Senior Manager, Government Relations & Advocacy (Contract to November 2026)

Ontario Medical Association; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical advocacy organization in Toronto is seeking a Senior Manager for Government Relations and Advocacy. This role involves developing strategies to influence health-care policies and requires extensive experience in government relations, advocacy, and communications. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and a thorough understanding of Ontario's political landscape. This position offers competitive compensation and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Hybrid work environment

Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in government relations, public affairs, or advocacy, ideally in health care.
• Ability to foster relationships with elected officials.
• Strong understanding of the political environment in Ontario.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic political advice to the Ontario Medical Association.
• Monitor legislation and political trends for advocacy.
• Lead the growth of a grassroots physician health-care advocates network.

Skills

Strategic planning

Communications

Relationship-building

Writing

Advocacy

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Political Science, Health Administration, Communications, or equivalent

Tools

Nation Builder

Contact Management System

Word

Power Point

Excel

Job description

Senior Manager, Government Relations & Advocacy (Contract to November 2026)

Are you looking to join one of Greater Toronto’s Top 2025 Employers?

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) advocates for and supports doctors, seeking to strengthen their leadership role in caring for patients. We continually seek to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system by courageously pursuing best practices, new ideas, solutions, and opportunities to improve.

Job summary

The Senior Manager, Government Relations and Advocacy is responsible for providing strategic advice and executing strategies to advance the government relations and advocacy goals of the Ontario Medical Association.

We are looking for a seasoned government relations professional with exceptional strategic planning, communications, relationship-building, writing and advocacy skills. An in-depth knowledge of the political landscape, the public policy development process and how to work effectively with the provincial government and other elected officials are essential. The preferred candidate will have extensive government relations, advocacy and strategic communications experience, ideally in health care.

Reporting to the Director, Government Relations and Advocacy, and working with senior members of the organization, and external agencies, this position identifies opportunities and develops and implement plans to influence key decision-makers in government and stakeholders through effective advocacy.

Working cross-functionally within the OMA, external agencies and OMA’s physician leaders and its health care advocate’s network to effectively influence health-care policies, develop relationships and amplify the voice of 43,000 doctors across the province.

How you will make a difference

• Leading or supporting the growth and development of a grassroots physician health-care advocates network.
• Providing strategic political advice to the association
• Monitoring legislation, policy activity and political trends to identify opportunities for OMA advocacy and thought leadership
• Triaging emerging and current issues for effective management and tracking action to smooth resolution
• Supporting, developing and implementing government relations and advocacy strategies and rollout plans to influence public policy and achieve objectives on behalf of Ontario’s doctors
• Helping to develop an annual government relations and advocacy strategy in line with corporate objectives.
• Fostering strong relationships with government, political parties, stakeholders and physician networks
• Arranging meetings with elected officials, political staff, senior ministry officials and political party officials. Prepare briefing materials for use by the CEO, president and other OMA executives
• Preparing communications plans, briefing and speaking notes for appearances before government and legislative committees
• Developing key messages and produce high-quality written materials including presentations and submissions to government, effective letters, website content and other advocacy-related content
• Planning events including roundtable and panel discussions and public consultations
• Leading training sessions for members on advocacy planning and tactics
• Developing and executing advocacy plans to mobilize members on key issues. Tactics could include the use of advocacy technology platforms (Nation Builder) and providing training/support to physicians on local advocacy
• Preparing and distributing reports to senior management, as required

Requirements that are important to us

• Undergraduate Degree in Political Science, Health Administration, Communications, or equivalent
• 10+ years’ experience working in government relations, public affairs/strategic communications, advocacy, political offices and/or government, ideally in health care
• Experience mobilizing stakeholder, membership and local community support
• Strong strategic communications, writing and editing skills
• Exceptional strategic planning, project management and event planning experience
• Ability to foster meaningful relationships with elected officials through effective government relations with a strong understanding of the political environment in Ontario
• Strong understanding of public policy with preference to the health-care policy environment
• Skills in leveraging digital technologies for online advocacy including public engagement tools such as Nation Builder
• Detail oriented with a highly proficiency in Word, Power Point and Excel
• Contact Management System experience

The OMA has moved to a permanent hybrid work environment. As such, the individual in this position will be required to work a minimum number of days in our Toronto office.

What do we have to offer you?

• A work environment whose values are to berespectful, bold, responsive, and transparent in our work and our behaviours
• A fantastic opportunity to grow with the team and help shape the strategic direction of the OMA, its members and the health-care system
• An organization that is committed to the equity, diversity and inclusion principles of humility, accountability, collaboration, courage and integrity
• A friendly and flexible hybrid work environment
• Competitive compensation
• An organization that has been recognized as a Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for five consecutive years.

As a condition of employment, OMA conducts background checks and reference checks for all open positions.

Are you legally entitled to work in Canada for any employer without employer sponsorship and provide supportive documentation to confirm your status?

A person legally eligible to work in Canada is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or the holder of a valid work permit.

Were you referred to this posting by an employee of the Ontario Medical Association or a subsidiary?