Innovation & Co-creation Specialist

**Work Type: Full Time**Innovation & Co-Creation Specialist**

Home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care services, Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) is committed to meeting the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond.

WRHN is redefining the health-care experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered community-driven health care.

At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities. By listening to patients and partners, we strive to connect communities to the right care, at the right place, and at the right time.

**Please Note**:New employees must provide documentation/proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, a 2-step TB test, as well as proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) prior to their start date at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN). New Employees will require clearance from Employee Health, Safety and Wellness before they are able to begin any position within WRHN.

**Position Summary**:
The Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN), in collaboration with the University of Waterloo and strategic partners, is establishing CareNext—an ambitious innovation and transformation initiative designed to shape the future of healthcare through co-development, real-world testing, and systems-level collaboration. CareNext bridges clinical, academic, community, and commercial ecosystems to identify challenges and co-create meaningful solutions.

Reporting to the Director of Innovation and guided by the Vice President of Innovation and Chief Health Innovation Officer, the Innovation & Co-Creation Specialist will play a critical role in designing and executing collaborative innovation projects. This role will support CareNext’s transformation goals by facilitating inclusive innovation processes, connecting interdisciplinary teams, and leading creative problem-solving efforts that align with operational realities and future system needs.

This first-of-its-kind role is ideal for someone with entrepreneurial instincts, systems awareness, and strong facilitation skills. It will help shape the next generation of healthcare innovation work, contributing to the design of new models, professions, and policies that support a more responsive, equitable, and future-ready health system

**Responsibilities**:
**Project Leadership**
- Co-lead the design, planning, and delivery of collaborative innovation projects from concept to implementation
- Translate complex health system challenges into actionable project plans that centre lived experience, clinical insight, and real-world impact
- Manage interdisciplinary working groups, ensuring alignment, clarity, and accountability across all stages of project cycles

**Facilitation & Stakeholder Engagement**
- Design and facilitate workshops, co-creation sprints, design jams, and showcases with a range of stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, startups, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders
- Create psychologically safe and inclusive spaces for ideation, feedback, and rapid iteration
- Support storytelling, communication, and knowledge mobilization for CareNext initiatives
- Present work to internal and external audiences, including companies, executive leadership, funders, and community forums

**Strategic Alignment & System Integration**
- Ensure CareNext projects align with broader strategic objectives, including health equity, workforce development, digital transformation, and policy advancement
- Collaborate with the University of Waterloo on embedding research, student talent, and evaluation practices into innovation activities
- Surface opportunities for new workforce roles, practice changes, and policy recommendations as part of co-creation activities
- Support development of new governance and engagement structures to sustain transformation efforts

**Position Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s degree in human-centred design, systems design, social innovation, UX, healthcare innovation, or a related field
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Seasoned practitioner of design thinking and user experience research and design
- A Master’s degree is considered an asset.
- Experience in healthcare innovation, digital health, or health system transformation.
- Demonstrated experience with workshop facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.
- Experience working with diverse partners, including clinicians, startups, and research institutions.

**Application Instructions**:
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