Other Opportunities: Communications Officer, Public Affairs (Permanent Full-Time)
| Reference # | 00956 |
| Posted | Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025 at 12:00am |
| Scope | Public Applications Accepted |
| Position | Communications Officer |
| Department | Public Affairs |
| Term | Permanent, Full-Time |
| Pay | $61,621-$63,470 |
At Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH), our shared purpose is People First, and our core values of Integrity, Quality, Respect, Compassion and Teamwork are at the centre of who we are and what we do. We remain committed to sustaining an experienced workforce that reflects Northumberland Hills Hospital’s dedication to recognising everyone’s contributions and respecting everyone’s dignity, unique experience, and potential.
EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Northumberland Hills Hospital remains respectful of all protected rights, in line with the grounds laid out by the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we welcome applications from all qualified applicants and interests from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People of North America, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
We strive to make our entire hiring process as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants if needed. For any hiring related accommodation needs and/or requests please email us via careers@nhh.ca. We do not use artificial intelligence in our hiring process.
LOCATION & ABOUT NHH
Located approximately 100 kilometres east of Toronto, NHH delivers a broad range of acute, post-acute, outpatient and diagnostic services. Acute services include emergency and intensive care, medical/surgical care, obstetrical care and palliative care. Post-acute specialty services (PASS) include restorative care and rehabilitation. Mental health care, cancer and supportive care, dialysis and other ambulatory care clinics are offered on an outpatient basis through partnerships with regional centres and nearby specialists. NHH offers a full range of diagnostic services, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and mammography. The hospital serves the catchment area of west Northumberland County. A mixed urban and rural population of approximately 67,000 residents, west Northumberland comprises the Town of Cobourg, the Municipality of Port Hope, Alderville First Nation and the townships of Hamilton, Cramahe and Alnwick/Haldimand. NHH employs more than 850 people and relies on the additional support provided by physicians, midwives and volunteers. NHH is an active member of Ontario Health (East)—formerly the Central East Local Health Integration Network—and the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland. For more information, please visit nhh.ca or follow us on Facebook @northumberlandhillshosp and LinkedIn Northumberland Hills Hospital.
ROLE OVERVIEW
We have a full-time permanent opportunity for an experienced Communications Officer with a passion for health care and a commitment to advancing hospital and regional health and community care priorities.
Reporting to NHH’s Vice President, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnership, the successful candidate will work closely with a Joint Communication and Community Engagement Working Group to support the planning, development and delivery of print, digital and multimedia communications to build staff, partner and general community awareness of—and engagement in—NHH programs, services and strategic priorities.
The ideal candidate will have a service-oriented approach and be at ease providing communications advice to hospital leaders in support of internal and external stakeholders’ needs, developing communications and engagement products across a variety of media that support the achievement of both organizational and project-specific goals. The successful candidate will support the media relations activities of the hospital, drafting media releases and supporting materials, and ensuring successful event management, contributing to promotions, logistics and on-site/virtual coordination. A creative strategist, the successful candidate will sustain and enhance the hospital corporate social media presence through effective planning, design, storytelling, and ongoing monitoring, assisting with the delivery of effective community engagement activities of the hospital and, where appropriate, selected regional partners. The Communications Officer works mainly day shifts, with occasional evening/weekend duties as required. Hybrid working available subject to operational needs though is predominantly in person.
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS
- Demonstrated interest in public service
- Strong judgement, discretion and critical thinking skills
- Experience working with multiple projects simultaneously
- Customer service and quality orientation with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment where project and time management are key to balancing competing priorities
- University degree, ideally in a communications field (English, Journalism, Mass Communications, Public Relations) and/or college diploma in a communications field (Professional Writing, Journalism, Mass Communications. Marketing, Public Relations)
- Several years (minimum 3-5) of direct experience in a communications/public affairs role, preferably in a hospital, health care or public sector environment
- Strategic and creative, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex information into a variety of easy-to-understand, accessible communication products for internal and external audiences
- Detail oriented with exceptional writing and editing skills and demonstrated experience taking a broad range of communication materials from concept to completion
- Strong digital media literacy, including experience with Microsoft 365 and Sharepoint platforms
- Experience with current best practices for cultivating social media communities, curating and creating content, including video, to reach an organization’s target audience
- Interest in (and capacity for) emerging platforms and communication tools
- Experience using analytics to maximize impact and focus limited resources on the tools that best meet stakeholder needs
- Comfortable with event planning and logistics
- Strong interpersonal skills, adept at developing and maintaining strong professional relationships within and outside the hospital, and to work effectively with staff, physicians and volunteers
ASSETS
- Affiliation with a recognized professional association (e.g. International Association of Business Communicators, International Association of Public Participation, etc.)
- Experience with basic graphic design software (e.g. Canva) as well as email marketing platforms
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Successful applicants are required to provide a satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal reference check, that was complete less than one year from the date of hire. This requirement must be met within the first sixty (60) days of employment.
Additionally, successful applicants are also required to complete the Health Care Worker health review process which includes providing an up-to-date immunization record to ensure compliance with the Ontario Hospital Association Communicable Diseases Surveillance Protocols within the first thirty (30) days of employment. Northumberland Hills Hospital operates a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all staff.
Northumberland Hills Hospital may choose to conduct parts/all the hiring process virtually. The successful incumbent should expect the role to be in person however a hybrid working arrangement may also be considered subject to operational needs.
Finally, we are a scent-free environment. When attending the hospital kindly refrain from wearing strongly scented fragrances.
While we thank all applicants for their interest, kindly note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.