Senior Director, Partnerships & Government Relations

 Who we are

We’re not your typical non-profit. We bring swagger to everything we do. That means we move with purpose in every step, driven by our commitment to putting our community at the centre of our work. Every day, we ask ourselves to see possibility where others see limits. Because people with Parkinson’s and care partners deserve better. Better care, more inclusive research and access to treatment and supports that make living well possible.

Our mission is to empower and inspire people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners to live fully and courageously. Through community support, advocacy, and research, we encourage others to see a diagnosis not as a dimming of light, but a spark for a new beginning.

Move forward. Together. On Mission.

Who we need

Reporting to the VP, Mission, we are hiring a Senior Director, Partnerships and Government Relations. In this newly created role, you will lead the development and execution of Parkinson Canada’s partnership strategy while advancing our government relations, health policy, and advocacy priorities across Canada. You will build and manage a network of partners across healthcare, community, government, and the private sector to strengthen outcomes and improve access to care—and you will influence decision-makers, navigate complex systems, and turn strategy into action. You will bring structure and clarity to how partnerships are identified, prioritized, and activated, ensuring they are aligned to our mission and deliver meaningful outcomes for the Parkinson’s community.

This existing vacancy is a remote-based role, with in-person time required for partner and stakeholder meetings. Travel is expected approximately 20% of the time, primarily within the Toronto area with some across Canada.

What’s in it for you:

Impact at scale. You will play a direct role in transforming how people across Canada access support, care, and information—strengthening partnerships that improve care navigation and creating more connected pathways to the services people need.

Shape strategy with the ability to execute. This is an opportunity to move beyond advising from the sidelines and play a central role in shaping and advancing national partnership, advocacy, and government relations priorities. You will have the autonomy, leadership support, and organizational commitment to influence direction, build momentum, and help turn strategy into action.

Connect across a broader ecosystem. You will work across healthcare, community, government, and private sector partners, as well as alongside provincial Parkinson organizations and international foundations, extending impact through collaboration at multiple levels.

A different kind of non-profit, grounded in real lives. This is a team actively challenging the status quo—bringing a more dynamic, tech-forward, and outcomes-driven approach to the sector. You will be part of a leadership group that values clarity, accountability, and momentum, building partnerships and advocacy that are practical, community-informed, and designed to make a meaningful difference every day.

As our new Senior Director, Partnerships and Government Relations, you will:

• Lead partnership strategy and scale impact. You will define and execute Parkinson Canada’s partnership strategy, building and managing a portfolio of partners that expand reach, improve access, and strengthen outcomes for the Parkinson’s community. You will navigate complex healthcare and policy environments, balancing long-term priorities with evolving opportunities and external dynamics.
• Shape and activate a high-impact ecosystem. You will assess, prioritize, and develop partnerships across healthcare, community, government, and private sector organizations, building relationships that are purposeful, aligned, and designed to deliver meaningful outcomes.
• Translate strategy into practical models. You will turn ideas into clear partnership approaches, defining how partners engage, how success is measured, and how collaborations are structured and scaled. You will establish standards for governance, risk, and partner experience.
• Connect people to care through partnerships. You will develop and evolve tools, pathways, and approaches that connect people living with Parkinson’s to trusted partners—improving how individuals access and navigate support across a fragmented system.
• Leverage insight to evolve and expand. You will use data, partner feedback, and system insights to identify gaps, refine the approach, and continuously strengthen and expand the ecosystem across Canada and internationally.
• Lead advocacy and government relations strategy. You will develop and advance advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and government relations priorities that strengthen access to care, treatment, and support for people living with Parkinson’s across Canada. You will identify opportunities, build momentum around key initiatives, and help position Parkinson Canada as a trusted and influential voice within the healthcare ecosystem.
• Guide policy and advocacy positioning. You will oversee the development of briefing materials, policy positions, advocacy messaging, stakeholder presentations, and engagement strategies that support organizational priorities and strengthen Parkinson Canada’s external voice and influence.
• Lead and support your team. You will provide leadership, coaching, and direction to team members and external partners, fostering accountability, momentum, collaboration, and strong execution across initiatives and priorities.

What you bring:

• The experience. You have built and managed partnerships across healthcare, community, government, or private sector organizations. You understand how to develop and grow a portfolio of partners that extends reach, improves access, and delivers meaningful outcomes.
• The government relations and policy influence. You have navigated government and healthcare systems and influenced decision-makers to advance complex initiatives. You may come from consulting, public affairs, advocacy, government relations, or healthcare strategy, and you know how to build alignment across stakeholders with different priorities and create momentum around shared objectives.
• The ability to operationalize partnerships. You translate ideas into clear, practical partnership models—structuring agreements, referral pathways, or collaboration approaches that can be implemented, measured, and scaled.
• The judgment. You bring a thoughtful, outcomes-driven approach. You know how to assess opportunities, prioritize where to focus, and make trade-offs based on impact, feasibility, and organizational capacity.
• The governance and rigour. You understand the importance of structure in partnerships. You have experience working within or establishing frameworks related to due diligence, risk, privacy, and brand alignment, ensuring partnerships are sustainable and scalable.
• The leadership. You have experience leading or mentoring others, setting direction, and creating clarity. You support teams in working effectively with partners and contribute to a culture of accountability and follow-through.
• The stakeholder leadership and communication. You build trust and influence across a wide range of partners and decision-makers. You translate internal priorities into clear external narratives, manage relationships at all levels, and bring stakeholders along in a shared direction.
• The adaptability. You thrive in fast-moving, evolving environments where not everything is defined on day one. You are comfortable working across teams, shifting priorities, and engaging in person when needed to support collaboration and delivery.

Other Requirements

• All applicants are advised that offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check and references.

Compensation:

At Parkinson Canada, we believe that compensation should be fair and supportive of your experience and growth. For this role, the salary is between $150,000 - $160,000 per annum. Our salary ranges reflect progression from learning in the role to excelling, with each offer based on skills, experience, and role complexity. We strive for equitable, consistent pay, though rates may vary within the same role based on performance, specialized knowledge, and impact.

We believe in transparency and open conversations about compensation. If you have any questions about our approach, we are happy to discuss them throughout the hiring process.

Join us

Working at Parkinson Canada is more than a job - it’s a movement. The symptoms of Parkinson’s can push people into the shadows. At Parkinson Canada, we inspire people to step into the light: connected, supported, and empowered.

We help people embrace the wobbles, the wiggles, and the wonky moments, transforming every shuffle into a dance, every tremor into a beat, and every challenge into something that can still hold joy.

Join us and help people living with Parkinson’s find their joy - and their swagger.

Apply now

If you're excited about this role but your experience aligns differently with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. While specific qualifications may be strictly required, others can be based on various experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge. We can't promise an interview, but we will consider your whole application.

What you can expect from our interview process:

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor to discuss your interest in joining the company and in the role. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.
• A virtual interview with the VP, Mission to explore your experience in partnerships, ecosystem development, government relations, and working across complex stakeholder environments.
• A case study and virtual panel interview where you will present your approach and thinking. You will meet with the VP, Mission and two senior members of the leadership team to discuss your approach, alignment, and how you would contribute to the evolution of the function.

Parkinson Canada is firmly committed to diversity within its community and welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America and the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace which is free from discrimination and harassment. We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations, please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

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