Executive Vice President, Government Relations & Legal Services & Chief Privacy and Risk Officer (CPRO)

Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is shaping the future of care, designing a more integrated healthcare system for one of Canada’s most diverse communities. For more than 850,000 people throughout the eastern Greater Toronto Area, this will mean quicker access to the safest, highest quality healthcare, right here in Scarborough. We operate three full-service hospitals and several community-based locations, with essential services including emergency, diagnostic imaging, surgery, and rehabilitation care. We are experts in stroke, mental health, and seniors care, as well as orthopaedics and chronic disease management. Our facilities feature advanced birthing centres for moms, newborns, and growing families. We host one of North America’s largest regional nephrology programs and cardiovascular rehabilitation services, and we are a designated cardiac centre for the Central East region of Ontario.

Our workforce comes from all over the world, speaks more than 20 languages, and brings their diverse perspectives to deliver compassionate and inclusive care tailored for our community. We are achieving greater health equity by providing accessible healthcare to newcomers, addressing health conditions prevalent among multicultural populations, and removing barriers to healthcare for everyone.

We are proud to be a leader in transforming how our health system is working together to improve the health of our community. Along with being a Scarborough Ontario Health Team partner and working collaboratively with the Scarborough Family Physicians Network, we are a key partner for the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health; member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network; and partner with other universities and colleges. In addition, SHN Research Institute is at the forefront of multicultural health research, grounded in understanding the unique healthcare needs of Scarborough.

Underpinning our commitment to exceptional quality care is the Love, Scarborough fundraising campaign, helping us to Build It Forward through a multi-year capital expansion and renewal strategy. We are bringing innovative, state-of-the-art hospital facilities, equipment, and technology to our health network to meet Scarborough’s evolving needs into the future.

Description:

The Executive Vice President, Government Relations & Legal Services & Chief Privacy & Risk Officer (CPRO) is a senior executive leader responsible for advancing SHN’s corporate legal services, enterprise risk management, emergency preparedness, government relations, and privacy strategies within a complex and highly regulated healthcare environment.

Reporting to the CEO, this role serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. The EVP ensures coordinated engagement with government partners, regulators, and community stakeholders while safeguarding legal integrity, regulatory compliance, organizational resilience, and the protection of patient and employee information.

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations & Public Policy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive government relations strategy aligned with SHN’s strategic priorities.
• Lead public policy advocacy efforts related to healthcare delivery, funding, system transformation, digital health, and data privacy.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and political developments, translating impacts into strategic advice for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with senior government officials, regulators, and public stakeholders.

Legal Advisory

• Serve as a key strategic advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership on corporate legal, policy and risk matters.
• Ensure Board committees receive timely, accurate reporting across assigned portfolios.
• Advise on healthcare laws and regulations, including funding and reimbursement rules, licensing standards, and professional regulatory requirements.
• Provide sound corporate legal and risk-based counsel during crises and sensitive public or reputational matters.

Enterprise Risk Management

• Lead and oversee SHN’s Enterprise Risk Management framework.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise, clinical, operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Define risk appetite, tolerance, and escalation thresholds in partnership with the CEO, Board of Directors and executive leadership.
• Integrate risk management into business strategy, investment planning, and decision-making processes.

Privacy & Data Protection

• Provide enterprise oversight of privacy strategy, compliance, and education.
• Serve as or oversee the designated Privacy Officer.
• Ensure compliance with applicable privacy and data protection legislation, including PHIPA and PIPEDA.
• Oversee privacy impact assessments, data-sharing agreements, consent frameworks, and information governance standards.
• Lead responses to privacy incidents, breaches, and regulator inquiries.
• Provide regular reporting on privacy risks, trends, and mitigation strategies.

Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity

Oversee emergency management planning and readiness across the entire Hospital network.
Lead business continuity planning and disaster recovery strategies.
Ensure critical processes, systems, and talent can be restored within defined recovery objectives.
Direct enterprise resilience testing, simulations, and stress-testing exercises.
Ensure continuity of care in collaboration with clinical and operational leaders.

Qualifications & Experience

• LL.B. or J.D. and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario (or equivalent).
• Active license to practice corporate law.
• Master’s degree in Health Administration, Business Administration, Laws or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive senior leadership experience spanning healthcare legal services, government relations and/or regulatory environments.
• Extensive, senior-level experience engaging and influencing deputy ministers, elected officials, regulatory authorities, and key public stakeholders, with a demonstrated ability to shape policy outcomes and advance complex organizational priorities.
• Strong understanding of the Ontario health system, legislative processes, and healthcare governance frameworks.
• Deep expertise in privacy legislation, enterprise risk management methodologies, and emergency preparedness principles.
• Experience within a public, nonprofit, or large integrated healthcare organization; prior service within government, healthcare, or a regulatory agency is considered an asset.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor high-performing professional teams in complex, multi-site environments.

Leadership Competencies

• Exceptional strategic judgment and executive presence.
• Political acuity and the ability to navigate complex public and regulatory environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influence skills.
• Values-driven leadership with a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Sound corporate legal and risk-based judgment, particularly in crisis and high-sensitivity situations.