare network includes six hospitals, four long-term care facilities, four primary care clinics, and two substance use and recovery treatment facilities, supported by dedicated healthcare professionals committed to improving health outcomes and advancing equitable access to care. Northern Manitoba offers a unique blend of professional opportunity and exceptional quality of life. The region is renowned for its pristine lakes, expansive boreal forests, abundant wildlife, and year‑round recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy access to outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, skiing, hunting, and snowmobiling, while benefiting from the strong sense of community and connection that defines life in the North. The NRHA maintains regional offices in Thompson, The Pas, and Flin Flon, enabling close collaboration with communities, healthcare providers, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders across the region. Guided by a commitment to patient‑centred care, health equity, and sustainable service delivery, the NRHA plays a vital role in supporting the health and well‑being of northern Manitobans. The NRHA serves a population in which nearly three‑quarters of residents self‑identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit, underscoring the importance of culturally safe, equitable, and community‑informed healthcare services throughout the region.

Download the Full Job Description: NRHA- Chief Executive Officer- Position Profile.pdf

Vision

Accessible, respectful, inclusive and safe healthcare for everyone.

Mission

We provide healthcare in a way that grows trust, inclusion and an understanding of patient needs to provide the best patient experience. We do that through people centred care and supporting our staff in a respectful, culturally safe environment. We are committed to meaningful partnerships with Indigenous partners, government agencies and other healthcare organizations as we strive to bring timely, equitable access to healthcare for the North.

Values

Trust, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Humility

About The Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic, operational, financial, and cultural leadership for the Northern Health Region (NHR), ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, sustainable healthcare services across northern, rural, and remote communities.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is accountable for organizational performance, governance, workforce sustainability, system transformation, and effective partnerships with Indigenous communities, governments, staff, physicians, stakeholders, and health system partners.

A key responsibility of the role is advancing First Nations health equity, reconciliation, cultural safety, and anti-Indigenous racism initiatives through respectful partnerships, shared accountability, and community-informed decision‑making. The CEO ensures culturally safe, trauma‑informed, and distinctions‑based approaches are embedded throughout organizational planning, service delivery, workforce development, quality improvement, and patient care.

The CEO serves as the Board's sole employee and is responsible for implementing Board direction, achieving strategic priorities, and ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, and governance requirements.

This position requires service and extensive travel to outlying communities within the region and the province.

Key Leadership Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership, Governance & Organizational Performance

Provide strategic leadership to advance the Northern Health Region's mission, vision, values, and long‑term priorities while ensuring alignment with Board direction, provincial healthcare priorities, community health needs and Indigenous self‑determination and shared leadership frameworks.

The CEO serves as the primary advisor to the Board and is accountable for organizational performance, governance excellence, and achievement of strategic objectives.

• Lead the implementation, evaluation, and ongoing refinement of the Regional Health Plan and organizational priorities.
• Monitor organizational performance and report progress, risks, opportunities, and outcomes to the Board.
• Recommend strategic initiatives, policies, and long‑term plans that support organizational sustainability and improved health outcomes.
• Establish organizational priorities and strategic direction within Board‑approved policies and governance frameworks.
• Promote innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and system‑wide performance excellence.
• Ensure organizational performance, legislative compliance, and achievement of Board expectations.

• Indigenous Partnerships, Reconciliation & Health Equity

Advance meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities, leadership, and organizations while championing reconciliation, Indigenous health equity, cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism initiatives and Indigenous self‑determination through the integration of Indigenous governance principles across organizational leadership, strategy, and decision‑making.

• Foster respectful, collaborative relationships with First Nations leadership, communities, and organizations.
• Advance reconciliation, Indigenous health equity, cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism initiatives across the organization.
• Support the development and implementation of distinctions‑based, community‑led health and wellness priorities.
• Establish shared accountability for Indigenous health outcomes through meaningful engagement, performance measurement, and transparent reporting.
• Promote Indigenous workforce recruitment, retention, leadership development, and representation.
• Champion the integration of Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and traditional healing approaches where appropriate.
• Ensure meaningful engagement with Indigenous leaders, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members in shaping organizational direction, strategic priorities, and healthcare service planning.
• Ensure Indigenous health priorities are embedded within strategic, operational, and service planning activities.

Quality, Patient Safety & Service Excellence

Provide leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, high‑quality, culturally responsive, patient‑ and family‑centred care across all communities served by the Northern Health Region.

• Ensure high‑quality, accessible, and sustainable healthcare services are delivered throughout the Region.
• Foster a culture of quality improvement, patient safety, risk management, organizational learning, and service excellence.
• Monitor service quality, access, patient experience, and clinical and operational outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation requirements, professional standards, legislation, and regulatory obligations.
• Embed cultural safety, equity, and anti‑racism principles within quality and patient safety systems.
• Lead organizational participation in accreditation and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure organizational practices minimize risk and support effective management of patient and corporate liability.

Financial Stewardship, Risk Management & Operational Excellence

Ensure the effective stewardship of financial, human, physical, and technological resources to support sustainable healthcare delivery and long‑term organizational success.

• Oversee organizational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of public resources and strong financial accountability.
• Maintain effective governance, procurement, enterprise risk management, and internal control practices.
• Make executive decisions regarding service delivery, resource allocation, workforce planning, and organizational performance.
• Balance community needs, operational priorities, stakeholder interests, and fiscal responsibilities.
• Support long‑term organizational sustainability, operational effectiveness, and responsible growth.
• Advance modernization, innovation, and evidence‑informed decision‑making across the organization.

Workforce Leadership, Culture & Talent Development

Cultivate a high‑performing, inclusive, respectful, and culturally safe organizational culture while ensuring a sustainable workforce capable of meeting the healthcare needs of northern Manitoba.

• Foster a culture