Lead, Indigenous Health Unit

The Indigenous Health Unit (IHU) is dedicated to building strong, respectful relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) leadership, organizations, and communities. The team works to help ensure Ontario’s health system reflects the priorities and needs of FNIMUI peoples through partnership, coordinated engagement, and system-wide collaboration.

Reporting to the Manager, Cancer and Ontario Health Priorities, this Lead role is a unique opportunity to influence Indigenous health priorities across Ontario Health and the broader system. You will work with internal portfolios, regional teams, governments, health service providers, and community partners to advance culturally relevant, equitable health programs and services. This role is ideal for a strategic, relationship-focused leader who can navigate complexity, build trust, and help drive coordinated action that improves health outcomes for FNIMUI peoples across Ontario.

Here is what you will be doing:

Key Responsibilities

• Build and sustain trusted relationships with FNIMUI partners, Ontario Health portfolios, regional teams, governments, health service providers, and other system partners to advance shared priorities.

• Lead and support cross-functional initiatives related to Indigenous health equity, including policy development, program design, system planning, and coordinated engagement activities.

• Provide strategic advice, leadership, and subject matter expertise to internal and external partners to help ensure programs, services, and initiatives are culturally relevant, aligned, and responsive to FNIMUI priorities.

• Support Ontario Health teams in building internal capacity to lead Indigenous initiatives and embed commitments from the FNIMUI Health Plan into departmental and business unit priorities.

• Lead complex projects and portfolios from planning through implementation and evaluation, including requirements gathering, workflow redesign, issue resolution, and partner coordination.

• Develop high-quality analyses, briefing notes, reports, presentations, business cases, and other materials to support leadership decision-making, partner engagement, and progress reporting.

• Lead work related to funding arrangements, implementation activities, and reporting with FNIMUI partners and communities, ensuring deliverables are completed with quality and on time.

• Identify and manage risks, navigate sensitive issues, and apply sound judgment to maintain momentum, strengthen relationships, and protect Ontario Health’s reputation.

• Apply knowledge of Indigenous cultural values, perspectives, and data governance principles to support thoughtful program implementation, communication, and reporting.

• Communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively with senior leaders, Indigenous communities, and external organizations through strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Here is what you will need to be successful: 

Education and Experience

• Completion of master’s degree in a health-related field, or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

• At least 3-5 years of experience successfully leading and managing health care projects and/or programs.

• Experience working with Indigenous communities and people.

• Experience in addressing Indigenous chronic disease issues would be an asset.

• Highly productive and motivated, capable of quality output and able to multitask and prioritize assignments to meet timelines and manage competing priorities. 

• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a dynamic team within a fast-paced environment, using sound judgement. 

• A desire to learn and take on new opportunities. 

• Must be team-oriented, possess a positive attitude, and be committed to organizational health, culture, and values. 

Knowledge and Skills groups

• Ability to build effective relationships and work productively in multi-faceted environment.

• Demonstrated leadership, excellent communication, decision making, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and implement programs and initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to apply risk mitigation to situations to manage and uphold Ontario Health reputation.

• Demonstrated strategic leadership, collaboration and influencing skills in a complex, high volume, fast paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a self-directed, goal-oriented manner with minimal supervision.

• Detail-oriented with excellent organization and time management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct literature searches, and compile into summaries and briefs.

• Strong understanding of the social determinants of health and health equity.

• Extensive knowledge of the federal and provincial government departments responsible for Indigenous issues and Ontario’s provincial health care system.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis history, culture and health/socio-economic issues/needs in Ontario, including governance structures.

Location: Ontario Health (OH) welcomes applications from candidates across Ontario. Please note that this role follows an in-office work model, requiring employees to work from a designated, approved Ontario Health location.

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All applicants must be a resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.  

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; members of Black and racialized groups; 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary individuals; and people living with disabilities.

Ontario Health is an accessible employer, and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email careers@ontariohealth.ca and a member of the team will connect with you within 48 hours.