Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations (Maternity Leave Coverage)

Overview

Full-Time and 13 Month Fixed-Term Contract

The Alliance for Healthier Communities is the voice of a vibrant network of community-governed primary health care organizations. Alliance members serve diverse communities across the province of Ontario, and they are rooted in the communities they serve. They share a commitment to advancing health equity through the delivery of comprehensive primary health care.

Our Vision: Equitable health and wellbeing for everyone living in Ontario.

Our Mission: Advance comprehensive primary health care and advocate for changes in Ontario’s health and social systems to address inequities.

POSITION

The Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations will monitor and respond to relevant government activity, analyze government legislation and regulation that impacts the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Alliance) members and clients, develop and implement advocacy and communications strategies to advance the Alliance’s strategic plan, and ensure the high quality delivery of the Alliance’s public policy agenda.

This position will oversee a team, operate as an integrated part of the Leadership Team, and will work with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Board to help form sector strategies for influencing public policy including legislation, regulations and key initiatives of government to support Alliance members. The Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations will work with member centres to support their work.

This position requires a strategic and critical thinker with strong consensus building and communication skills. Qualified candidates will have the ability to build strong relationships and work collaboratively in a team environment with both internal and external parties. They will be able to identify and advance opportunities to speak proactively about the membership and the work that they do. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated experience managing people in a positive, transparent and supportive way and will have experience working with a collaborative, evidence-based and respectful approach to advocacy and government relations that ensures that the organization’s priorities are heard and acted on. Furthermore, qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to health equity, anti-oppression and anti-racism.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning

• As a member of the Leadership Team, advises on the advocacy priorities the Alliance should set to support its long-term strategic directions. This includes developing and implementing joint operational and work plans with other members of the Leadership Team.

Conference

• Oversees the annual conference operations and ensures that the Alliance comes in on budget.
• Provides content, communications and strategic oversight to connect conference to strategic directions.

Advocacy

• Leads the development and implementation of advocacy initiatives.
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of developments in health and social policy; proactively identifies opportunities to influence policy to build strategic alliances and increase awareness of the Alliance, the issues impacting our members and the services we provide.
• Leads the development and execution of Alliance’s key policy positions.
• Delivers a robust, evidence-based annual policy agenda that supports government policy direction.
• Prepares position papers and submissions to government and public agencies outlining the Alliance and/or the sector’s position on key issues.

Member Relations

• Develops and implements appropriate and efficient mechanisms for seeking member input and feedback into Alliance policy positions and strategic directions.
• Supports provincial member committees.

Government & Stakeholder Relations

• Leads Alliance’s annual Ontario Budget advocacy efforts, Queen’s Park Day, provincial pre-election strategies, and advocacy related to the development and implementation of the government’s provincial mental health and addiction strategy.
• Identifies opportunities to increase the government’s and public’s awareness of the Alliance and the issues impacting its members.
• Develops and implements government relations and stakeholder relations strategies to respond to emerging issues or to advance issues of priority to the Alliance and its membership.
• Advocates on critical issues, both independently and as part of coalition and association efforts, to influence government policy to Alliance’s strategic objectives.
• Develops and maintains key relationships within the government, both at the political and officials level, to raise Alliance’s profile with elected and appointed government decision-makers through outreach, education, and engagement.
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of existing and emerging policy and legislative initiatives/developments at the provincial, federal and municipal legislative levels with a goal of evaluating impacts on Alliance members and identifies opportunities to further the agenda and interests of the Alliance and its members.
• Establishes a network of contacts and builds relationships with sector colleagues, industry and health care associations, government decision-makers, influencers, and external subject matter experts.

Communications & Issues Management

• Serves as a leadership team member that provides excellent member service and acts as an ambassador for the values of the Alliance membership with current and potential members.
• Develops and implements an annual communications plan to advance issues of priority to the Alliance.
• Oversees the strategic communications activities, including digital, social media, and media relations.
• Oversees the execution of excellent member communications, including the newsletter, bulletin, webinars, social media and website.
• Develops and implements a plan to continue to raise the profile of the Alliance and its CEO with local and provincial media, including social media channels.
• Ensures and oversees appropriate issues identification and that management systems are in place to protect and strengthen the Alliance’s reputation.
• Oversees the organization’s adherence to Alliance brand and style guide.

Community Health & Wellbeing and Health Equity

• Ensures appropriate staff support for Board advisory groups.
• Ensures that the Alliance’s work reflects, supports and advances the Models of Health and Wellbeing.
• Responsible for projects that advance the Models of Health and Wellbeing (e.g. social prescribing).
• Oversees the planning and execution of Community Health & Wellbeing Month.

Financial and Resources Management

• Manages Alliance’s Communications and Stakeholder Relations team and contracted third-party suppliers/ contractors.
• Develops and oversees the annual budgets related to the Communications and Stakeholder Relations team.

QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant area of study or equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
• Minimum seven (7) years’ experience working in a not-for-profit advocacy role or health or social services environment with experience specifically working in the areas of politics, health policy, policy development and government relations.
• Demonstrated experience with leading, planning, management, and execution of large-scale events.
• Knowledge of community based primary health care and the social determinants of health.
• Proven track record of effective policy change related to health equity and evidence informed frameworks.
• Understanding of policy/legislative processes and political dynamics.
• Experience working within a highly networked provincial or national body that is informed by its constituents on a regular basis and effectively advocates on their behalf.
• Experience marshalling a range of communication and knowledge mobilization strategies and tactics to effect policy change.
• Proven experience managing multiple high performing, self-managing teams, with outstanding human resources skills.
• Successful and effective adaptive systems leadership skills, including communication and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with and effectively influence stakeholder organizations.
• Strong time management, organizational, project and financial management skills, including monitoring operational plans and budgets and resource allocation across interrelated teams.
• Ability to work in and adapt to a fast-paced environment with quickly changing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Ability to exercise discretion, good judgment and diplomacy.
• Proficient with Windows and Microsoft Office software applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Commitment to the principles of Health Equity, as outlined in the Alliance’s Health Equity Charter
• Ability to conduct work in keeping with the Alliance’s commitment to anti-oppression, anti-racism (including anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism), French language services, and to being 2SLGBTQ+ positive.
• Bilingualism in English and French is an asset.
• Demonstrated exposure or lived experience amongst Alliance’s five priority groups (Indigenous, Francophone, Racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, Rural Remote Northern) an asset.

WORK LOCATION

This position will have some flexibility of working from home and will be required to be on-site when needed at the Alliance office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

 

 

Tagged as: Management

Compensation

Annual Salary:  starts at $100,086

The Alliance offers an exceptional benefits package, including pension with HOOPP, extended health and dental benefits, and a generous vacation package. Salary is set within Alliance’s established salary grid and policy guidelines.

How to Apply

APPLICATION DEADLINE  October 14, 2024 at 10:00am ET

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

1.   E-mail your cover letter and resume as one (1) document in confidence to [email protected]

2.   Put “Director CSR 410-092024” in the subject line of your email.

 

The Alliance for Healthier Communities is an equity employer and encourages applications from Indigenous peoples and individuals from racialized groups, francophone communities and people of all sexual orientations and genders and persons with disabilities.

 

Upon request, reasonable accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.
We thank all applicants in advance however, only those under consideration will be contacted.