JOB SUMMARY

This position will lead the RNAO – Nursing Secretariat initiatives to support retention and recruitment in Pikangikum – alongside additional initiative co-created with the leaders in these communities. Reporting to RNAO, this individual will identify, develop, manage, and evaluate programs to retain talent and recruit new nurses into their specific community, provide career counselling and support to nurses and nursing students.
Service area: Pikangikum

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development & Delivery

Identify, develop, and deliver programs to retain existing nurses, and recruit newly graduated nurses to the profession, including outreach programs, marketing campaigns, and partnerships with educational institutions
Collaborate with engaged partners in service and academic institutions to develop new programs and initiatives for retaining and recruiting nurses
Create and deliver additional programs to collaborate with elementary and/or high school students within Pikangikum to raise awareness about the education and career path of registered nurses (RNs), and nurse practitioners (NPs)
Provide career counselling and support to nurses in the profession to help them advance in their careers and stay engaged in their work (e.g., reviewing resumes and providing feedback about resumes, providing job search advice, and providing coaching on career development/advancement)
Provide advice regarding educational opportunities, education grants, prior learning assessment reviews, etc.
Plan and implement job fairs for nurses in Ontario, including university job fairs
Coordinate student placement at RNAO, working with other departments and programming opportunities
Complete environmental scan (interviews/questionnaires) with nurses working in Pikangikum to identify key factors for retention and barriers facing nursing retention in Pikangikum and nursing across the north.

Identify cultural preparation and readiness for new nursing hires

Work with community members and Elders to develop Pikangikum specific cultural awareness materials

Deliverables

Develop and maintain a community-wide nursing workforce profile and local needs scan
Develop and implement a community-specific nursing recruitment and retention action plan
Mobilize and document grassroots supports to fill vacancies and build local capacity, with the aim of decreasing nursing vacancies, systemic nursing vacancies, and nursing agency use
Plan and facilitate local and regional engagement sessions with employers, nurses, students, Indigenous partners, municipal leaders, and health providers
Prepare funding proposals for relevant human resources tables and funding opportunities through Ontario Health, the Ministry of Health, the federal First Nations Health Human Resources Table, and Indigenous Services Canada
Provide direct navigation and referral support for nurses and nursing students to RNAO education, mentorship, fellowship, Best Practice Champions, BPSO, and career-support opportunities
Provide employer-facing support on recruitment, onboarding, retention, mentorship, and professional development strategies
Build partnerships with schools, post-secondary institutions, local employers, and health system leaders
Report regularly on activities, outputs, issues, and emerging opportunities
Coordinate community-based nursing career promotion and professional development activities
Develop communications recruitment strategy to reach targeted nurses for recruitment

Communications and Marketing

Arrange monthly meetings between RNAO and Ministry of Health, along with community-based nursing/organizational leaders as required
Maintain the nursing education opportunities section of the website, keeping it fresh and vibrant and ensuring information is up-to-date, accurate and comprehensive
Maintain Pikangikum Health Authority Website for nursing recruitment
Communicate through various channels/ methods with engaged partners (elementary/ high school staff, career counsellors, students, nursing employers and nurses) promoting nursing recruitment and retention
Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations for elementary and high school students about the nursing profession and opportunities within nursing
Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations for nursing employers in key sectors (e.g., hospitals, long-term care, home care) regarding nursing retention strategies in the workplace
Develop and implement strategies to disseminate information on recruitment and retention with engaged partners and the public
Work with other departments to design and implement marketing materials (print and digital) for the nursing recruitment and retention program

Program Evaluation & Reporting

Evaluate all new and ongoing initiatives yearly
Provide monthly analytical reports on program progress using an evidence-based approach
Evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment and retention strategy and programs and make recommendations for improvements

General

Participate in the activities of the Membership & Services Department
Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Required

University Degree in Nursing and up to three years of leadership experience in a healthcare environment or equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training
Demonstrated experience working respectfully and effectively with Indigenous communities, organizations, or health-service partners.
Experience in project or program coordination, including planning, partner engagement, implementation, and reporting
Strong relationship-building, facilitation, presentation, and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and collaborate across multiple communities and organizations.
Ability and willingness to work and travel within the assigned service area.

Preferred

Proficiency in French.
Knowledge of nursing workforce recruitment, retention, education pathways, or health-human-resources initiatives.

EFFORT

The highest degree of confidentiality, sound judgement, respect for all, consistency, fairness, and professionalism
The workflow requires meeting established, regular deadlines that may require reprioritizing the workload
Concentration is required for short and long periods to process data
Sight, touch and hearing are used to operate a computer and review information
Sitting at the computer is required regularly, as well as walking, standing and operating equipment to perform the job duties

WORKING CONDITIONS

Frequent travel to the communities served is required
Occasional travel to home office
Typical conditions are such that no risk or injury is present

NOTES

This post is for a contract position (expected end date: March 31, 2027) for a specific program with the potential to make a lasting difference in Ontario’s healthcare landscape.
The starting annual salary for this position is $ 89,000.
We comprehensively evaluate a variety of factors to determine fair compensation, including experience, specific job-related knowledge and skills, as well as relevant educational and specialty training. Additionally, we ensure that compensation is equitable across our staff and aligns with current market trends. RNAO offers an extensive benefits package and generous vacation.
Mandatory requirements: RNAO requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to any accommodation obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for the duration of the work term. Proof of eligibility will be required.
Please be advised: RNAO does not use AI-assisted tools to support the selection process. Human reviewers make all final hiring decisions.
RNAO is currently operating in a hybrid environment with at least two mandatory days in the office, and these arrangements may change based on business needs.
Applications and interviews are reviewed and scheduled on a rolling basis. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to submit it as soon as possible.
We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All applicants who are interviewed will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their final interview.
RNAO is committed to providing an equitable, inclusive, and accessible environment, where all employees feel valued, respected and supported. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates who can help us build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and in which we live.
Accommodations under the Ontario Human Rights Code are available to all candidates during the recruitment process and throughout employment, please emailing hr@rnao.ca (mailto: hr@rnao.ca) if you require assistance.