About SickKids

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

The Department of Paediatrics at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to support the objectives of the Child Health Policy Accelerator ('Accelerator'). As Canada's first hospital-based applied child and youth health and social policy initiative, the mission of the Accelerator is two-fold: (1) to forward specific, focused, evidence-based policy objectives designed to deliver positive change for children and youth in Canada; and (2) to train the next generation of maternal and child health change-makers by facilitating didactic, episodic, and longitudinal policy immersion experiences.

Reporting to the Medical Director, the successful candidate will support the collaborative development and implementation of comprehensive advocacy strategies designed to advance the priority policy objectives of the Accelerator. This position will have a particular focus on federal health-specific legislative and regulatory files, including but not limited to drug and medical device regulations, clinical trial regulations, and related health policy initiatives. The Senior Policy Advisor will monitor and analyze government activities that may influence the success of the Accelerator's objectives, research and develop comprehensive policy proposals to advance identified child health priorities, and will liaise with academics, clinicians, and other child health partners both within SickKids and across Canada to ground the Accelerator's work in national and international experience and best practices. The successful candidate will also have an opportunity to collaborate with learners, at multiple levels of training, to forward the Accelerator's educational mission. The successful candidate will be an advocacy expert with demonstrated experience in public policy, coalition building, and communications, with a passion for amplifying the patient, clinician and researcher voice to create positive change for Canadian children, youth and their families.

The Senior Policy Advisor will work closely with the Child Health Policy Accelerator team, clinical and research leaders at SickKids and from across Canada, as well as advocacy trainees, and other external coalition organizations. Key partners include: RareKids-CAN Network, IMPaCT Clinical Trials Training Platform, Maternal Infant Child and Youth Research Network (MICYRN) and the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children. While the ability to perform focused work independently is essential, collaboration is the cornerstone of the Accelerator. Fueled by the passion, creativity and the expertise of every team member, we seek a candidate who will thrive on the energy generated by sharing ideas, pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities. All team members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to both learning and teaching, to expanding purposeful partnerships, and to delivering positive change for children, youth and families.

Here's What You'll Get to Do

Policy Development and Communications

• Leads the development of position papers, policy briefs, government submissions and other correspondence, as required, related to the Accelerator's priorities and strategic interests.
• Monitors the legislative, regulatory and policy activities of both the provincial and federal government as related to the strategic priorities of the Accelerator, and the child and youth health sector more broadly.
• Contributes to the selection of the Accelerator's policy priorities through the review of policy evidence, guidelines, models, agendas, priorities and strategies of government, other organizations and/or other partners at regular intervals.
• Builds and fosters productive relationships with content experts, patient groups, and advocacy leaders to influence positive change and advance the Accelerator's priority policy objectives.
• Supports communications with internal and external partners as required.

Advocacy, Partnership and Collaboration

• Supports the development of advocacy strategies aligned with each of the Accelerator's evidence-based policy objectives, including engagement with relevant provincial and national partners, as well as academic, community-based and advocacy organizations.
• Builds and maintains complex interdisciplinary relationships and strategic partnerships with advocacy groups, professional organizations, research collaborators and patient and family groups to support evidence-based policy change.

Curriculum and Training

• Supports meaningful episodic and longitudinal advocacy experiences for learners, at all levels of training, affiliated with the Accelerator.
• Provides formal and informal training opportunities, including curriculum development, to internal and external contacts seeking to learn more about the advocacy process.
• Facilitates regular workshops for partner organizations within the SickKids and University of Toronto communities.

Here's What You'll Need

• Graduate degree in Political Management, Public Policy, Health Administration, Law, or related field, with a minimum of five years of experience in public affairs, policy, and/or government. A Bachelor's degree with the equivalent combination of education and work experience will be considered.

• Experience working with government, either at the Federal or Provincial level, with a proven track record of strategic planning, coalition building, positive influence and/or policy implementation is required. Experience navigating both governmental and non-governmental environments, and influencing health policy outcomes, will be considered an asset.

• **Knowledge of the current Canadian child health policy landscape in Canada, with a particular understanding of federal legislative and regulatory processes affecting pediatric drugs, medical devices and clinical trials, is highly desirable.**Specific knowledge related to Health Canada's legislative and regulatory portfolio, and related advocacy experience, will be seen as an asset.

• Demonstrated project management skills to deliver and evaluate policy programs preferably within government, non-governmental organizations or healthcare institutions.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively.

• Ability to function collaboratively with multiple, diverse partners.

• Ability to function independently with excellent attention to detail.

• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple initiatives in a timely manner and flexibility to adapt to changing workload.

• Ability to travel within Canada (up to 5 trips per year, for a total of 10-14 days per year)

• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives

• Bilingualism in French and English is an asset.

Here**'s What You'**ll Love

• This position is eligible for employee benefits coverage. The full benefits package will be discussed at the time of offer.
• A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.
• A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.
• For more on why you'll love working at SickKids, visit our careers site.

Employment Type:

• Temporary full-time, 2-year contract
• 35 hours/week

Our Commitment to Diversity

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

Accessibility & Accommodation

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

How To Apply

Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.

Every application is reviewed by a human recruiter and all hiring decisions are made by people. In some cases, AI-assisted tools are used to help review applications based on job-related qualifications.

All positions posted on the SickKids Hospital's Careers Site represent current vacancies, unless otherwise posted in the job description.