Lead, Indigenous Chronic Disease Prevention

At Ontario Health, your growth and well-being aren’t just supported—they’re celebrated every step of the way.

Here, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while shaping a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Based on your role, you may receive:

• Comprehensive health coverage from day one , with fully paid medical, dental, and vision benefits to keep you and your family healthy
• Flexible health care or wellness spending accounts, plus an inclusive program to support your well-being.
• Premium defined benefit pension plan , ensuring long-term financial security
• Competitive vacation entitlement that encourages time to recharge
• Three personal days and two float days annually, providing flexibility to support work‑life balance in addition to vacation days
• Ongoing learning and career development opportunities designed to help you grow, advance, and thrive in your profession.
• A collaborative, values-driven workplace where integrity, care, humility, inspiration, and tenacity shape everything we do.
• Opportunities to participate in Communities of Inclusion— fostering belonging, equity, and the sharing of diverse perspectives across our team.

Want to make a difference in your career?

Consider this opportunity.

The Indigenous Chronic Disease Prevention Lead works as a member of the Indigenous Health Unit.

Working with the Director and Manager, this position is responsible for developing and implementing the components of Prevention and Wellness Program that fall under the direction of the Indigenous Strategies.

The Indigenous Chronic Disease Prevention Lead assists in creating interventions to address commercial tobacco, cannabis and vaping cessation, prevention and protection.

This position will advise on key issues to support the Director and Manager to advance policy and programmatic initiatives of the Prevention and Wellness Program.

In addition, the position will collaborate with staff in other Divisions and Departments of Ontario Health as well as staff of Regional Cancer Programs.

The Indigenous Chronic Disease Prevention Lead will also be responsible for relationship development with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples at the community, regional and provincial level as well as all other relevant stakeholder groups.

Here is what you will be doing:

The key responsibilities of this position are:

• Plan, design and implement chronic disease prevention initaitives that will support the advancement of the Prevention and Wellness Program and Indigenous Strategies.
• Engage and develop relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples in the development process of the strategy.
• Work in collaboration with Regional Cancer Programs to deliver commercial tobacco, cannabis, vaping cessation, prevention and protection programming initiatives along with chronic disease prevention initiatives.
• Support strategic planning activities of the Indigenous Cancer Strategy and other relevant initiatives/ strategies of Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health.
• Programming activities and initiatives to be evidence-based and informed by previous/current best practices in commercial tobacco, cannabis and vaping cessation, prevention and protection.
• All strategic planning and programming initiatives will include relevant and effective dissemination strategies.
• Liaises and develops partnerships with Indigenous communities/organizations, health related programs and services, non-government organizations, Regional Cancer Programs, other relevant stakeholders who can help address chronic disease prevention.
• Works in collaboration with the Measure, Monitor and Evaluation team to design, plan and implement evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of commercial tobacco cessation, prevention and protection programs and other initiatives.
• Ability to gather relevant data from communities in accordance with OCAP principles.
• Ability and understanding to incorporate First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous cultural values and perspectives into program designs and implementation.
• Understanding of the traditional uses of tobacco.
• Ability to link into existing and/or develop evidence based chronic disease prevention resources/programs geared to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples.
• Ability to address challenging issues with a diversity of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous populations.
• Ability to encourage and promote teamwork to achieve community/group goals.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Facilitates presentations/engagement with all relevant stakeholders in meetings, forums, seminars, and other venues.
• Able to create a positive working and communication network with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and other stakeholder groups.
• Oversees and manages projects in support of the Prevention and Wellness Program’s strategic priorities.
• Provide regular reports and program updates, when required.
• Able to work with a minimum of supervision.
• Looks for and finds ways to improve commercial tobacco cessation, prevention and protection interventions.
• Demonstrates strong problem solving skills and ability to initiate sustainable solutions.

Here is what you will need to be successful:

• Master's degree in Social Sciences, Planning, Health Studies, Indigenous Studies, or a related field (or equivalent); OR
• Bachelor's degree in a related field with 5+ years of relevant experience; OR
• 10+ years of equivalent relevant work experience.
• Extensive experience working with Indigenous communities and people.
• Experience in addressing Indigenous chronic disease issues would be an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis history, culture and health/socio-economic issues/needs in Ontario, including governance structures and protocols.
• Knowledge of the federal and provincial government’s Indigenous policies and funding envelopes.
• Ability to speak/understand an Indigenous language would be an asset.
• Access to a vehicle is an asset but not required. The successful candidate to have a valid Class G driver's license with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm they have a valid driver’s license held in good standing.

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.

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.