Senior Advocacy Specialist

Job Title: Senior Advocacy Specialist

Vacancies: This posting is for (1) current vacancy

Location: Vancouver, BC | Ottawa, ON | Calgary, AB | Halifax, NS | St John's, NL | Kelowna, BC| Prince George, BC | Montreal, QC | Quebec City (Detailed office location information can be found by visiting this link: https://cancer.ca/en/contact-us)

Work Model: Hybrid Work Model

Salary Band: 5 ($56,000 - $64,000 CAD)

(This is a Full-Time Contract opportunity ending in February 2028)

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CANCER CARE IN CANADA

The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save lives, improve lives and drive collective action against cancer. Together with patients, volunteers, donors and communities across the country, we raise funds to invest in transformative cancer research, we provide a caring support system for everyone affected by cancer and we advocate to governments to create a healthier future for all. It takes a society to take on cancer – and the Canadian Cancer Society is leading the way

Join an exceptional team of advocacy professionals dedicated to transforming the future of cancer, Canada’s leading cause of death. As one of the top health lobbyist organizations in the country, the Canadian Cancer Society has been shaping policy on cancer-related issues for decades. CCS was at the forefront of historic wins like bans on indoor smoking and exposure to asbestos, restrictions on cigarette advertising, and the extension of Canada’s Employment Insurance sickness benefit. We have successfully pushed for more recent changes like improving access to mammograms, expanding access to job-protected medical leave and bringing awareness to the significant out-of-pocket costs of cancer borne by patients and caregivers. In this role, you will help CCS continue to drive progress to save lives and improve the health of all Canadians.

MAKING AN IMPACT

Reporting to the Director of Advocacy (Public Engagement) this role will support the Public Engagement offering in CCS advocacy. Primarily, this position will lead advocacy initiatives along the drug access pathway in Canada. This will involve regular engagement with external stakeholders, including Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA), Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS), the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA), government bodies, cancer charities and patient organizations, clinicians, and people affected by cancer.

In addition, the Senior Advocacy Specialist will support patient and clinician engagement across CCS advocacy priorities. This includes helping to ensure that the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and clinicians are meaningfully reflected in advocacy efforts. The role will contribute to the design and implementation of engagement approaches, support the execution of engagement activities, and identify opportunities to strengthen public and stakeholder input. Through this work, the position will help sustain CCS’s capacity to conduct high-quality engagement.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

Health Technology Assessment Tasks:

• Lead the delivery of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program, including coordinating and developing patient submissions to pan-Canadian bodies, under the direction of the Director, Advocacy. This includes contributing to and implementing advocacy priorities aimed at improving access to cancer drugs and diagnostics through system-level engagement with non-elected stakeholders (e.g., CDA, INESSS, pCPA, PMPRB, etc.).
• Monitor all CDA/INESSS open calls for patient feedback on drug reviews relevant to CCS’s mandate
• Conduct research and liaise with internal mission teams and external stakeholders to develop a strong knowledge of the drug under evaluation and its clinical context
• Develop patient surveys and interview questionnaires aligned with the cancer type, indication, and drug under review; work alongside the Strategic Initiatives team to refine these tools and support dissemination of related calls to action
• Evaluate qualitative and quantitative data from surveys and interviews, and synthesize findings into draft patient submissions for review and approval
• Build and maintain relationships with senior staff at patient organizations and health charities to support collaboration and resource sharing.
• Sustain and build relationships with senior patient engagement staff at pharmaceutical companies to generate contacts for clinical trials patients, as well as develop an awareness of similar drugs available on the market and funding status
• Promote the work of CCS in Health Technology Assessments to external partners
• Liaise with CDA/INESSS staff regarding CCS led or partner HTA submissions. Track the outcome of submissions
• Evaluate the success of each submission and the total number of patients engaged to contribute to advocacy key performance indicators. Maintain program data and existing tracking tools related to this program for advocacy performance measurement.
• Develop and submit all patient submissions within a tight and defined timeframe to ensure CDA and INESSS have the information required to inform oncology recommendations

Advocacy Tasks

• Work across the organization to support the establishment of advocacy priorities to non-elected, pan Canadian bodies involved in the assessment, approval, and price negotiation of new drugs and health technologies that benefit people living with cancer
• Support the design and implementation of advocacy and public engagement plans to implement these advocacy priorities
• Seek opportunities to improve patient input into approval processes
• Build & maintain relationships with target public sector & private sector stakeholders
• Coordinate and sustain a community of practice among patient groups to share information on upcoming submissions, promote education and best practices, and build capacity in the HTA space.
• Evaluate progress according to the focus areas and KPIs set out in the CCS organizational and mission—advocacy strategic plans
• Work closely with the Advocacy Content team on identified advocacy priorities

Patient and Clinician Engagement in Advocacy

• Conduct CCS patient and clinician engagement in advocacy more generally. This involves overseeing advocacy priorities to ensure that the needs of patients, caregivers, and clinicians are reflected.
• Support the design of engagement frameworks, tactics, implementation of public engagement priorities, working to reduce Mission—Advocacy dependency on external consultants to deliver these projects
• Support the Director, Advocacy, with the integration of advocacy department into broader CCS mission including research and support services
• Lead the development of self-advocacy toolkits on various issues to support patient engagement in CCS advocacy
• Track, examine and evaluate advocacy and mission integration activities
• Lead and maintain external advocacy working groups comprised of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and/or other relevant populations or professionals as required to encourage public engagement in new or existing advocacy priorities. Lead activities related to these groups.
• Contribute to our culture of diversity, inclusion, belonging and equity (DIBE) by ensuring that all staff feel represented, valued, and heard across all aspects of their identity, including gender, age, religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, and sexuality.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A university degree in a relevant health or science focused field, such as but not limited to public health, Health policy, Health sciences or life sciences
• Additional training or certifications related to health policy, market access, research methods, pharmacy or patient/public engagement is considered an asset.
• Experience supporting Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes in Canada, including contributing to submissions to CDA and/or INESSS, is considered a strong asset
• Demonstrated familiarity with drug approval, reimbursement, and pricing pathways in Canada, including the roles of key system stakeholders
• Combined total of at least 5 years working at a patient-focused charity or non-profit showcasing a solid foundation in identifying, synthesizing and advocating for identified needs of patients and their caregivers
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, researchers, and external partners
• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative data analysis, including designing surveys or interview tools, synthesizing findings, and developing reports to make informed choices
• Proven ability to lead and deliver complex projects or workstreams involving multiple stakeholders, tight timelines, and a high degree of accuracy and accountability
• Experience developing engagement tools, training materials, or resources for patients and/or clinicians is considered an asset
• Familiarity with the Canadian cancer landscape and the work of national health system stakeholders is considered an asset
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple contending priorities and deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, identify opportunities for improvement, and proactively address issues in a complex, evolving environment
• Bilingualism (French/English) is highly preferred, with French being an asset due to the organization’s nationwide operations and the need for effective communication across various regions.
• Others may apply

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US:

CCS provides impactful opportunities to transform the lives of Canadians affected by cancer. We are devoted to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates diverse experiences and skills, encouraging all qualified candidates to join us. Our inspiring culture is rooted in our core values and commitment to meaningful change:

COURAGEOUS UNITED CARING RIGOROUS

We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, including paid parental leave, family sick time, and health insurance—and a fulfilling work environment where your efforts make a meaningful impact daily.

COME AS YOU ARE

At CCS, we celebrate individuality and the strength of diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace that empowers everyone. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, including those from equity-deserving groups such as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and others who contribute to the richness of our organization. Together, we unite Canadians to shape the future of cancer care.

HOW TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter and salary expectations by July 31st, 2026.

We thank all candidates for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

OTHER INFORMATION:

CCS is dedicated to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. In accordance with the local provincial Accessibility Act, accommodation will be provided as requested throughout the recruitment process. We want to make the interview process a great experience for you!

Please note that in keeping with the mandate of CCS to model and promote healthy lifestyles, employees are not permitted to smoke in or about CCS premises or while carrying out CCS business.

Privacy Disclosure

We collect your personal information through forms, by phone or in person to evaluate your candidacy for the role(s) you have applied for, to contact you regarding your candidacy, and to generate recruitment-related reports. If selected for a position at CCS the information provided will be used for the purposes of pre-employment checks and added to your employee file. We may share your personal information with third parties, including recruitment consultants, within or outside your province or territory or outside Canada to carry out the purposes identified above, or as required by law. We may contact you by mail, email, phone or text. You can exercise your right to access your information or have it corrected, unsubscribe from communications or withdraw your consent by selecting these options within the ADP system, or by contacting privacy@cancer.ca. For more information about our privacy practices, visit cancer.ca/privacy.

AI Disclosure

We are committed to transparency and, the responsible use of technology in our hiring process. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist with certain administrative or screening tasks; however, all hiring decisions are made by people. We review and approve AI-assisted outputs to ensure fairness, accuracy, and alignment with our values. For more information about our privacy practices, visit cancer.ca/privacy.

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