Advocacy Lead, Ch Policy Accel

**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 an Advocacy Lead to support the priorities and objectives of the newly launched Child Health Policy 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

**Here's What You'll Get to Do**
- Policy Strategy Development
- In collaboration with the Accelerator team, develops and refines comprehensive advocacy strategies to support the Accelerator's priority policy objectives. Reviews, revises, evaluates, and reports on the progress of the Accelerator and its priority policy objectives to oversight committees, funders, and strategic partners.
- 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.

Government Relations 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.
- Builds and fosters productive relationships with government officials, content experts, patient groups, and advocacy leaders to influence positive change and advance the Accelerator's priority policy objectives.
- Serves as a delegate, liaison, chairperson and/or spokesperson in government meetings, consultations, roundtables and conferences, as required.
- Develops and implements effective systems of communications for internal and external partners.

Advocacy, Partnership and Collaboration
- In collaboration with the Accelerator team, implements the comprehensive advocacy strategies aligned with each of the Accelerator's evidence-based policy objectives, including engagement with government officials, 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.
- Supports meaningful episodic and longitudinal advocacy experiences for learners, at all levels of training, affiliated with the Accelerator.

Operational Planning and Management
- Exercises financial stewardship through ability to provide quantitative, qualitative, and predictive analyses that incorporates innovative research and other funding opportunities to support advocacy activities and program expansion.
- Liaises with funders, oversight groups, and other partners to report on milestones and deliverables.
- Organizes government meetings, educational events, receptions, and lobby days, as required.

**Here's What You'll Need**
- Master's degree in Communications, Health Administration, Social Sciences, Public Management, International Relations, Development, Political Science, Law, Public Health, or a related field with a minimum of seven years of experience in an advocacy, public affairs and/or government relations role. 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