Director, Government Affairs

Across Canada people are working to improve health care. Innovators are building better systems. Advocates are pushing for improved access. Leaders are driving change that matters. At Santis Health we dont just consult on health care we partner with those bold enough to shape its future.

Were a strategic advisory public affairs and communications firm serving hospitals health organizations professional associations and pharmaceutical and medtech companies across Canada.

Position Overview

Santis Health is hiring a Director to help lead our Ontario Government Affairs practice. This is a senior strategic role for a seasoned public affairs professional with deep Queens Park experience and/or a strong track record of advising public leaders and executives on matters of public policy strategic communications and/or issues management. Experience working in the health and/or life sciences sector would be an asset. The Director owns key client relationships shapes practice growth supports mentorship and upskilling of team members and partners with senior leaders and advisors at the firm to drive client priorities and firm profile while providing hands-on strategic counsel on the provinces health policy files.

Responsibilities Include

Strategic client counsel

• Serve as senior strategic counsel to a portfolio of key accounts including C-suite and executive-level clients.
• Lead the development of complex government affairs strategies spanning multiple ministries agencies and political audiences.
• Monitor shifts in Ontarios political and health policy landscape and advise clients on implications and positioning.
• Represent Santis in senior-level client engagements and meetings and where requested represent and guide clients in government and stakeholder engagements.
• Support client-driven public affairs campaigns and PR for GR strategies.
• Advise clients on strategic communications and issues management strategies in support of their day-to-day advocacy work and organizational or business objectives.

Leadership

• Partner with the VP Ontario Government Affairs on team strategy resourcing and growth priorities.
• Serve as a direct report for junior team members.
• Mentor and provide strategic oversight and upskilling to Government Affairs team members.
• Contribute to thought leadership including marketing content client briefings webinars and public opinion polling.

Business development

• Lead proposal development and pitches for new business.
• Identify and cultivate new relationships across the health and life sciences sector.
• Lead business development and networking activities.
• Support account growth and retention across the practices existing portfolio.
• Work cross-functionally to develop and execute on key client growth and business development strategies.

Compliance

• Ensure all client work complies with federal and provincial lobbying registration requirements.
• Model sound judgment on compliance confidentiality and reputational risk for the broader team.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in government relations public policy or political roles with substantial exposure to Ontarios health sector.
• Senior-level experience at Queens Park in a ministers office or within the Ontario Public Service strongly preferred.
• Consulting and/or experience working in the health and life sciences sectors would be an asset.
• Demonstrated success in managing a portfolio of issues and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the judgment to advise audiences in high-profile and/or sensitive circumstances.
• Experience managing a project team including supporting the mentorship and professional development of individual team members.
• Post-secondary degree in political science public policy health administration or a related field.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package
• A leadership role with influence over practice and firm direction and growth
• Exposure to a diverse mission-driven high-profile client base across the health and life sciences sector
• A collaborative entrepreneurial team environment
• High degree of autonomy to build portfolio and expertise

About Santis Health

Santis Health is a Canadian health care and life sciences consulting firm that provides a wide range of Management Consulting Communications and Government Affairs services to clients across the country. We accelerate health system innovation guide corporate strategy and advance advocacy across Canadas health and life science sectors because we believe in the same things our clients do: better outcomes better access and better health for all of us. Clients of Santis Health include leading health care organizations pharmaceutical companies charities hospitals non-profits and health care providers.

Santis Health is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that is safe and respectful. Our aim is to ensure all employees and job applicants are given equal and equitable opportunity and that our organization represents a diverse array of expertise skills and backgrounds. We are committed to fair employment practices that do not discriminate on the basis of age gender disability socio-economic status marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity race national origin religious beliefs political beliefs sex and sexual orientation and other dimensions that are intrinsic to who we are as individuals.

If you are interested in becoming the newest team member of Santis Health and believe you have the qualifications listed in the job description please submit your cover letter and resume.

Required Experience:

Director