Director, Government Relations and Health Access

Who we are

We’re not your typical non-profit. We bring swagger to everything we do. That means we move with purpose in every step, driven by our commitment to putting our community at the centre of our work. Every day, we ask ourselves to see possibilities where others see limits. Because people with Parkinson’s and care partners deserve better. Better care, more inclusive research and access to treatment and supports that make living well possible.

Our mission is to empower and inspire people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners to live fully and courageously. Through community support, advocacy, and research, we encourage others to see a diagnosis not as a dimming of light, but a spark for a new beginning.

Move forward. Together. On Mission.

Who we need

Reporting to the VP, Mission, we are hiring a Director, Government Relations and Health Access. As the new Director, Government Relations and Health Access, you will lead the development and execution of Parkinson Canada’s health policy, government relations, and advocacy priorities across Canada. You will help shape the future of Parkinson’s care by building relationships, influencing decision-makers, and driving strategies that improve access to treatment, services, and support for people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners. You will navigate complex systems, build momentum across diverse stakeholders, and turn strategy into action. You will work across government, healthcare, advocacy, research, and industry environments to identify opportunities, align priorities, and move initiatives forward in a fast-moving environment where relationships, influence, and execution matter.

This is an existing remote vacancy with occasional travel as needed for in person meetings.

What’s in it for you:

Shape strategy with the ability to execute. This is an opportunity to move beyond advising from the sidelines and play a central role in shaping and advancing national advocacy, government relations, and health access priorities. You will have the autonomy, leadership support, and organizational commitment to influence direction, build momentum, and help turn strategy into action.

Influence with visibility. You will help position Parkinson Canada as a trusted and influential voice within the healthcare ecosystem while helping evolve how advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and government relationships are built and activated within the sector. Working across governments, healthcare leaders, advocacy organizations, researchers, and industry stakeholders, you will help drive conversations and initiatives with national visibility and significance.

Complex work in a high-accountability environment. You will operate at the intersection of healthcare, policy, advocacy, and system transformation, leading initiatives that require strategic thinking, stakeholder alignment, and strong execution. This is a fast-moving environment that values clarity, accountability, momentum, and measurable progress, offering the opportunity to work on nuanced challenges where influence and outcomes matter equally.

As our new Director, Government Relations and Health Access you will:

• Lead advocacy and government relations strategy. You will develop and advance advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and government relations priorities that strengthen access to care, treatment, and support for people living with Parkinson’s across Canada. You will identify opportunities, build momentum around key initiatives, and help position Parkinson Canada as a trusted and influential voice within the healthcare ecosystem.
• Drive strategic initiatives forward. You will lead high-priority national initiatives and help translate broad organizational and advocacy goals into actionable plans, stakeholder strategies, and measurable outcomes. You will navigate complex healthcare and policy environments, balancing long-term priorities with evolving opportunities and external dynamics.
• Build and activate relationships. You will work across governments, healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, researchers, industry partners, and community stakeholders to align priorities, advance shared objectives, and help move initiatives forward. You will facilitate productive conversations, identify areas of collaboration, and help create pathways for progress across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with internal teams across Mission, Partnerships, Marketing and Communications, and Insights to ensure advocacy strategies, campaigns, stakeholder engagement efforts, and external initiatives are aligned to broader organizational priorities and community needs.
• Guide policy and advocacy positioning. You will oversee the development of briefing materials, policy positions, advocacy messaging, stakeholder presentations, and engagement strategies that support organizational priorities and strengthen Parkinson Canada’s external voice and influence.
• Lead and support your team. You will provide leadership, coaching, and direction to team members and external partners, fostering accountability, momentum, collaboration, and strong execution across initiatives and priorities.
• Use insight to evolve strategy. You will monitor healthcare, political, funding, and policy developments, using insights, stakeholder feedback, and emerging trends to refine priorities, identify opportunities, and help shape future advocacy and access strategies.h

What you bring:

• The background. You may come from consulting, public affairs, advocacy, government relations, healthcare strategy, or another environment where you were responsible for navigating government and healthcare systems, influencing stakeholders, and helping drive complex initiatives forward. You understand the nuances of working within and alongside public sector environments while bringing a pace, accountability, and execution mindset often developed in private sector or consulting environments where momentum and outcomes matter.
• The strategic influence. You have experience navigating complex stakeholder environments and building alignment across groups with different priorities, perspectives, and motivations. You understand how to influence decision-makers, move initiatives forward, and create momentum around shared objectives.
• The ability to execute. You translate strategy into action. You know how to take broad organizational or advocacy priorities and turn them into clear plans, stakeholder strategies, and measurable outcomes. You are comfortable operating with accountability and balancing long-term priorities with evolving opportunities and timelines.
• The relationship-building and stakeholder presence. You are a strong communicator who can build credibility quickly and engage effectively across governments, healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, researchers, industry partners, and senior leaders. You know how to navigate nuanced conversations, align stakeholders, and represent an organization with professionalism, confidence, and sound judgment.
• The adaptability and pace. You thrive in fast-moving environments where priorities evolve, opportunities emerge quickly, and not everything is fully defined on day one. You are comfortable working through ambiguity, shifting direction when needed, and maintaining momentum while balancing multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• The leadership and collaboration. You bring people together around a common direction. You know how to create clarity, establish accountability, and work cross-functionally to advance initiatives and deliver results. You are highly collaborative but also comfortable taking ownership and helping drive work forward.

Other Requirements

• All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check and references.

Compensation: At Parkinson Canada, we believe that compensation should be fair and supportive of your experience and growth. For this role, the salary is between $110,000 - $130,000 per annum. Our salary ranges reflect progression from learning in the role to excelling, with each offer based on skills, experience, and role complexity. We strive for equitable, consistent pay, though rates may vary within the same role based on performance, specialized knowledge, and impact.

We believe in transparency and open conversations about compensation. If you have any questions about our approach, we are happy to discuss them throughout the hiring process.

Join us

Working at Parkinson Canada is more than a job - it’s a movement. The symptoms of Parkinson’s can push people into the shadows. At Parkinson Canada, we inspire people to step into the light: connected, supported, and empowered.

We help people embrace the wobbles, the wiggles, and the wonky moments, transforming every shuffle into a dance, every tremor into a beat, and every challenge into something that can still hold joy.

Join us and help people living with Parkinson’s find their joy - and their swagger.

Apply now

If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications may be strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application. 

What you can expect from our interview process:

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss your interest in joining the company and in the role. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview. 
• A virtual interview with the VP, Mission to explore your experience in program delivery, leadership, and scaling services in complex environments.
• A case study and virtual panel interview where you will present your approach and thinking. You will meet with the VP, Mission and two senior members of the leadership team to discuss your approach, alignment, and how you would contribute to the evolution of the function.

Parkinson Canada is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at View email address on parkinsoncanada.applytojob.com.

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