Nursing Recruitment and Retention Specialist - 2026RRS10

Collage; Toronto; On-site; CAD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Benefits package & generous vacation

Job summary

RNAO is seeking a Nursing Recruitment and Retention Specialist to lead MOH initiatives for Northern and Indigenous workplaces in Ontario. The role reports to the Director of Membership and Services and focuses on developing programs to recruit nurses, retain staff, and provide career guidance to nurses and students.

Responsibilities include creating outreach initiatives, modernizing ambassador programs, organizing job fairs, and delivering education grants and mentorship pathways, with frequent

Qualifications

• University Degree in Nursing and up to three years of healthcare experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities and health partners.
• Experience in project or program coordination, including planning, engagement and reporting.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation, presentation and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and collaborate across communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead MOH initiatives to support retention and recruitment in Northern and Indigenous workplaces.
• Develop and deliver recruitment/retention strategies and programs for nurses.
• Provide career counselling and support to nurses and nursing students.
• Coordinate job fairs, outreach to schools, and marketing of nursing opportunities.
• Produce quarterly workforce intelligence reports and annual evaluation recommendations.
• Collaborate with partners to develop new programs and educational opportunities.

Skills

Relationship building

Facilitation

Presentation

Written communication

Independent work

Travel willingness

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

Nursing Recruitment and Retention Specialist - 2026RRS10

Membership & Services Temp Toronto, ON Hybrid

This position will lead the Ministry of Health (MOH) initiatives to support retention and recruitment in Northern and Indigenous Workplaces. Reporting to RNAO’s Director of Membership and Services, this individual will identify, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to recruit new nurses into the profession, retain nurses in workplaces, and provide career counselling and support to nurses and nursing students.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a Northern, Indigenous, Rural and Francophone Workforce Recruitment and Retention Strategy.
• Establish and document grassroots supports to fill vacancies and build capacity, contributing to decreased nursing vacancies, systemic nursing vacancies and nursing agency use.
• Establish and deliver a nursing career navigation and counselling service for nurses and nursing students.
• Modernize and expand RNAO’s Nurse Ambassador Program.
• Develop and implement outreach initiatives targeting elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities.
• Provide recruitment support to employers experiencing persistent vacancies.
• Implement targeted nursing job fairs and career events.
• Promote education grants, fellowships, mentorship programs and advanced nursing career pathways.
• Produce quarterly workforce intelligence reports identifying emerging issues and opportunities.
• Produce an annual evaluation and recommendations report.

Program Development & Delivery

• Identify, develop, and deliver programs to retain existing nurses, and recruit newly graduated nurses to the profession, including outreach programs, marketing campaigns, and partnerships with educational institutions
• Collaborate with engaged partners in service and academic institutions to develop new programs and initiatives for retaining and recruiting nurses
• Create and deliver additional programs to collaborate with elementary and/or high school students to raise awareness about the education and career path of registered nurses (RNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs)
• Provide career counselling and support to nurses in the profession to help them advance in their careers and stay engaged in their work (e.g., reviewing resumes and providing feedback about resumes, providing job search advice, and providing coaching on career development/advancement)
• Provide advice regarding educational opportunities, education grants, prior learning assessment reviews, etc.
• Plan and implement job fairs for nurses in Ontario, including university job fairs
• Coordinate student placement at RNAO, working with other departments and programming opportunities

Communications and Marketing

• Maintain the nursing education opportunities section of the website, keeping it fresh and vibrant and ensuring information is up-to-date, accurate and comprehensive
• Communicate through various channels/ methods with engaged partners (elementary/ high school staff, career counsellors, students, nursing employers and nurses) promoting nursing recruitment and retention
• Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations for elementary and high school students about the nursing profession and opportunities within nursing
• Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations for nursing employers in key sectors (e.g., hospitals, long-term care, home care) regarding nursing retention strategies in the workplace
• Develop and implement strategies to disseminate information on recruitment and retention with engaged partners and the public
• Work with other departments to design and implement marketing materials (print and digital) for the nursing recruitment and retention program

Program Evaluation

• Evaluate all new and ongoing initiatives yearly
• Provide monthly analytical reports on program progress using an evidence-based approach
• Evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment and retention strategy and programs and make recommendations for improvements

General

• Participate in the activities of RNAO’s Membership & Services Department
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE:

Required

• University Degree in Nursing and up to three years of experience in a healthcare environment or equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training
• Demonstrated experience working respectfully and effectively with Indigenous communities, organizations, or health-service partners.
• Experience in project or program coordination, including planning, partner engagement, implementation, and reporting.
• Strong relationship-building, facilitation, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and collaborate across multiple communities and organizations.
• Ability and willingness to work and travel within the assigned service area, as required.

Preferred

• Proficiency in French.
• Knowledge of nursing workforce recruitment, retention, education pathways, or health-human-resources initiatives.

EFFORT:

• The highest degree of confidentiality, sound judgement, respect for all, consistency, fairness, and professionalism
• The workflow requires meeting established, regular deadlines that may require reprioritizing the workload
• Concentration is required for short and long periods to process data
• Sight, touch and hearing are used to operate a computer and review information
• Sitting at the computer is required regularly, as well as walking, standing and operating equipment to perform the job duties

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Frequent travel to the communities served is required
• Occasional travel to home office
• Typical conditions are such that no risk or injury is present

NOTES:

This post is for a contract position (expected end date: March 31, 2027) for a specific program with the potential to make a lasting difference in Ontario’s healthcare landscape.

The starting annual salary for this position is $85,000.

We comprehensively evaluate a variety of factors todeterminefair compensation, including experience, specific job-relatedknowledgeand skills, as well as relevant educational and specialty training. Additionally, we ensure thatcompensation isequitableacrossour staff and aligns with current market trends. RNAO offers an extensive benefits package and generous vacation.

Mandatory requirements: RNAO requires all employees to befully vaccinatedagainst COVID-19, subject to any accommodation obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must beeligible to work in Canadafor the duration of the work term. Proof of eligibility will berequired.

Please beadvised: RNAO does not use AI-assisted tools to support the selection process.Human reviewers make all final hiring decisions.

RNAO is currentlyoperatingin ahybrid environmentwith at least two mandatory days in the office, and these arrangements may change based on business needs.

RNAO is committed to providinganequitable, inclusive, and accessible environment, where all employees feelvalued,respectedand supported. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates who can help usbuild a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and in which we live.

Accommodations under the Ontario Human Rights Codeare available to all candidates during the recruitment process and throughout employment, please emailing [e-mail] if yourequireassistance.