Director, Communications and Engagement – Redevelopment Projects

Grow Your Career at Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS)

At BCHS, we are driven by a bold vision: To Lead Beyond Care. As a two-site community hospital system in Brantford and Paris, Ontario, we serve with purpose, passion, and a deep commitment to the people who rely on us.

• Brantford General Hospital – Our acute care hospital offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services.
• The Willett in Paris – Home to our urgent care centre and transitional care services, supporting patients through every step of their healthcare journey.

With over 130 years of service, BCHS is evolving with a renewed focus on excellence, collaboration, and innovation. Our strategic priorities center on Quality Care, Connected Teams, and a Healthy Future for our patients, our people, and our community. Our culture is shaped by our core values and pillars:

Core Values: Be Bold and Courageous | Commit to Excellence | Champion Equity | Be Trustworthy
Four Pillars: Patient-First | People-Centred | Partnership-Based | Progress-Focused

These values reflect who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together to have influence. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare—right here at BCHS.

Why Choose BCHS?

• Investing in You – Access to a centralized Education Fund, tuition support, and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible Scheduling – Within a standard work week
• Career Growth – Internal job postings, mentorship programs, and leadership development.
• Predictable Work Locations – Stability and consistency in your work environment.
• Collaborative Team Culture – Work alongside skilled professionals in a supportive, interdisciplinary setting.
• Employee Wellness Matters – Peer Support Team, Wellness Committee, Free, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their families.
• Commitment to Safety – Comprehensive safety programs for all
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits –– Salaries and benefits designed to align with industry standards, reinforcing our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. Excellent Pension Plan.
• Diversity & Inclusion – We are actively working to diversify our teams and remove systemic barriers in hiring, retention, and advancement. We track and report on our progress because representation matters. We regularly review our benefits, policies, and programs through an equity lens to meet the needs of our diverse teams. Provide accommodations for religious practices and use trauma-informed policies that support mental wellbeing.
• Recognition & Rewards – Employee appreciation programs and professional recognition opportunities and Corporate Committee
• Community Impact – Make a real difference in patient care and public health every day.
• Choose Civility – Where every interaction matters. Civility and respect shape our workplace, as individuals treat one another—and the communities we serve with dignity, empathy, and cultural awareness. We foster a culture of civility by raising awareness, setting clear expectations, and continually reviewing our policies and practices to ensure respect is at the core of everything we do.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Redevelopment & Capital Projects, and working closely with the Vice President, Strategy, Quality, Risk and Communications, the Director, Communications and Engagement – Redevelopment Projects provides strategic direction for all communications, interest holder engagement, government relations, and issues management activities related to BCHS redevelopment initiatives. This role is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communications and engagement strategies that build awareness, confidence, and support for redevelopment projects among internal and external interest holders. The Director will work closely with project teams, government partners, community organizations, First Nations and Indigenous communities, elected officials, healthcare partners, and the BCHS Foundation to advance project objectives and ensure alignment with BCHS priorities. Operating in a dynamic and politically sensitive environment, the Director must be an experienced communications leader with demonstrated expertise in healthcare communications, capital redevelopment projects, public engagement, government and media relations.

Primary Responsibilities

Project Communications, Community Engagement and Execution 

• Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic communications plans, interest holder engagement, and public participation plans to support all phases of redevelopment projects, including planning, design, procurement, construction, and occupancy.
• Lead strategic communications and engagement activities that support project visioning, planning, readiness, and organizational change initiatives.
• Ensure redevelopment communications activities are aligned with BCHS corporate communications strategies, policies, mission, vision, and values.
• Prepare executive-level communications materials, briefing notes, presentations, reports, speaking notes, and updates for internal and external interest holders.
• Use feedback, engagement results, and performance metrics from interest holders to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Support organizational readiness initiatives by developing communications that prepare staff, physicians, volunteers, and patients for project impacts and future-state operations.

Human Resources & Staff Leadership

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key interest holders, including Infrastructure Ontario, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure, provincial and municipal governments, First Nations and Indigenous communities, healthcare partners, community organizations, and other elected officials.
• Collaborate closely with the BCHS Corporate Communications team and BCHS Foundation to identify opportunities for integrated communications, engagement, media relations, advocacy, and government relations initiatives.
• Provide leadership and oversight to redevelopment communications team members and manage external consultants, agencies, and vendors supporting communications, engagement, and government relations activities.
• Partner with redevelopment leadership and project teams to identify key milestones, emerging issues, risks, and opportunities, ensuring proactive communications and engagement planning.
• Provide leader on call coverage

Quality & Risk Management

• Understands all aspects of  workflow and is able to proactively mitigate risk
• Monitors performance related to patient and staff safety, responding and adapting care/workflow as required to support safe practice congruent with legislation/best practices
• Ensures policies, procedures and standards set by the organization are in alignment with the legislative and regulatory bodies
• Develop, implement and sustain adherence to current and upcoming organizational Accreditation Canada ROPs. 

Mandatory Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible communications and engagement leadership experience related to capital redevelopment projects, preferably within healthcare environment
• Master’s degree or post-graduate certificate in Public Relations, Communications, Public Administration, or a related discipline is considered an asset.
• Accredited in Public Relations (APR) and/or International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) certification is considered an asset
• Experience in media relations, issues management, crisis communications, government relations, and public engagement.

Core Competencies

• Working knowledge of applicable legislation such as - Broader Public Sector Accountability Act, Public Hospitals Act, Quality of Care Information Protection Act, Employment Standards Act, Freedom of Information Protection of Privacy Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bill 168), Ontario Human Rights Code, Regulated Health Professions Act, Regulation for Health Care and Residential Facilities, Workplace Safety Insurance Act, etc.
• Demonstrated experience leading communications for complex and significant capital redevelopment projects and working with all levels of government partners, municipal governments, Indigenous and First Nations communities, and elected officials.
• Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Comfortable working independently and exercising sound judgment in a complex, fast-paced, and politically sensitive environment.
• Proven problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically and implement solutions at the management level.
• Proven leadership experience, including staff supervision and management of external consultants and vendors.
• People management and business partnership – Ability to interact confidently and professionally with senior leaders, government representatives, community partners, and project interest holders.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, critical thinking, decision making and time management skills
• Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and development of self and others
• Satisfactory employment and attendance record
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and digital communications platforms; experience with web content management systems and graphic design tools is an asset
• Knowledge of communications, marketing, media production, print production, and digital engagement best practices.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

BCHS is committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome people from all walks of life, including people of all genders, sexual orientations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, Indigenous identities, abilities, and lived experiences. Inclusion is part of how we deliver better care

We are dedicated to removing barriers and providing accommodations at every stage of the hiring process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodations, please inform us when contacted, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are passionate about healthcare and looking for a supportive and dynamic work environment, we would love to hear from you! Apply today and join BCHS in delivering exceptional care with compassion and integrity.

AI Use in Hiring
Brant Community Healthcare System does not use artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or algorithms to screen, assess, or rank candidates during the hiring process; all applications are reviewed by our recruitment team