Careers

Reports to: Vice President, Programs, Research and Public Affairs

Location: Hybrid (two days in the office per week). Primary location is the Lung Health Foundation’s office in Toronto, with occasional travel within Ontario and across Canada as required. For this position, we would consider candidates in Ottawa, Ontario Canada with an alternative hybrid model.

Salary Range: $88,500 – $114,000

Imagine a future where people living with lung cancer have a fighting chance, where no one loses a loved one to asthma, where people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) live their lives to the fullest, where older adults don’t lose their independence in life, and where future generations don’t suffer the debilitating effects of lung disease. The Lung Health Foundation is committed to making this future a reality. And this new future starts now.

The Lung Health Foundation’s mission is to improve the lung health of Canadians, and we will achieve this through:

• Ground-breaking research;
• Policy and practice change;
• Urgently needed programs and support; and
• Public education around lung health issues.

And at the heart of it all? Helping those who have been impacted by lung disease.

Position overview:

Are you passionate about driving change and making a real impact on the health of Canadians? We’re looking for a dynamic Director of Public Policy and Advocacy to join our team at the Lung Health Foundation!

As the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, you’ll be the leader behind our policy and advocacy strategy and related activities. From meaningful engagement with stakeholders to diving deep into policy research to working side by side with advocates, you’ll be the driving force behind our efforts to create positive change. You’ll need to be proactive, hands-on, and creative. This is your chance to shape the future of lung health policy in Canada!

The Lung Health Foundation is in a period of growth and is building its team with that in mind – the Director role will help shape the policy, advocacy and public affairs approach and its focus with an emphasis on evidence, partnerships and opportunities for short- and long-term success. Worth noting

this role will work with external government relations and public affairs vendors, when required, to compliment the organization’s efforts. The Director role will be a strategic AND an operational leader for the policy and public affairs team and in supporting cross functional efforts to drive change.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborating with the executive team to formulate and execute comprehensive strategic plans for advocacy, policy development, and stakeholder relations.
• Providing expert insights and advice on policy trends, legislative changes, and strategic opportunities.
• Aid in the development of advocacy-related proposals, and in researching and writing program proposals for external funding.
• Monitor relevant policy and public affairs issues, providing briefing notes etc. to support decision making.

Policy Strategy and Oversight:

• Spearheading the development and implementation of compelling advocacy campaigns and policy initiatives. 
• Ensuring these initiatives align with LHF’s strategic goals and are effective in influencing public policy.
• Lead the development of policy and position statements.
• Lead the development and execution of key events including the Breathing Policy Forum series and annual patient advocacy days (provincial and federal).
• Staying on the pulse to identify opportunities to respond to current and emerging issues, including the development of external communications to raise the Lung Health Foundation’s profile and further its mission and position on key issues, in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications (including Media Relations) Team.

Advocacy Program:

• Lead the strategic design and development of an advocacy program, aligning with organizational goals and values to effectively represent and advance key initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to identify and engage potential advocates, nurturing relationships and providing support to ensure their ongoing commitment and effectiveness.
• Drive the implementation of advocacy initiatives, utilizing data-driven insights to measure impact, refine strategies, and continuously enhance the program’s reach and influence.

Stakeholder and Government Relations:

• Building and maintaining robust relationships with key federal and provincial government stakeholders, including MPs, MPPs, Senators, political and department officials, and relevant government agencies to broaden support for key positions of the Lung Health Foundation

National Lung Health Alliance

• Oversee the Secretariat function of the National Lung Health Alliance including the working groups. The National Lung Health Alliance consists of 10 leading organizations in lung health space.
• Represent the Lung Health Foundation on alliances/consortiums, roundtables and meetings providing expertise on different lung health and policy issues as a patient advocacy organization.

Performance Measurement:

• Contributing to the ongoing development of LHF’s performance measurement and reporting framework and process from the public affairs lens
• Regularly assessing and reporting on the effectiveness of advocacy efforts and policy initiatives.

Team Management and Development:

• Overseeing the Public Affairs staff, providing direction, mentorship, and leadership.

Encouraging a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in all advocacy and policy endeavors.

Working effectively cross functionally with members of the organization that are involved in the public affairs activities (i.e. marketing, media relations, client programs).

Collaboration with Communications:

• Working closely with the communications team to ensure a unified and effective message across all campaigns and policy statements. Assisting in translating complex policy issues into clear, impactful messages that resonate with a variety of audiences.
• Travelling as required for external events and meetings (Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario primarily)

Qualifications:

Overall, a successful Director of Public Policy and Advocacy in the health charitable sector should possess a combination of education, experience, skills, and personal qualities that enable them to effectively lead advocacy efforts, shape public policy, and advance the organization’s mission and goals.

• Fluency in French is highly valued.
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Public Policy, Political Science, Public Health, Communications, or a related discipline is preferred. A master’s degree in a related field would be an asset. Diverse educational and training backgrounds will be considered.
• Substantial experience (6-10 years) in policy analysis, government relations, advocacy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing successful advocacy campaigns and initiatives.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, including building and maintaining relationships with government officials, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.
• In-depth understanding of health policy issues, particularly those related to the organization’s mission and focus areas.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex policy issues and communicate them effectively to various audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft persuasive policy documents, position statements, and other advocacy materials.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve common goals.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this opportunity and have the skills and experience required, we invite you to apply here. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

WHY THE LUNG HEALTH FOUNDATION?

Beyond making a real difference in the lives of the one-in-five Canadians living with lung disease, we offer:

• collaborative and creative environment
• robust benefits package, including an RRSP matching program
• flexible work environment
• we help you grow – both professionally and personally

As a Toronto-based organization with a national scope, we may consider, for externally-focused roles, remote work based on the strength of the candidate and organizational needs. In such cases, the candidate must be also willing to travel as required.

The Lung Health Foundation is committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As such, we will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the recruitment process.

The Lung Health Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, colour, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the province where we operate. At the Lung Health Foundation, we value the insights and innovation that diverse and inclusive teams bring to work.