Director, Health Policy and Systems (Western Region)

Who we are 

At Heart & Stroke our mission is to promote health, save lives and enhance recovery. We are committed to a culture that exemplifies our core values: champion health, practice humility, embrace change, drive impact, learn and grow and be heartfelt as we work together to beat heart disease and stroke. 

We believe in equity, diversity and inclusion ― it’s embedded in our values and core mission work to support all people in Canada to lead healthier lives. We are committed to applying this principle to cultivate a welcoming environment that embraces diversity among our employees. Candidates from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, women, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

To learn more about our mission, values, commitment to EDI, and the difference Heart & Stroke makes in the lives of people in Canada at every age, please visit our website . 

The opportunity 

Please note Heart & Stroke offers a hybrid work option and this role, day to day, will work remotely. Candidates must also be able to travel to the Toronto office (when requested) and attend meetings or meet with stakeholders in both Regina and Saskatoon as needed. 

The Director, Health Policy & Systems for Saskatchewan provides strategic leadership and management for the effective planning and implementation of Heart & Stroke initiatives aligned with national organizational priorities.  The role is responsible for stakeholder and government relations, advocacy, health systems improvement and patient engagement and support.  

The Director leads the provincial advocacy efforts by building and holding key relationships on behalf of Heart & Stroke in order to communicate its priorities with government officials, agencies and with other key stakeholders and advocate for policy and health systems change.  The Director leads the provincial advocacy planning process, adapts advocacy priorities to provincial environments,builds and executes policy and advocacy plans, plans special projects and oversees the development of tailored advocacy briefs, papers and related documents. 

The Director will provide collaborative leadership with other provincial directors and be an active participant on team.   As part of the provincial team, they will provide leadership to assigned national initiatives. Where needed, the Director will support provincial development / fundraising initiatives. 

How you will make an impact every day 

Government, Health Systems, and Stakeholder Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy 

• Support the development of health policy and systems change at all levels of government 

• Open doors for the Foundation to communicate its Mission-related priorities with government officials and their staff, related agencies and with senior leadership in provincial non-governmental organizations.  

• Establish and maintain a network of contacts, relationships and linkages with all levels of government, other health charities, stakeholders, volunteers, PWLE and coalitions to support policy, health systems and advocacy activities.   

• Work with partner organizations to develop common advocacy positions and strategies that further the Foundations’ strategic objectives. 

• Provide advice and counsel to other Foundation programs in regard to government opportunities and risks.  

• Seek opportunities and integrate issues related to sex & gender, equity, diversity and inclusion in provincial health systems  

• Lead advocacy priorities in the province including in health equity, nicotine, cardiac arrest, stroke and heart failure projects, etc, adapting the priorities to reflect provincial environment 

• Engagement with stakeholders related to provincial/regional issues in research funding  

• Act as the external face of the organization, proactively and strategically engaging stakeholders, attending external meetings, making presentations, engaging media, etc. 

• Identify opportunities for funding and leveraging resources with government, industry and other key partners to maximize the Foundation’s impact 

• Develop and maintain effective communication links with associations and regulatory agencies that can assist the Foundation in achieving its goals and work with key stakeholders (e.g., government officials) in the identification and delivery of health promotion initiatives and activities. 

Advisor and Partner 

• Participate in and collaborate with Health System and Policy colleagues across the country and contribute to the HSF strategic planning process to promote provincial mission plans and long-term goals in relation to national mission priorities.  

• Work collaboratively with the Development Team to identify funding opportunities related to assigned portfolios  

• Attend donor meetings to provide expertise as subject matter expert 

• Provide input and support to Development to assist in preparing proposals and presenting to stakeholders 

• Engage the Provincial Advisory Board in the development of provincial mission priorities and initiatives as needed 

• Work proactively and collaboratively with staff and volunteers across the country to problem-solve and develop common advocacy initiatives and strategic priorities  

• Support the communications and marketing staff in promoting the Foundation’s programs to Foundation staff, volunteers, donors and the public, including recruiting PWLE 

• Work with colleagues in the Foundation to ensure cross-departmental planning, development and evaluation of Foundation activities and initiatives. 

• Participate in working groups and committees. 

• Build and develop cohesive lateral relationships cross functionally. 

Environmental Scanning 

• Lead the implementation of processes to scan, monitor and share information to key internal audiences regarding Western Canada’s research, government, and healthcare systems, and potential emerging opportunities. 

• Participate in Foundation processes to identify and explore focus areas for potential areas of new investment and strategic priority. 

• Track and share pertinent information and relevant policy decisions by government and healthcare systems to internal and external stakeholders. 

• Scan and report on recent trends in policy development as they relate to the HSF mission; track major patterns and trends in the evolution of public policy in the province as it may affect programs and activities; keep current with and assess changing public opinion as it relates to the Foundation’s mission. 

Talent Management 

• Lead and inspire the development of an effective and high performing team, ensuring high standards of delivery and competence. Ensure that Foundation values are maintained and that individuals are well supported in fulfilling their accountabilities, developing their skills and achieving their career potential.  

• Provide clear direction on business goals and priorities; ensure optimal deployment of resources to achieve business goals. 

• Establish performance plans and objectives and review on an ongoing basis; provide coaching and feedback as per the performance management process. 

Who we need 

Education 

• University degree with a focus on health policy, health administration, health systems 

• Graduate degree preferred 

• Professional accreditation is an asset  

• Project management designation considered an asset 

Experience 

• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible work experience  

• Experience with talent management, coaching and leadership  

• Experience leading in arole with a focus on advocacy, knowledge translation and health systems improvement  

• Experience networking and convening with multiple stakeholders including government, NGOs, and the public to solve complex health-related problems 

• Experience advocating federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments within the health portfolio 

• A strong background in program planning and evaluation and a firm grasp of health policy and systems change theory and models are required.  

• Experience in the nonprofit sector preferred 

Skills  

• Understanding of the health care delivery system and the federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments and their roles in the health system. 

• Understanding of Indigenous health, social, political, and cultural issues and Heart & Stroke’s position in relations to all of these 

• Extensive knowledge of government decision-making processes and advocacy strategies 

• Extensive knowledge of health policy and program development, implementation and evaluation.  

• Excellent project management skills and ability to lead complex projects and policy initiatives across government and health-related settings 

• Ability to build strong relationships with senior level officials and influence, motivate, and lead a wide array of stakeholders 

• Financial management skills to plan, prepare and administer a budget 

• Strong verbal and written communications skills 

• Well-developed leadership and facilitation skills 

What we offer 

At Heart & Stroke, we make it a priority to foster a culture of caring by implementing practices and programs that foster respect, compassion, trust and attentiveness to our own and others’ health and well-being. 

This role offers a hiring range of $95,000 to $119,000, aligned with our compensation framework and your professional background. We believe that time off is integral to the personal health and wellness of our employees. We offer a generous paid time-off package including vacation days, personal days, wellness days, and paid company-wide closure between December 25 and January 1. We also provide competitive health, medical, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, an employee assistance program (EAP) and a defined contribution pension plan with employer matching. Our employees also enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and reimbursement for mobile phones and home office setup, as well as opportunities for professional development.  

Apply now 

If you want to join the fight to beat heart disease and stroke, please apply by sending your resume by October 29 5:00pm. Applicants must be currently residing in Canada and legally entitled to work in Canada. 

Only those candidates that qualify will be selected for an interview. Interviews may be conducted virtually or in-person. Selected candidates will be notified in advance if an in-person interview is required. 

Accommodation 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible environment. If you have been contacted for an interview and require accommodation to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please let us know and we will do our best to address your needs.