The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is committed to engage highly qualified employees to carry out its objectives and to provide a work environment that is conducive to personal and professional growth. In CNA’s commitment to inclusion and the dismantling of racist and systemic discriminatory practices we are eager to attract a diverse workforce. We will provide equal employment opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants for employment, encouraging those who have not been historically well represented, to better serve the diversity of nurses and people living in Canada.

The Organization:

CNA is the national and global professional voice of Canadian nursing. Our mission is to advance the nursing profession to improve health outcomes in Canada’s publicly funded, not-for-profit health system. CNA is the only national association that speaks for all types of nurses across all 13 provinces and territories. We represent nurses that are unionized and non-unionized, retired nurses, nursing students, and all categories of nurses (registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed and registered practical nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses). We are guided by a set of ethical values of courage, equity, diversity excellence, innovation and trust. We are seeking an individual who is an innovative thinker and will have demonstrated experience in handling challenging issues in a diverse, transformational and dynamic work environment.

Role:

Policy analysis and development are integral to advancing the mission of our organization. Under the guidance of the Director, Research & Policy, the Policy Analyst will be primarily responsible for:

• Leading the development, implementation, knowledge mobilization, and evaluation of national nursing and health policies aligning with organizational strategic objectives.
• Setting clear policy priorities, targets, and strategies to advance the nursing profession, create health system transformation, and improve outcomes for all populations within Canada.
• Crafting and implementing policy instruments that articulate our organization's stance on key policy priorities for the public, priority populations, partners, government entities, and CNA members.

CNA is a virtual workplace, the incumbent must reside in Canada.

Key responsibilities:

Policy Priorities & Strategic Alignment

• Establish, implement, and evaluate policy initiatives that align with CNA's strategic priorities.
• Identify both prevailing and emerging trends in national policy and health systems, ensuring partners/collaborators are informed and engaged.

Timely Advice on Emerging Policy

• Monitor and analyze trends and identify emerging policy opportunities.
• Provide timely, evidence-informed advice to CNA leadership on emerging policy issues.

Environmental Scanning, Policy Development & Knowledge Mobilization

• Conduct environmental scans, literature reviews, and trend analyses to inform evidence-based policy decisions.
• Anticipate information requirements and track health-care trends to support policy development.
• Develop policy discussion papers, reports, and briefing materials through extensive research and consultation.
• Create knowledge mobilization strategies with support from communications and marketing teams, engaging the public and nurses across Canada.

Advocacy & Collaboration

• Act as a catalyst for change within the nursing profession and health systems.
• Advance government advocacy with the CNA government relations team, ensuring policy priorities are shared with government.
• Facilitate collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and leaders to promote evidence-informed decision-making across health systems.
• Collaborate on advocacy efforts with membership and aligned advocacy organizations.

Project Leadership

• Lead and manage projects impacting key policy priorities, from design to evaluation and knowledge mobilization.
• Regularly communicate with all internal and external project team members and ensure proper documentation and communication.
• Support the development of committees, taskforces, with appropriate oversight and decision-making.

Representation & Engagement

• Engage members and key partners/collaborators/rights holders on policy priorities and initiatives.
• Represent CNA's position on policy priorities and initiatives internally and externally.
• Requires travel as necessary to fulfill job duties (e.g., staff retreats, meetings, conferences)​​​

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in nursing, health policy, health administration, or a related field
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or psychiatric nursing or related field if LPN (RPN in Ontario)
• Regulated nurse in Canada with current licensure/registration (RN, RPN, NP, or LPN (RPN in Ontario)
• Minimum of eight (8) years of direct care/clinical experience and strong background across additional domains of practice (research, education, administration, policy)
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in policy, advocacy, research, quality improvement, or knowledge mobilization
• Proven track record in policy analysis, development, and research methodologies.
• In-depth understanding of national nursing and health policy challenges and opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Published papers, reports, articles, etc.

Desirable   qualifications:

• Knowledge of political and legislative processes at the national level
• Fluently bilingual in English & French preferred
• Experience working with or serving on a professional association.
• Experience with project management and/or program development.
• CNA certification credential preferred
• Active CNA membership required

Salary: $84,000-$118,000

Posted: December 19, 2025

Closes: January 2, 2026