Nursing Retention and Recruitment Specialist

RNAO; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

RNAO in Canada seeks a Nursing Retention and Recruitment Specialist to lead MOH initiatives for Northern and Indigenous workplaces. You will develop programs to recruit nurses, retain staff, and provide career counselling to nurses and students.

The role requires outreach, collaboration with educators and employers, and ongoing program evaluation. Based in a hybrid environment with office days, you will travel to communities and support workforce development, education pathways, and recruitment

Qualifications

• University degree in nursing and up to three years of healthcare experience.
• Experience working respectfully with Indigenous communities or health-service partners.
• Experience in project or program coordination, including planning, 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop a Northern, Indigenous, Rural and Francophone Workforce Recruitment and Retention Strategy.
• Establish grassroots supports to fill vacancies and reduce vacancies and agency use.
• Deliver nursing career navigation and counselling services for nurses and students.
• Modernize RNAO’s Nurse Ambassador Program and expand outreach initiatives.
• Plan and deliver job fairs and outreach with educational institutions and employers.
• Provide recruitment support to employers experiencing vacancies and coordinate placement.
• Produce quarterly workforce intelligence reports and annual evaluation recommendations.
• Participate in RNAO’s Membership & Services activities and related duties.

Skills

Relationship-building

Facilitation

Presentation

Written communication

Independent work

Prioritization

Education

University Degree in Nursing

Job description

Nursing Retention and Recruitment Specialist

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, fairnessand 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 to determine fair compensation, including experience, specific job-related knowledge and skills, as well as relevant educational and specialty training. Additionally, we ensure that compensation is equitable across our staff and aligns with current market trends. RNAO offers an extensive benefits package and generous vacation.

Mandatory requirements: RNAO requires all employees to fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to any accommodation obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for the duration of the work term. Proof of eligibility will be required.

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

RNAO is currently operating in a hybrid environment with at least two mandatory days in the office, and these arrangements may change based on business needs.

RNAO is committed to providing an equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment, where all employees feel valued, respected and supported. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates who can help us build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and in which we live.

Accommodations under the Ontario Human Rights Code are available to all candidates during the recruitment process and throughout employment.