Vice President, People Strategy & Growth

Job Description:

About us:

Carefor is Eastern Ontario’s largest home care and community support services not-for-profit, with over 1,200 employees operating in Eastern Counties, Ottawa, and Pembroke-Renfrew County. The founding chapter of the Victorian Order of Nurses, Carefor has been helping seniors and people living with disabilities in Eastern Ontario live with choice and dignity since 1897.

For our staff, we are proud to help them be the best they can be both now and into the future. Through comprehensive onboarding and continual training, you are continuously improving your professional practice with Carefor; and with the HOOPP pension plan, great benefits and a flexible schedule, we’re looking out for you and your family. At Carefor, we know our work matters, and we’re proud of the impact we have in people’s lives.

Vice President, People, Strategy & Growth

Carefor Health & Community Services is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader to join our Executive Team as Vice President, People, Strategy & Growth. As one of Eastern Ontario’s largest healthcare providers with approximately 1,200 employees, Carefor offers a dynamic and complex environment where leadership truly matters. This pivotal role will shape the future of our organization by driving workforce excellence, advancing strategic growth initiatives, and stewarding enterprise governance.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President will provide executive leadership across human resources, business development, marketing and communications, and risk management - ensuring alignment with Carefor’s mission, values, and long-term strategic priorities.

To apply for this opportunity, please contact Don Breedon, Director of Human Resources at dbreedon@carefor.ca

What You Will Do:

1. Human Resources & Workforce Strategy

The Vice President provides executive leadership for all aspects of human resources, ensuring a high-performing, values-driven, and sustainable workforce.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development and execution of corporate people and workforce strategy aligned with organizational priorities and population health needs.
• Oversee HR functions including:
• Talent acquisition and retention
• Workforce planning and succession management
• Labour relations and collective bargaining
• Compensation, benefits, and total rewards
• Performance management and leadership development
• Occupational health, safety, wellness, and disability management
• Leadership competency framework
• Serve as the executive lead for labour relations strategy, including negotiations, grievance management, and union partnerships.
• Champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable employment legislation, accreditation standards, accessibility standards and healthcare regulatory requirements in Ontario.
• Advance modern HR practices including digital enablement, analytics, and evidence-informed decision-making.

2. Business Development, Partnerships & Growth

The Vice President leads organizational growth initiatives that enhance sustainability, service expansion, and system integration.

Key Accountabilities

Identify, assess, and advance business development opportunities, including:

• New service lines
• Strategic partnerships and alliances
• Public-sector and private-sector collaborations
• Mergers, integrations, and affiliation opportunities as applicable
• Lead due diligence, business cases, and executive recommendations for growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with clinical, operational, and finance leaders to ensure growth strategies are viable, patient-centred, and aligned with funding models.
• Represent the organization externally with system partners, government stakeholders, and community organizations.

3. Marketing, Fundraising, Communications & Strategy

The Vice President provides strategic oversight of organizational positioning, reputation, and long-term planning.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the corporate strategic plan, in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Oversee marketing, brand, and communications strategies to strengthen organizational reputation and stakeholder engagement.
• Ensure consistent messaging across internal and external audiences, aligned with organizational values and system priorities.
• Advocacy and stakeholder engagement
• Align and advance fundraising strategy and execution per organizational priorities
• Use market intelligence, population health data, and system trends to inform strategic decision-making.
• Support board-level strategic planning, performance reporting, and governance requirements.

4. Corporate Risk & Enterprise Governance

The Vice President serves as an executive steward of enterprise risk management and organizational resilience.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the organization’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, including identification, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of strategic, operational, financial, human capital, and reputational risks.
• Ensure alignment between risk management, strategic planning, and continuous improvement priorities.
• Oversee corporate policy frameworks and ongoing policy development, internal controls, and compliance processes.
• Support regulatory compliance across all accountable domains.
• Provide regular risk reporting to the Executive Leadership Team and Board committees.
• Model values-based, inclusive, and transparent leadership.
• Foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

Financial and Other

• Leads the development of the annual operating budget for the assigned portfolios and is accountable for financial results of their departments
• Provides input and expert judgment regarding expenditures and resources needed for the programs within their portfolio
• Regularly monitors expenditures and revenues against the budget and adjusts course as required to stay within budget targets
• Required to travel locally within Carefor’s service geography on a regular basis

What You Will Bring:

Education & Credentials

• A university degree in health, public policy and strategy, business, commerce, human resource management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA) or Masters in Business Administration (MBA) (or equivalent)
• LEAN Healthcare Certificate and/or Project Management certification (e.g., PMP) or equivalent demonstrated experience

Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive senior leadership experience, with executive-level accountability
• Demonstrated experience in healthcare organizations within Ontario’s regulated environment
• Demonstrated success in driving enterprise-wide initiatives focused on enhancing organizational culture and continuous improvement
• Experience in strategy development, business growth, and system partnerships
• Strong exposure to corporate risk, governance, and board reporting
• Experience working in unionized healthcare environments is strongly preferred

Fluency in both official languages is strong asset

What We Offer You:

• Competitive Salary
• Pension Plan with the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• Health and Dental Benefits
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Leadership team who values innovation, continuous improvement, quality and service excellence while appreciating work-life boundaries
• Staff who are deeply committed to excellent client care

Carefor is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Please let us know in your application if you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for accommodation will be considered in a fair and objective manner that will ensure applicants are treated with respect and dignity.