Executive Director

Job Title: Executive Director

Contract: Part-time role as an independent consultant, up to 3 days/week (24 hours)

Proposed rate: $60 per hour (negotiable depending on experience)

Duration: One year contract

About Best Medicines Coalition

The Best Medicines Coalition (BMC) is a national alliance of patient organizations working collectively to ensure that all people in Canada have timely, equitable, and sustainable access to safe and effective medicines that meaningfully improve health outcomes and quality of life.

At its core, the BMC exists to amplify the patient perspective in pharmaceutical policy and decision-making. We believe that people with lived experience of illness must be recognized as essential partners in shaping how medicines are approved, assessed, reimbursed, and safely supplied. By bringing together diverse patient perspectives, the BMC works to ensure that health system decisions reflect real-world needs, values, and impacts on patients and families.

The BMC advances its mission through patient-led education, consensus building, strategic planning, and advocacy. We translate lived experience into credible, evidence-informed positions and work collaboratively with governments, regulators, health system partners, and other interest holders to drive policies that improve access to medicines and strengthen patient safety across Canada.

Job Description:

The Executive Director (ED) provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the mission of the Best Medicines Coalition dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors, members, and stakeholders across Canada, the ED ensures effective governance, strong advocacy, and sustainable growth for the organization.

Key responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Provide strategic leadership by developing and executing strategic and operational plans aligned with the BMC’s mission, vision and long-term goals.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with member organizations, partners, funders, and key stakeholders to advance patient-driven priorities.
• Serve as the coalition’s national representative and spokesperson advancing its voice in health policy, advocacy, and public awareness initiatives.
• Oversee organizational operations, financial management, and people leadership (staff and consultants) to ensure accountability and excellence.
• Lead fundraising, sponsorship, and partnership development to diversify and strengthen revenue streams while safeguarding the coalition’s independence, credibility, and patient-centred mandate.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors on governance, strategic decision-making, and effective committee engagement.
• Monitor emerging trends, policy developments, and system-level issues in the health and pharmaceutical sectors to inform strategic priorities.
• Other tasks as needed based on organizational needs and priorities

Location: This is a virtual/remote role however adaptability to different time zones is required to accommodate the needs of the organization’s membership which are across Canada.

Required Languages: English, French would be considered an asset

Skills & Competencies

Required skills and competencies:

• Demonstrated leadership with 5+ years experience in the non-profit health, health policy, patient advocacy, or related sectors, with a track record in partnership building and engagement.
• Strong relationship-builder with excellent written and verbal communication skills across audiences and experience working across patient groups, non-profits, clinicians, researchers, and government.
• Deep commitment to patient-led and patient-partnered approaches and demonstrated skills at facilitating meaningful member and coalition engagement to ensure positions reflect the needs of diverse patient communities.
• Significant knowledge and experience with pharmaceutical policy in Canada including the various government and other system actors and developing and advancing credible, patient-centred policy positions.
• Experience providing financial oversight and stewardship, working in collaborations with accountants, finance professionals, and/or board finance committees.
• Demonstrated experience securing funding through grants, partnerships, contracts, and/or donations.
• Legally entitled to work according to provincial legislation.

Asset skills and competencies:

• Knowledge of the Canadian healthcare landscape and national advocacy environment.
• Lived experience with a health condition and/or as a caregiver

To Apply

Please email the chair of the BMC board, Kim Steele by March 24, 2026. Provide your resume and a brief letter describing your skills, experience, and interest in our organization. This cover letter must provide examples of how the applicant’s skills and experience relate to the role description.

Please also include the following information in your application:

• Contact information with email address and/or phone number where you can be reached
• Any accommodations needed during the hiring process