Director, Government Affairs

Santis Health; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Leadership role and growth

Diverse client base

Collaborative team environment

Autonomy to build portfolio

Job summary

Santis Health seeks a Director to lead our Ontario Government Affairs practice. This senior role requires deep Queen's Park experience and a proven track record advising on public policy, strategic communications, and issues management within health or life sciences sectors.

The Director will own key client relationships, shape practice growth, mentor team members, and partner with senior leaders to drive client priorities and firm profile while delivering strategic counsel on province-wide

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in government relations, public policy, or political roles with exposure to Ontario's health sector.
• Senior-level experience at Queen's Park, in a minister's office, or within the Ontario Public Service is strongly preferred.
• Consulting and/or experience in health and life sciences sectors is an asset.
• Demonstrated success in managing a portfolio of issues and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with sound judgment for high-profile or sensitive situations.
• Experience managing a project team and mentoring professionals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior strategic counsel to a portfolio of key accounts including C-suite clients.
• Lead development of complex government affairs strategies across ministries and agencies.
• Monitor Ontario's health policy landscape and advise on implications and positioning.
• Represent Santis in client engagements and guide clients in government and stakeholder engagements.
• Lead business development and pitches for new business; cultivate relationships across health and life sciences sectors.

Education

Post-secondary degree in political science / public policy / health administration

Job description

Across Canada, people are working to improve health care. Innovators are building better systems. Advocates are pushing for improved access. Leaders are driving change that matters. At Santis Health, we don't just consult on health care — we partner with those bold enough to shape its future.

We're a strategic advisory, public affairs, and communications firm serving hospitals, health organizations, professional associations, and pharmaceutical and medtech companies across Canada.

Position Overview

Santis Health is hiring a Director to help lead our Ontario Government Affairs practice. This is a senior, strategic role for a seasoned public affairs professional with deep Queen's Park experience and/or a strong track record of advising public leaders and executives on matters of public policy, strategic communications, and/or issues management. Experience working in the health and/or life sciences sector would be an asset. The Director owns key client relationships, shapes practice growth, supports mentorship and upskilling of team members, and partners with senior leaders and advisors at the firm to drive client priorities and firm profile, while providing hands‑on strategic counsel on the province's health policy files.

Responsibilities Include

Strategic client counsel

• Serve as senior strategic counsel to a portfolio of key accounts, including C-suite and executive-level clients.
• Lead the development of complex government affairs strategies spanning multiple ministries, agencies, and political audiences.
• Monitor shifts in Ontario's political and health policy landscape and advise clients on implications and positioning.
• Represent Santis in senior-level client engagements and meetings and, where requested, represent and guide clients in government and stakeholder engagements.
• Support client-driven public affairs campaigns and “PR for GR” strategies.
• Advise clients on strategic communications and issues management strategies in support of their day-to-day advocacy work and organizational or business objectives.

Leadership

• Partner with the VP, Ontario Government Affairs, on team strategy, resourcing, and growth priorities.
• Serve as a direct report for junior team members.
• Mentor and provide strategic oversight and upskilling to Government Affairs team members.
• Contribute to thought leadership, including marketing content, client briefings, webinars, and public opinion polling.

Business development

• Lead proposal development and pitches for new business.
• Identify and cultivate new relationships across the health and life sciences sector.
• Lead business development and networking activities.
• Support account growth and retention across the practice's existing portfolio.
• Work cross‑functionally to develop and execute on key client growth and business development strategies.

Compliance

• Ensure all client work complies with federal and provincial lobbying registration requirements.
• Model sound judgment on compliance, confidentiality, and reputational risk for the broader team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in government relations, public policy, or political roles, with substantial exposure to Ontario's health sector.
• Senior-level experience at Queen's Park, in a minister's office, or within the Ontario Public Service strongly preferred.
• Consulting and/or experience working in the health and life sciences sectors would be an asset.
• Demonstrated success in managing a portfolio of issues and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment to advise audiences in high-profile and/or sensitive circumstances.
• Experience managing a project team, including supporting the mentorship and professional development of individual team members.
• Post-secondary degree in political science, public policy, health administration, or a related field.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• A leadership role with influence over practice and firm direction and growth
• Exposure to a diverse, mission-driven, high-profile client base across the health and life sciences sector
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial team environment
• High degree of autonomy to build portfolio and expertise

About Santis Health

Santis Health is a Canadian health care and life sciences consulting firm that provides a wide range of Management Consulting, Communications, and Government Affairs services to clients across the country. We accelerate health system innovation, guide corporate strategy, and advance advocacy across Canada’s health and life science sectors because we believe in the same things our clients do: better outcomes, better access, and better health for all of us. Clients of Santis Health include leading health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, charities, hospitals, non-profits, and health care providers.

Santis Health is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that is safe and respectful. Our aim is to ensure all employees and job applicants are given equal and equitable opportunity, and that our organization represents a diverse array of expertise, skills and backgrounds. We are committed to fair employment practices that do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, disability, socio-economic status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, national origin, religious beliefs, political beliefs, sex and sexual orientation, and other dimensions that are intrinsic to who we are as individuals.