Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Strategic Partnerships

Unity-Health-Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 82,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Michael's Hospital is seeking a Director of Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships to lead government relations, policy strategy, stakeholder engagement, and external partnerships across Vital and GEMINI.

You will shape strategic direction, build executive relationships with government officials, funders, and partners, and drive programs that advance growth and impact. The role reports to the Adjunct VP and collaborates with Unity Health Toronto's Corporate Communications to align

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Health Policy, or a related field.
• Progressive senior leadership experience in government relations, public affairs, health policy, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, or a related field. Experience within healthcare, research, health data, or public sector environments is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with federal and/or provincial governments and navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Advanced knowledge of Canadian healthcare systems, health policy development, government processes, and funding environments.
• Proven ability to build and sustain executive-level relationships with government officials, healthcare leaders, academic partners, and funding organizations.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills, with experience developing executive briefings, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement materials.
• Strong political acuity, sound judgment, and the ability to manage sensitive issues in a dynamic and high-profile environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, managing priorities and budgets, and delivering results through collaboration and influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement government relations, stakeholder engagement, and policy strategies that advance the goals of Vital and GEMINI across provincial and national health systems.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government officials, healthcare organizations, academic institutions, funding agencies, and industry partners.
• Identify and pursue opportunities related to policy, funding, partnerships, and organizational growth, while providing strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Represent the organization at government consultations, conferences, advisory committees, and other external forums.
• Lead the development of communications, briefing materials, presentations, business cases, stakeholder engagement plans, and policy submissions.
• Oversee communications strategies that enhance organizational reputation, visibility, and stakeholder engagement across internal and external audiences.
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team, including coaching, performance management, workforce planning, and professional development.
• Manage departmental operations, budgets, and resources while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability objectives.
• Support development of funding strategies and investment opportunities that contribute to long-term sustainability.
• Evaluate performance metrics and key indicators to support decision-making and strategic planning.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Public Policy

Job description

Director Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships Vital Admin

Job title: Director Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships Vital Admin

Site: CA:ON:Toronto:St. Michael's Hospital

Category: Management

Work type: Full-Time Permanent

Salary range: 82.40-103.00

Description

GEMINI and Vital serve as strategic health data infrastructure platforms that enable health system improvement, research excellence, and innovation at provincial and national scales. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations, governments, academic institutions, and funding agencies, the programs support evidence-informed decision-making and advance learning health systems across Canada.

The Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships is accountable for the strategic direction and performance of government relations, policy, stakeholder engagement, communications, and partnership activities across Vital and GEMINI. The Director serves as a senior organizational representative, leading relationships with government officials, health system executives, funders, academic leaders, and partner organizations to advance organizational objectives, influence policy and funding decisions, and enable sustainable growth. The role leads communications and engagement strategies that strengthen the organization's reputation, visibility, and impact at provincial and national levels.

Reporting to the Adjunct Vice President, Vital Health System and Data Innovation, the role works closely with Unity Health Toronto's Corporate Communications and Public Affairs team to align with institutional government relations, stakeholder engagement, and communications priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and implement government relations, stakeholder engagement, and policy strategies that advance the goals of Vital and GEMINI across provincial and national health systems.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government officials, healthcare organizations, academic institutions, funding agencies, and industry partners.
• Identify and pursue opportunities related to policy, funding, partnerships, and organizational growth, while providing strategic advice to senior leadership.
• Represent the organization at government consultations, conferences, advisory committees, and other external forums.
• Lead the development of communications, briefing materials, presentations, business cases, stakeholder engagement plans, and policy submissions.
• Oversee communications strategies that enhance organizational reputation, visibility, and stakeholder engagement across internal and external audiences.
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team, including coaching, performance management, workforce planning, and professional development.
• Manage departmental operations, budgets, and resources while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability objectives.
• Support development of funding strategies and investment opportunities that contribute to long-term sustainability.
• Evaluate performance metrics and key indicators to support decision-making and strategic planning.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Health Policy, or a related field.
• Progressive senior leadership experience in government relations, public affairs, health policy, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, or a related field. Experience within healthcare, research, health data, or public sector environments is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with federal and/or provincial governments and navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Advanced knowledge of Canadian healthcare systems, health policy development, government processes, and funding environments.
• Proven ability to build and sustain executive-level relationships with government officials, healthcare leaders, academic partners, and funding organizations.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills, with experience developing executive briefings, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement materials.
• Strong political acuity, sound judgment, and the ability to manage sensitive issues in a dynamic and high-profile environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, managing priorities and budgets, and delivering results through collaboration and influence.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.