Director, Communications, Brand and Public Affairs

Join Northeastern Ontario’s Health Care Leaders!

A dynamic and growing health care environment awaits you in Sudbury, Ontario. Surrounded by provincial parks and with 330 lakes, Greater Sudbury has over 165,000 residents and is a rich mix of urban, suburban, rural and wilderness environments that offer something for everyone. Just a one hour flight or four-hour drive north of Toronto, Ontario you can experience the balance of a supportive yet challenging career environment with a comfortable and affordable lifestyle, right in the heart of Northern Ontario’s largest city.

Health Sciences North (HSN), one of Canada’s Top 40 research hospitals and Northern Ontario’s largest hospital, is seeking a candidate to fill the role of Director, Communications, Brand and Public Affairs. Under the direction of the President & Chief Executive Officer, Foundations and Volunteer Groups, the successful incumbent will provide strategic leadership and oversight for Health Sciences North (HSN), HSN Foundation (HSNF), and HSN Research Institute (HSNRI) in all aspects of communications, brand management, and public affairs. This critical leadership role is essential in aligning internal and external communications, strengthening brand identity, and ensuring a unified, consistent voice across all platforms. The Director will drive engagement with patients and their families, collaborate closely with clinical leadership, enhance talent attraction efforts, and elevate donor engagement to increase revenue. Additionally, this role will play a key part in advancing the priorities set out in our Strategic Plans.

A key focus of this role is to build and maintain a trusted brand and reputation with stakeholders across the communities we serve, ensuring HSN, HSN Foundation, and HSN Research Institute are recognized as leaders in healthcare, research, and philanthropy. The Director will lead efforts to enhance public confidence, foster meaningful relationships, and position the organizations as trusted, transparent, and innovative institutions. As a trusted advisor, the Director will counsel HSN’s Senior Leadership Team and the President & CEO on public affair matters and will serve as a key resource to the Boards of Directors (HSN, HSNF, HSNRI) helping to navigate complex communications challenges and enhance stakeholder relationships.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field from an accredited institution, as well as a minimum of ten (10) years’ of progressive experience in media and communications, preferably in a healthcare environment. The individual will also bring a minimum of five (5) years’ experience working in a leadership role within a large organization, have experience leading and implementing initiative through project management, and experience collaborating with clinical teams, understanding patient care communications and marketing strategies. A Master’s degree is a related field is preferred.

Women, Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, Francophones, and other equity-deserving candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Interested applicants should apply directly to requisition #7616 on the HSN Careers Website at https://careers.hsnsudbury.ca/ by March 19, 2025.

DUTIES:

1. Build and maintain a trusted and cohesive brand and reputation with key stakeholders across the communities and ensure HSN, HSNF and HSNRI are recognized as leaders in healthcare, research and philanthropy.
2. Lead efforts to enhance public confidence, foster meaningful relationships, and position the organizations as trusted, transparent, and innovative.
3. Provide strategic advice to the Senior Leadership Team on public affairs matters; serve as a key resource to the Board of Directors for all entities (e.g., HSN, HSNF, HSNRI), navigating complex, high profile communications challenges and enhancing stakeholder relationships.
4. Oversee the creation and consistent management of brand assets (e.g., logos, visual identity and messaging).
5. Provide editorial oversight for all communication materials ensuring accuracy, clarity, and brand consistency; ensure materials are aligned with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the French Language Services (FLS) Act standards and are culturally sensitive, and inclusive.
6. Create and implement comprehensive, data-driven communication strategies aligned with organizational priorities, the Strategic Plan, and associated Mission, Vision and Values.
7. Create and lead a comprehensive public affairs strategy to help advance HSN’s strategic priorities and build strategic relationships with community organizations, educational institutions, healthcare providers and different levels of government.
8. Work with clinical health care professionals, research teams, and Senior Leadership to assess their communication needs and develop strategies to effectively deliver those needs.
9. Promote HSN’s visibility in local, regional, national, and international markets through strategic deployment of media, web, social media, and other communication networks.
10. Identify and monitor metrics and adjust strategies to improve performance.
11. Uphold ethical practices, transparency and compliance with industry codes of conduct in all forms of communication.
12. Lead, mentor, and manage the Communications, Brand and Public Affairs team and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
13. Monitor industry trends, participate in professional networks, and integrate best practices into communication strategies and metrics.
14. Oversee recruitment and retention of the Communication, Brand and Public Affairs staff.
15. Represent HSN in community engagement efforts and partnerships to enhance the organization’s presence and collaboration within the region.
16. Create and lead crisis communications strategies for the organization.
17. Develop annual budgets and assume fiscal accountability of the departmental operation according to approved budget.
18. Provide hospital wide, on-call coverage for problems and serious issues after hours and on weekends according to scheduled rotation.
19. Determine and align improvement projects with HSN’s Strategic Plan; monitor and adjust to achieve goal outcomes.
20. Participate in the accreditation process and work to ensure that the program and HSN achieve, maintain and continually improve upon their accredited status.
21. Teach, coach and lead staff in the development and monitoring of quality indicators and improvement initiatives.
22. Engage in and foster professional development of all staff and provide opportunities for learning within budgeted resources.
23. Ensure a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors; investigate report, debrief and take or direct corrective action as required on incidents.
24. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders/organizations/community groups to achieve program objectives, integrate and link services and foster partnerships across the continuum of service delivery.
25. Participate in education and training specific to current, relevant federal and provincial health and safety legislation, standards and guidelines.
26. Represent the department or program on various committees and in meetings as required. 
27. Perform other duties as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND TRAINING: 

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field from an accredited institution.
2. Master’s Degree in a related field is preferred.
3. Ministry of Labour “Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps” training certificate is required.

EXPERIENCE: 

1. Minimum of ten (10) years’ of progressive experience in media and communications, preferably in a healthcare environment.
2. Minimum five (5) years’ experience in a leadership role within a large organization.
3. Experience leading and implementing initiatives through project management is required.
4. Experience collaborating with clinical teams and understanding patient care communications and marketing strategies is required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

1. Demonstrated leadership, critical thinking, analytical, and team-building skills and abilities.
2. Demonstrated ability to impact and influence others at all levels.
3. Demonstrated strong understanding of best practices, including patient-centered communications.
4. Demonstrated ability to develop, monitor, and report on budgets effectively.
5. Demonstrated proficiency in measuring communication effectiveness using data analytics.
6. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and healthcare privacy laws.
7. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) Act and French Language Services (FLS) Act.
8. Demonstrated ability to create positive work environment and culture to achieve organizational and professional goals.
9. Demonstrated ability to coach, advise and teach others using the principles of adult learning.
10. Demonstrated training, experience or utilization of quality improvement methodology for process improvement.
11. Demonstrated ability to independently identify issues, plan improvements, measure success and continue improvement.
12. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation and principles of management, hospital committee structure, conflict management and resolution, system needs analysis and organizational assessment.
13. Ability to use tact and discretion in dealing with health care providers and employees.
14. Demonstrated excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office software (e.g. Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook) and patient information systems.
15. Demonstrated superior interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
16. Demonstrated commitment to the safety of co-workers and patients.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:  

1. Successful Criminal Record Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) is required.
2. Strong ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.
3. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.
4. Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships and collaborative processes across institutions.
5. Demonstrated professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive issues.
6. Demonstrated positive work record and excellent attendance record.
7. Ability to meet the physical and sensory demands of the job.
8. Ability to travel between local sites.

Selection Process:  Candidates will be selected for this position on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications as identified in the resume and completed Application Form submitted. The Hospital reserves the right to conduct a formal interview where required.
 

Health Sciences North is committed to providing accommodations to applicants with disabilities to enable their participation in the recruitment, assessment, selection and hiring stages of employment.

HSN THANKS ALL APPLICANTS.
ONLY THOSE SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE AND TIME.