Director of Partnerships and Priority Initiatives
About the Organization
We are a pan-Canadian, not-for-profit organization with a bold vision: to transform health workforce planning across Canada. Through advanced data and modelling tools, strategic knowledge translation, and network convening, we serve as a catalyst for system change.
Just beginning our third year of operation, we work with partners who hold the levers for change—federal, provincial, and territorial governments, health authorities and employers, and the health professions that serve and support our communities. Together, we are building a co-designed, co-developed approach to health workforce planning that is grounded in data, informed by evidence, and driven by collaboration.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a strategic, collaborative, “hands-on” Director of Strategic Partnerships and Priority Initiatives to champion the organization’s engagement efforts and support the delivery of system-shifting initiatives.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director is a senior leader responsible for designing the strategy for and managing the organization’s highest impact partnerships, along with leading strategic people-centred initiatives including an annual pan-Canadian symposium, and other events aimed at driving impactful change in health workforce planning across the country.
As an external ecosystem builder, the Director operates at the intersection of people-change leadership, strategy, and Health Workforce Canada programs to drive long-term change in the system.
This is a unique opportunity to join a small but mighty team, to work at a pan Canadian level across all jurisdictions, and to directly contribute to the transformation of health workforce systems in Canada.
Key Responsibilities
System Initiatives & Convening
- Lead the development and execution of an annual pan Canadian health workforce conference including content development, relationship management, project management and sponsorships to create a platform for system innovation, collaboration and sustainable transformation in health workforce planning
- Plan, design, and deliver a range of strategic initiatives focused on priority areas of health workforce planning in Canada to advance system change, including dialogues, workshops, and co-design planning sessions and collaboration frameworks with key stakeholders focused on improvements in workforce planning
Strategic Engagement & Partnerships
- Work with the senior team to support the ongoing enhancement of a strong external health workforce ecosystem made up of government leaders and decision makers, regions/employers, professional associations, unions, academics, special interest groups, patients and caregivers and First Nations, Inuit and Metis organizations
- Build upon, strengthen and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders with a focus on those holding the levers for change including federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments, regional health authorities and employers, health professional associations and others responsible for driving health workforce planning and system transformation
- Foster critical collaborative partnerships by informing/educating partners on the value proposition of Health Workforce Canada to drive partner relationships and collaboration opportunities that support HWC’s strategy, mission, goals
- Lead stakeholder mapping and advance an engagement strategy (including stakeholder and partnership maps and relationship management plans, as well as ways to evaluate engagement) to support the organization as it works across the four pillars of HWC’s Strategic plan, and develops an approach to meticulously track and actively respond to engagement outreach and follow up
- Represent the organization at high-level stakeholder tables, health system forums, and in one-on-one meetings, and
- Define and track the ROI of the partnership program, defining key performance indicators, tracking metrics and reporting on the program’s performance to SMT and the board
Organizational Leadership & Delivery
- Collaborate with the senior team on organizational planning, reporting, and stakeholder communications.
- Collaborate amongst HWC directors to ensure cohesion, alignment and complementarity of efforts across the organization
- Track and evaluate engagement outcomes and contribute to continuous improvement of strategies and initiatives as the organization’s strategic execution evolves
- Lead partnership agreements and business expansion initiatives, as appropriate
- Lead the project planning and execution for key deliverables in the branch
- Embrace a “roll-up-your-sleeves” mindset to contribute to the work of a dynamic team and fast-paced start-up environment as the organization advances both credibility and maturity
What We’re Looking For
Experience & Skills
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, government relations, system initiatives, or health policy— within a health or government context
- Deep understanding of the Canadian health workforce landscape, including jurisdictional complexity, planning processes, and policy levers.
- Experience planning and delivering complex events and convening activities in a results, impact and action-oriented manner
- Strong existing relationships across the FPT health workforce ecosystem in Canada
- Proven experience leading multi-stakeholder initiatives that result in measurable system change.
- Strong experience in enterprise-wide project management to support multiple initiatives across the organization annually
- Demonstrated ability to strategically engage and influence senior leaders and decision-makers.
- Strong facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills across sectors and professions.
- Bilingualism (French) is preferred
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with a collaborative, systems-oriented mindset.
- Passionate about health workforce transformation
- Strong professional accountability
- Life long learner, both personally and professionally
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity.
- Proactive, adaptable, and ready to roll up your sleeves.
- Committed to inclusion, transparency, and evidence-informed decision-making.
- Attention to detail and strong interest in planning
- Business development acumen
- Strong negotiating/facilitating skills, relationship builder
- Protector of the organization’s reputation
- Natural internal collaborator
- Strong and flexible team leaders, with a supportive staff development work style
What We Offer
- A meaningful opportunity to shape the future of health workforce planning in Canada
- A flexible, virtual work environment with a collaborative and supportive team culture
- A competitive compensation and benefits package
- Opportunities for professional growth and leadership in a fast-evolving organization
Location:
Remote work opportunity with in-person team meetings a few times per year, for a maximum of 3 consecutive days
Job Level:
Level 5
Reports to:
Chief Operating Officer
Employment Type:
Permanent role – At minimum 3 to 4 days per week, with the potential to grow to full-time
Closing Date:
December 5, 2025