Chief Communications and External Relations Officer
Position
Chief Communications and External Relations OfficerDescription
The Chief Communications and External Relations Officer (Chief) is a newly created executive leadership role responsible for providing strategic leadership across communications, government relations, stakeholder engagement, media relations, marketing, and external affairs. As a member of the Executive Team, the Chief will play an important role in strengthening organizational profile, advancing strategic priorities, and positioning Osler as a leading community teaching hospital and influential health system partner within Ontario’s evolving healthcare landscape.
The role requires a highly strategic leader who can operate effectively within a complex, high-profile, and fast-paced environment, while providing sound counsel on issues management, external positioning, advocacy, organizational reputation, and stakeholder engagement. The Chief will support key organizational priorities related to growth, redevelopment, academic expansion, system integration, and broader healthcare transformation, while fostering a coordinated and forward-looking approach to communications and external relations across the organization.
As a visible and engaged executive leader, the Chief will work closely with internal and external partners including government, healthcare system leaders, academic institutions, community organizations, and the Osler Foundation. The successful candidate will bring strong political acuity, sound judgment, and the ability to build credibility and alignment across a broad range of stakeholders and partners.
Key leadership priorities for the new Chief will be to:
- Lead an integrated communications and external relations strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
- Strengthen organizational profile and influence across government, healthcare, academic, and community partners.
- Advance a clear and compelling organizational narrative that reflects Osler’s growth, academic evolution, and commitment to world-class care.
- Advance modern communications, marketing, and engagement practices through digital innovation and emerging technologies.
- Partner with the Osler Foundation to support a coordinated “one voice” approach to communications, brand, and community engagement.
- Lead, mentor, and support a high-performing team while fostering a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, responsiveness, innovation, and service excellence.
Experience Required
The ideal candidate brings progressive senior leadership experience across communications, government relations, stakeholder engagement, and external affairs within healthcare or similarly complex, multi-stakeholder environments. They have demonstrated success strengthening organizational profile, leading integrated communications strategies, and navigating complex and high-profile issues with sound judgment and political acuity. The successful candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader with strong relationship management skills and the ability to build credibility across government, healthcare, academic, community, and executive stakeholder groups.
To confidentially explore this opportunity, please email your resume or query to Judy Mandelman or Heather Spiegel at resumes@promeus.ca.
Employer
William Osler Health System (Osler), a fully integrated health system, is one of Ontario’s largest and most dynamic community teaching hospital systems, serving 1.3 million residents across one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in the province. Osler is comprised of three hospital sites: Brampton Civic Hospital, Etobicoke General Hospital, and the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness, as well as a Reactivation Care Unit located at Humber River Hospital – Church Street Site, and a Withdrawal Management Centre in Brampton. With an annual budget of $950 million, Osler offers a wide range of health services, with high quality care, patient-centered care provided by skilled, professional, multidisciplinary teams. Osler has been named one of the Greater Toronto’s Top Employers, and received national recognition for excellence in patient safety, including the CCHL Excellence in Patient Safety Award.
William Osler Health System and Promeus Inc. are committed to building an intentionally inclusive environment that engages, supports, and empowers employment equity and diversity in the workplace and communities served. We welcome applications from women, racially visible individuals, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ+ persons.