Position:            Public Affairs Lead (2)  

Location:           Hybrid – Head Office in Toronto, ON

Status:               Full-time, Permanent

Salary:                Salary Range – $100,000 – $130,000 annually,                                           commensurate with skills and experience

If you are looking for an opportunity to put your public affairs, stakeholder relations and communications skills to use in a fast-paced environment, all while working to make a positive impact on the lives of Ontario’s seniors, we would like to hear from you!

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) is looking for candidates for two exciting roles to provide full-service communications support to two internal clients:  Licensee Engagement and Regulatory Modernization, and Licensee Compliance Assurance.

These individuals will also mentor other employees in the department, as well as serve as back-up to each other. and to the Manager, Public Affairs within the department.

In this internal service model, each position will lead and handle media relations and issues management, develop and implement communications and stakeholder engagement strategies, review and advise on key messages and positioning of materials that will be published/shared externally and help draft/update web content for their respective internal clients.

These roles also work closely with other managers across the organization on government-related relationship management, liaising with/preparing materials related to their internal clients for various ministries, government agencies and elected officials relevant to RHRA’s public interest mandate.

The successful candidates will be self-starters and strategic thinkers who are high functioning and not afraid to roll up their sleeves to develop communications products.  They will have superior written, verbal, and listening skills coupled with the political acumen, diplomacy, and relationship building skills required to cultivate strong relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.  Skillsets will be rounded out with a solid grounding in project management, the ability to use public affairs strategies to influence public policy and demonstrated experience in the policy development field.  Specific accountabilities include:

• Working with organizational leadership to develop and implement stakeholder engagement and communications priorities, targets, and performance plans and provide strategic advice and recommendations regarding these relationships.
• Providing support to the development, communication, implementation and identification of performance metrics in support of Annual Business Plans and multi-year Strategic Plans in support of regulatory operations.
• Handling media inquiries relating to regulatory operations recommending appropriate responses, key messages and media strategies.
• Working closely with other Public Affairs and Intake staff to keep Ministry staff, the Minister’s Office and MPPs apprised when issues/concerns arise in specific ridings/homes.
• Building and leveraging relationships with print, broadcast and online media, as well as with ethno-cultural media outlets.
• Drafting press releases, media, and holding statements.
• Monitoring emerging issues and recommends appropriate issues management strategies.
• Providing media training/refresher training.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders and provides expertise and advice for consensus building and the resolution of stakeholder-related issues.
• Monitoring and having the pulse on stakeholder perspectives and positions and provides relevant stakeholder viewpoints to subject matter experts and decision makers.
• In consultation with subject matter experts, developing and implementing specific stakeholder consultation strategies for new initiatives identified in annual planning.
• Recommending and leading quantitative and qualitative research to supplement other consultation/engagement efforts on issues of importance to the public interest.
• Preparing briefing notes and position papers, presenting/recommending and providing supporting data analysis.
• Creating strategic corporate presentations, briefing materials, consultation documents and collateral materials for stakeholder engagement related to the priorities of its internal client.
• Developing and implementing communications strategies that support regulatory operations and new initiatives.
• Writing, editing and producing communication materials for various audiences including licensees and residents and their families that explains how RHRA regulates the retirement home sector in the public interest.
• Working closely with regulatory subject matter experts to identify information gaps on the website and to draft plain language, message driven content for multiple audiences including licensees and residents and their families.
• Providing back-up support to other members of the Public Affairs as required.
• Acting as a mentor and facilitator to create and sustain a co-operative and supportive environment for coworkers through the sharing of information/context to enable optimal work performance with a high level of accountability to the unit, personal responsibility, and self-management.
• Assisting with development and tracking of departmental budget and vendor selection, documentation and management.

Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in public affairs, communications, public administration, political science, journalism or a related field and/or a post-graduate certificate in public affairs, public relations or government relations.
• 7+ years of progressive professional public affairs experience, ideally within a regulatory and/or public service environment.
• Experience successfully providing strategic counsel to executive management teams and personnel.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in media relations and issues management, external and internal communications, including digital communications.
• Expert relationship building/management with strong influencing skills to develop and maintain strong and credible partnerships and strategic alliances with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Proven experience engaging diverse stakeholders in formal/informal consultations.
• Political acuity, judgment, and discretion in dealing with stakeholders often on complex, sensitive issues, with appropriate consideration to the current and future environmental context.
• Proven experience leading staff, coaching/mentoring and developing people/teams.
• Experience leading/managing quantitative and qualitative research and ability to analyze results and make strategic recommendations.

Required Competencies

• Superior written, verbal and listening skills to influence stakeholders and media.
• Ability to adapt communications skills to diverse stakeholders/audiences and various communication channels.
• Ability to think strategically, manage issues, reconcile competing priorities/positions and influence decision makers.
• Demonstrated stakeholder relations expertise including cultivating strong stakeholder relationships, designing tools and events to solicit, document and analyze stakeholder input including surveys, working groups, focus groups, etc.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, multi-tasking and negotiating skills to provide effective consultation.
• Flexibility to adapt quickly and effectively to changing stakeholder environment, flag contentious issues and make appropriate recommendations.
• Knowledge of retirement homes, seniors and healthcare sector is preferable.
• Experience with SurveyMonkey, MailChimp, and design software for digital content and presentations.

Other Requirements:  Satisfactory Professional and Criminal Reference Checks.  RHRA currently operates in a hybrid work environment with the expectation of a minimum of being on site at the RHRA’s Toronto Office on Wednesday of each week.  Required office equipment (laptop, headset, softphone) will be provided. Please note that applicants who receive any conditional offer of employment from RHRA may be required to provide proof that they are double vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada as a condition of employment and to maintain their status as fully vaccinated as a condition of continued employment.  RHRA will consider individual requests for accommodation by applicants who cannot be fully vaccinated due to grounds protected under the Human Rights Code.

Interested candidates may submit their cover letter and resume to careers@rhra.ca by September 2, 2025.

RHRA has a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We thank all applicants; however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

The RHRA offers a great working environment, learning and development opportunities and a competitive compensation and benefits package.

About RHRA

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) has the mandate to license and inspect Ontario’s more than 780 retirement homes where over 60,000 seniors live. The RHRA is an agent for positive change, by working with the retirement homes sector to increase the protection, safety and well-being of our aging population.

The RHRA administers the Retirement Homes Act, 2010, which involves licensing homes, educating licensees, consumers and the public about the standards regulating retirement homes. The RHRA’s guiding principle is that a retirement home should be a place where residents live with dignity, respect, privacy and autonomy, in security, safety and comfort and can make informed choices about their care options.