Health Promotion Planner

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is seeking a full-time contract (May 2025-December 31, 2025) Health Promotion Planner in the Children, Youth and Families Program.

Reporting to the Manager of Children, Youth and Families, the Health Promotion Planner researches, plans, develops, coordinates, and evaluates school health programs in order to effectively meet the Ontario Public Health Standards and local needs. The Health Promotion Planner provides consultation to staff, provincial partners, and community partners regarding research and evaluation, health promotion theories, public health best practices, and healthy public policy. The Health Promotion Planner supports staff in meeting requirements for evidence-informed practice to support a healthy school environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Research, knowledge exchange & program evaluation:

- Initiates, conducts, presents and participates in collaborative research or evaluation projects with public health staff, relevant community partners and agencies, other health units, and provincial partners in conjunction with the manager and other team members as required.
- Applies sound evaluation methodology for determining effectiveness, acceptability, availability and cost-efficiency of public health programs and research projects.
- Takes responsibility for the dissemination and use of applicable research and evidence in the Health Unit and community.
- Assists with informing the development of the operating budget for any assigned projects, such as research grants and evaluation projects.
- Under the direction of the program manager, initiates and coordinates grant proposals for any assigned projects and will consult with the team accordingly. This includes identification and securing of potential funding sources and relevant partnerships

Consults and liaises with the TBDHU Program Evaluator to plan and implement evaluations of assigned programs and services.
- Analyzes OPHS mandate and identifies gaps in programming
- Develops appropriate health promotion interventions utilizing skills in social marketing, media communications, innovation, intersectoral planning, community relationships (i.e. networks and coalitions), community capacity building, and provides consultation specific to health promotion programming using a variety of theories (e.g. behaviours change theory, and social marketing).
- Acts as a resource person by responding to internal and community requests for information as appropriate within the scope of their assigned projects.
- Working in consultation with the manager and team, plays a key role as it relates to program planning and the implementation of the OPHS Foundational standard (population health assessment and surveillance, research and knowledge exchange, program evaluation) at the team or Division level.
- Uses population health, determinants of health and health inequities to assess the needs of the local population.
- Uses principles of need, impact, capacity and partnership and evaluation to guide the assessment, planning and evaluation of programs and services.

Facilitates the establishment of public health policies through advocacy, negotiation, writing and presenting resolutions and position papers, research and analysis of policy options, drafting policy recommendations and assisting with implementation.
- Assists in building capacity within the program team in evidence-based practice, planning and evaluation.
- Program planning:

- Supports team to assess quality of evidence and assist with priority setting, program development and determination of public health strategies.
- Collects, synthesizes and analyses data and information to support evidence-informed decision-making, planning, and policy analysis.
- Contributes to the development of program plans (including goal/objective setting and measuring/monitoring progress of goal/objective achievement), logic models, activity plans and monitoring and evaluation plans by providing latest evidence and best practices.
- Population health assessment and surveillance:

- In consultation with the manager and team, identifies and recommends program priorities by reviewing existing epidemiological, behavioural and socio-demographic data and by planning, conducting, analyzing and reporting on assessments of community assets and needs.
- Efficiently and effectively documents the evidence, decisions, program plans, results, and evaluations using appropriate methods and tools and following accepted standards and policies.
- Understands quality improvement in public health and supports quality improvement activities within the program/division.
- Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

- Bachelor's degree in a health-related field, behavioural science, or appropriate equivalent. Masters degree preferred in a health related discipline.
- Minimum 2 years experience in a related field with proficiency in a combination of the following areas: researc