Director, Strategic Engagement & Advocacy

Canadian College of Health Leaders - Northwestern Ontario Chapter; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 318,000 - 370,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian College of Health Leaders - Northwestern Ontario Chapter seeks a Director of Strategic Engagement & Advocacy to lead, coordinate and advance CMPA’s relationships with governments, medical organizations and stakeholders across Canada. You will shape strategy, allocate resources, and drive outcomes in collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team.

The role emphasizes building partnerships, managing a multi‑year plan, and ensuring alignment with CMPA’s mission and provincial priorities,

Qualifications

• Medical degree and experience in the provision of clinical care and medical education.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as a physician including relevant progressive leadership roles.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and healthcare advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Leads strategic engagement and advocacy initiatives across Canada.
• Develops departmental plans, budgets and operational processes.
• Oversees stakeholder engagement and identifies advocacy priorities.
• Manages internal support structures and cross‑regional collaboration.
• Represents CMPA to governments, regulators and other stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Communication

Bilingual EN/FR

Budget management

People leadership

Education

Medical degree

Experience in medical education

Job description

Career opportunities are presented in the language received.

CONTRIBUTING TO THE CMPA

The Strategic Engagement & Advocacy group is charged with establishing, coordinating and maintaining CMPA’s relationship amongst its many stakeholders across the different provincial and territorial healthcare systems enabling the delivery of an effective advocacy strategy. For the CMPA to be an essential component of the health care system, the Association needs to take a thoughtful and purposeful approach to the relationships we establish, the messaging we deliver and the outcomes we hope to achieve. This group collaborates with senior leaders across the Association to foster relationships with stakeholders that contribute to our strategic goals.

Position Overview

As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director provides leadership, management and strategic direction to the CMPA in accordance with the CMPA’s mission and strategic plan. The Director creates the vision for the Strategic Engagement & Advocacy department, develops short and medium-term plans, and directs the people, resources and operations of the department. The Director is responsible for the planning and facilitation of a centralized awareness amongst CMPA leadership, employees, and Council of the Association’s strategic engagement and advocacy strategy, including developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders, governments, and medical organizations across Canada. Working with the Executive Leadership Team and the Director, Communications & Marketing, the Director will build strategic partnerships to optimize the Association’s ability to deliver on strategic priorities.

The Director is the Association’s primary contact with Québec stakeholders, working collaboratively with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to support full awareness of the Québec environment internally and providing “subject matter expertise” on healthcare related issues within the province. Building on this model of success and collaboration, the Director will build a framework of stakeholder engagement and collaboration to foster relationships between Association senior leaders and key partners across the country. The creation and execution of this framework will be done with the input of key leaders in the Association, including the CEO, Executive Director, Strategic Engagement & Governance (SEG), and the executive leadership team, who themselves are responsible for specific stakeholder relationships. The Director will also work with the executive leadership team and the Director, Communications & Marketing to develop and evolve a modern advocacy strategy that supports corporate priorities and is aligned with evolving and timely issues.

The individual contributes to building a strong positive, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture at the CMPA and within their group.

POSITION ACTIVITIES

Strategic, Operational, And Financial Planning

• Develops and implements short and medium-term departmental plans, practices, and procedures that are consistent with CMPA’s policies and procedures and are aligned with the Association’s objectives and consistent with industry standards
• Develops a multi-year operational plan and budget to achieve departmental and corporate objectives. Ensures the departmental plan, budget, people resources and operating activities are conducted in accordance with CMPA policies and guidelines.
• Develops a stakeholder engagement and advocacy framework for the Association
• Oversees stakeholder engagement and identifies relevant advocacy priorities to advance the interests of the Association
• Manages an integrated internal support structure to achieve corporate goals across Canada
• Explores new initiatives, programs and improvements at the department, group or organizational level to enhance stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships
• Consults with the Executive Director, SEG, the rest of the Executive Leadership Team and the Director, Communications & Marketing to identify and develop key advocacy initiatives in line with the Association’s strategic plan or to address immediate and emerging issues
• Supports the environmental scanning effort, including leading the collation and analysis of external environmental information on activities and developments across regions, provinces, and territories.
• Identifies areas for improvement and consults with the Executive Director, SEG to discuss and explore new initiatives, programs, and improvements at the departmental, group, or organizational level
• Identifies and assesses risks to achieving the operational plan and budget; develops and implements plans to mitigate risks as appropriate

Advice And Expertise

• Provides advice and consultation to the Executive Leadership Team, other functional areas, and relevant Committees in order to facilitate an understanding of specific issues relating to regional, provincial, and territorial affairs
• As a member of the senior leadership team, contributes to the strategic direction of the CMPA
• Acts as a senior point of contact for key stakeholders from all regions in Canada
• Coordinates the Association’s submissions to governments, regulators, and other stakeholders
• Represents the CMPA and, as assigned by the President and CEO, acts as an official spokesperson to stakeholders and as required, the media, and provides input on CMPA’s communications efforts across regions
• Communicates and collaborates with other departments who will also have strategic stakeholder engagements specific to their work.
• The Director will further advance the Association’s ability to track and coordinate the multiple engagements conducted by management with the goal of ensuring team situational awareness amongst CMPA senior leadership.
• Acts as a Champion of corporate priorities and change within the department and throughout the CMPA.
• Attends meetings of Council and its Committees if requested or delegates as appropriate

People Leadership

• Develops and maintains an effective organizational structure
• Effectively guides work (i.e., ensuring the team’s work aligns with the vision and values, removing obstacles that interfere with the team’s ability to achieve their goals and defining Strategic Engagement & Advocacy objectives)
• Leading/coaching the people leaders and team, (i.e., assisting with career development, coaching to advance skills, motivating employees to do their best work, promoting collaboration, creating an environment that values open communication, trust, experimentation, etc.)
• Ensures employees have the skills and competencies they need now and in the future by helping team members allocate time for learning and leadership opportunities
• Provides leadership and guidance to a team of direct reports and provides regular feedback, coaching and mentoring, including the annual performance appraisal
• Creates a culture of accountability and empowerment; encourages continuous learning and development
• Promotes a work environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, respect and inclusion within the department and throughout the Association

Education And Experience

• Medical degree and experience in the provision of clinical care and medical education
• Minimum of 10 years of experience as a physician including relevant progressive leadership roles
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and healthcare advocacy
• Connects cross-functional priorities to uncover strategic linkages that elevate advocacy impact
• Broad network and experience interacting with the senior levels of stakeholder organizations
• Expertise in knowledge delivery with a track record of innovation
• Experience in change leadership
• Experience managing operational plans, budgets, and performance
• Experience coaching and mentoring individuals and teams to meet their full potential
• Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and French

Skills And Abilities

Leadership: with a growth mindset, takes a corporate, long-term view in defining and communicating goals and outcomes to the team that provide direction, purpose and inspiration. Sees the “big picture” of how all functions work together to produce value to members and stakeholders. Exceptional collaborator, communicator, and facilitator.

Collaboration: Works well with others both on the team and cross-functionally to achieve individual, team, departmental, or organizational goals. Fosters a positive culture of trust and respect where team members feel valued and supported. Values diverse input and working with others to achieve the best outcome possible.

Emotional intelligence /Self-awareness: The ability to understand and manage personal emotions. The ability to understand personal strengths and weaknesses, and to recognize personal emotions and the impact on team performance.

Inclusion and belonging: contributes to building a strong, positive, respectful and inclusive workplace culture at the CMPA through demonstrated commitment to principles of equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion and human rights for equity deserving groups.

Teamwork: balances team and individual responsibilities creating the right context for self-organizing teams; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback. Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement. Builds and maintains lasting relationships with departments, key business partners, and external parties.

Coaching and support: Actively, intentionally, and continuously supports the entire talent lifecycle of their team including recruitment, management of performance through goal setting, feedback, and coaching; supporting talent with a focus on understanding and valuing individual differences; and personalized career development.

Adaptability: adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events; keeps commitments. Flexible and open to new ideas and approaches, embraces change as an opportunity for growth. Proven ability to encourage, support, and enable change.

Initiative: looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; presents ideas and information in a manner that generates interest. Invokes intellectual curiosity to better understand the “why” especially when working with limited or unclear data to be able to make sound predictions for the future. Asks questions with intention and respectfully challenges information that’s been presented.

Judgment and decision making: Takes responsibility for decisions and actions, includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes informed and timely decisions. Makes difficult decisions when necessary, holds themselves accountable for outcomes and learns from their mistakes. Uses critical thinking to evaluate problems, gather information, incorporate diverse perspectives, leverage multiple data sources to challenge assumptions, and identify best-possible solutions for evidence-based decisions.

Problem solving: uses critical thinking and analytical skills to find solutions to challenges. Appropriately seeks input from others but takes ultimate responsibility.

Verbal communication: tone and approach are adjusted to fit the needs of the audience and circumstances, listens, and gets clarification; speaks clearly and persuasively; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates effectively in meetings.

Written communication: writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively.

POSTING DETAILS

• Job details: Regular full-time position
• This posting is for an existing vacancy
• Salary range: $318,400 to $370,100 – this role is classified as a level P5
• Location: Hybrid – Primary Remote. You can work from a home-based office the majority of the time within the provinces of Ontario and Québec, with regular on-site presence at the CMPA office (1-2 days per week). If you prefer, you can choose to work out of the CMPA office in Ottawa, Ontario near the beautiful Dow’s Lake
• Skill assessment: selected candidates may be required to complete a skill assessment
• Application deadline: October 6, 2026 at 4:00pm ET

The CMPA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being responsive to those living with disabilities and strives to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility. The CMPA will provide support and accommodation in its recruitment processes to applicants living with disabilities. If you are invited to participate in an interview and/or skills assessment and have accommodation needs, please let us know.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is a key priority, and we actively strive to build a culture of inclusion where employees can be their authentic selves and are valued for their diverse experiences and perspectives.

We welcome and encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and a variety of lived experiences to apply.

The CMPA offices, located in Ottawa, are located on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. We honour and pay our respect to these lands, and to all First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples throughout Turtle Island.