Summer Student

Anticipated started date: early May 2026

POSITION TITLE: Health Policy Research Analyst Summer Student

JOB TERM: Up to 17 weeks, May-August. 8:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday (35 hours per week)

HOURLY RATE: $25.67 plus 6% in lieu of vacation and 10% in lieu of benefits

LOCATION: CFNU Office, 2841 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7

REPORTS TO: Director of Public Affairs

SCOPE OF POSITION

The Health Policy Research Analyst Summer Student will support the work of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) across several areas of the organization’s activities, including research and policy development, government and external relations, and communications. The position will provide an opportunity to gain practical experience in a national non-profit organization that advocates for nurses and promotes high-quality, publicly funded health care across Canada.

The student will contribute to a variety of initiatives that support CFNU’s advocacy, education, and outreach activities. Through this work, the employee will gain a broad understanding of the role of a national union within the Canadian labour movement and the health sector, as well as the policy and advocacy work that supports improvements to patient care and the working conditions of nurses.

KEY DUTIES

Research and Policy Support

• Support background research on health policy, labour issues, and workforce trends affecting nurses and the Canadian health-care system.
• Review academic literature, government publications, and sector reports to support policy, position statement, and research report development and advocacy initiatives.
• Assist in the preparation of summaries, briefing notes, and background materials for internal and external use.
• Contribute to the development of research-informed materials that support CFNU campaigns and policy priorities.

Government and External Relations

• Support the monitoring and review of federal and provincial policy developments relevant to nurses and health care.
• Assist in preparing materials for meetings, briefings, and events involving government officials and external partners.
• Contribute to initiatives that strengthen CFNU’s engagement with stakeholders across the labour movement, health sector, government and community organizations.
• Support projects that highlight the importance of publicly funded health care as a key component of Canada’s social and economic infrastructure.

Communications and Knowledge Sharing

• Assist in the development of communications materials such as letters, fact sheets, briefing notes, presentations, newsletters, and web content.
• Support the preparation and editing of content that communicates CFNU research, policy priorities, and advocacy initiatives.
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives that help inform member organizations, partners, and the public about issues affecting nurses and the health-care system.
• Gain experience using digital communications tools and platforms, including exposure to emerging technologies that support research and information sharing.

Organizational Support and Professional Development

• Participate in staff meetings and collaborative project discussions.
• Work with staff across multiple portfolios to support organizational priorities and initiatives.
• Develop professional skills in research, communications, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination.
• Gain insight into the role of national labour organizations in shaping public policy and advancing social and economic priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current enrollment in a program related to health sciences, social sciences, labour studies, political science, public policy, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in health policy, labour issues, or public affairs.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Sound judgement, attention to detail, and professionalism.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Ability to review and synthesize information from multiple sources.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Ability to work in French is desirable
• Familiarity with digital research tools and online information sources.
• Interest in public policy, advocacy, and social issues related to health care and labour.

SUPERVISION

The analyst will work under the direction of the Director of Public Affairs and will receive guidance and support from the Policy and Research Specialists, Communications Officers, and Government Relations Officer, depending on project requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The employee will work in-office as part of a collaborative team environment within a national non-profit labour organization located at the CFNU Office 2841 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.
• The position will provide exposure to the operations and activities of a national union and its role within the broader labour movement.
• The employee will participate in regular staff meetings and will work within a unionized workplace environment and will be a member of Unifor Local 567 Summer Student classification.
• The employee manual and all relevant personnel policies, including the Collective Agreement, will be provided at the start of employment.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your interest in this position by emailing cgrist@nursesunions.ca with the following information:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Confirmation of your availability to full-time work, May through August, 8:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday (35 hours per week)
4. If you meet the eligibility requirements of the Canada Summer Jobs program, found in the “Which youth participants are eligible” section of the Canada Summer Jobs Applicant Guide (see https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/who-can-apply.html#h2.1-3)

All hiring decisions are made by CFNU’s hiring team. CFNU does not use artificial intelligence in the recruitment or selection process. Our hiring practices comply with applicable privacy, employment, and human rights legislation in Canada.

Land Acknowledgement

From coast to coast to coast, we acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territory of all the Inuit, Métis and First Nations Peoples that call this land home. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people. As settlers and visitors, we feel it’s important to acknowledge the importance of these lands, which we each call home. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility to improve relationships between nations, to work towards healing the wounds of colonialism and to improve our own understanding of local Indigenous Peoples and their cultures.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of underrepresented or marginalized communities. CFNU is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process and does not discriminate on any grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.

Accessibility Statement

All applications will be considered as long as the applicant can demonstrate that they meet the essential qualifications as described in the job posting. Further to this, if you would like to request any additional accommodations based on one of the Ontario Human Rights Code's protected grounds, we will be happy to help accommodate you.