Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinabek territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to nearly 4,500 staff and physicians dedicated to helping children and youth live their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named as the best place to work in Canadian healthcare by Forbes Magazine and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 10th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

At CHEO, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of children, youth and families by providing exceptional care and services. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to fill a key leadership role in the organization, one that will be instrumental in driving alignment and amplifying our impact across the CHEO enterprise, including the CHEO Research Institute (RI) and the CHEO Foundation.

Reporting to the Chief Branding and Communications Officer (CBCO), the Director of Communications is responsible and accountable for the strategy, development, and execution of all communication activities related to the hospital and its community programs. This role is pivotal in ensuring a cohesive overarching narrative and strong brand alignment across all CHEO entities, embodying the strength of our tri-organizational model. The Director will champion the vision of a unified CHEO, fostering a collaborative spirit and ensuring all communications efforts contribute to our collective goals.

The Director of Communications works closely with CHEO’s CEO and executive team to deliver tailored communications strategies and proactively seeks opportunities for CHEO to advocate for a better life for children and youth. As such, the incumbent is responsible for leading all internal and external communications activities, ensuring a consistent and engaging tone and voice for the organization. This includes the strategic oversight of media and social media content and execution, public relations and event management, marketing, sponsorship, and brand-impacting partnerships for the hospital. A critical aspect of this role is the development and execution of effective internal communications strategies that keep staff informed, engaged, and aligned with the tri-org vision.

This individual is a highly regarded expert and strategist, a strong and collaborative leader capable of managing multiple projects and topics simultaneously while prioritizing and ensuring high-quality execution. The Director leads a team of communications professionals, providing coaching and mentorship, and liaises effectively with various departments, entities, and partners, including the RI, the Foundation, and the distinct Creative Services team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and execution of strategic internal and external communications in support of CHEO’s operations, directly aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities and the overarching vision of the integrated CHEO model.
• Lead a team of communications professionals to execute and deliver high-quality communications consistently, fostering an environment of collaboration and shared purpose in support of the tri-org alignment.
• Assess and review all communications activities through a thoughtful metrics-driven approach to deliver maximum impact, while ensuring appropriate allocation of resources, including budgetary oversight.
• Ensure a consistent long-term impactful communications approach, one that is aligned with the organization’s corporate priorities and the vision for a unified CHEO, while effectively managing urgent priorities as they arise.
• Execute a best-in-class narrative for CHEO in consultation with the CBCO, ensuring it reflects the strength and collaborative nature of the hospital, Research Institute, and Foundation.
• Ensure the development, quality execution, and monitoring of all communications channels, including social media, media relations, internal newsletters, the intranet, the public website, and other key platforms.
• Deliver a strong proactive media relations approach, including fostering robust relationships with local, regional, and national media to amplify CHEO’s voice and impact.
• Provide strategic communications advice and guidance to senior leadership and staff as required, reinforcing the importance of consistent messaging across all entities.
• Liaise regularly with the CBCO to ensure alignment on all communications and branding initiatives, contributing to a cohesive and powerful representation of the CHEO brand.
• Work collaboratively with peers at the CHEO Research Institute and the CHEO Foundation, and the Creative Services team, to collaborate and align on behalf of the CHEO brand for maximum impact and effectiveness, ensuring a clear understanding of each entity's distinct role within the overall mission.
• Promote and carry out best practices in communications, with a commitment to continuous improvement, across all CHEO entities.
• Manage the communications budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated strategically to achieve organizational goals.
• Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Police Record Check (PRC) (Essential)
• University Degree in Journalism, Public Relations, or Marketing; or BA with focus on writing (Essential)
• Minimum eight (8) years of related experience (Essential)
• Exceptional verbal and written skills; (Essential)
• Ability to ensure on-time completion of tasks; (Essential)
• Deal effectively with internal and external customers; (Essential)
• Experience with issue management and crisis communications; (Essential)
• Experience with website and social media strategy; (Preferred)
• Fluently bilingual in English and French, with superior (A-level) writing skills in both languages; (Preferred)

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at talentacquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

CHEO is committed to providing a safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors. Consistent with that commitment, all applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be considered for any staff or volunteer opportunities. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to receive their COVID-19 booster shots when eligible to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Upon hiring, presentation of government issued documentation confirming full vaccination must be provided, or presentation of supporting documentation of a valid medical contraindication or other reasonable consideration pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.