Manager, Community and Partner Relations

About this role

Position Title: Manager, Community and Partner Relations
Job Posting Deadline for Internal Candidates: July 22, 2026
Employment Status: Permanent Full-Time
Position Status: This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy
Hours of Work: Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week with limited evening and weekend requirements
Salary Range: $90,000 -$100,000 commensurate on skills and experience and plus Group Benefits & HOOPP
Position Reports to: Interim Associate Vice President, Development, Communications and Fundraising
Primary work location: Oshawa with flexibility to work at other DCHC sites as required.
Organization
Who We Are: Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC) is a registered charitable organization that provides integrated, accessible, and equitable community-based primary care, wellness services, and health education for Durham community members facing barriers to health and well-being.
Who We Serve: DCHC offers equity-focused programs and services for priority populations, including Indigenous peoples, Black communities, 2SLGBTQI+ community members, newcomers to Canada, seniors, and clients without a family doctor. This approach helps community members access both preventive care and care when they are ill.
How We Work: Our interprofessional team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors, dietitians, outreach workers, medical secretaries, and administrative staff. Together, we place each client at the centre of care and respond to their needs through integrated clinical care, wellness supports, and health education.
Why Join Now: This is an exciting time to join DCHC as we advance an energizing path toward greater impact in local health care. Guided by our Strategic Plan, Theory of Change, brand, client stories, and resources, we are diversifying, expanding, and strengthening how we serve the community.
Position Overview
The Manager, Community and Partner Relations is a newly created leadership role that advances DCHC’s five-year Strategic Plan by leading community engagement, stakeholder relations, and strategic partnerships that strengthen DCHC’s reputation, expand its impact, and support improved health outcomes across Durham Region.
The role focuses on:

• Developing and executing an integrated strategy for community relations, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships.

• Building trust and meaningful relationships with community leaders, residents, health system partners, elected officials, government funders, and local organizations.

• Ensuring outreach and engagement activities align with organizational priorities, access-to-care initiatives, and long-term community health outcomes.
As a visible ambassador for DCHC, the Manager promotes the organization’s mission, services, and impact while fostering partnerships that advance access, equity, innovation, and system integration across the region.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead an integrated external communications and community engagement plan that advances the following priorities:
Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Develop and implement a comprehensive community engagement strategy that increases awareness of DCHC, its services, and its impact.

• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, civic and community organizations, business leaders, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders.

• Identify community needs, priorities, and engagement opportunities that inform responsive outreach, access-to-care initiatives, and population health planning.

• Represent DCHC at community meetings, public forums, conferences, events, and partnership initiatives.
Public Affairs Strategy

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, provincial, and federal government representatives, public health agencies, healthcare system partners, community organizations, and business leaders.

• Monitor government policy developments, healthcare trends, funding opportunities, and community issues that may affect organizational priorities and operations.

• Support senior leadership engagement with key partners through strategic planning, relationship management, briefing materials, presentations, and speaking notes.

• Ensure community outreach and engagement activities align with organizational priorities, strategic objectives, and brand positioning.
Strategic Partnerships & Programs

• Support a partnership strategy that strengthens relationships with community organizations, health system partners, academic institutions, and other strategic collaborators.

• Coordinate and support community health initiatives, educational programs, and outreach activities delivered through in-person, virtual, and digital channels.

• Develop business cases and partnership opportunities for sponsorships, collaborative initiatives, and programs that enhance community impact, organizational visibility, and fundraising potential.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to strengthen DCHC’s profile, reputation, and influence, including strategic media and public awareness initiatives.

• Support philanthropic and fundraising initiatives focused on expanding programs and services to meet evolving community needs.
Knowledge Mobilization

• Support community health education initiatives through accessible, evidence-informed programming delivered across multiple channels and platforms.

• Collaborate with clinicians, clinical leaders, and subject matter experts to develop and implement an annual community education calendar aligned with identified health priorities.

• Expand the reach and impact of educational programming through a coordinated digital engagement and knowledge-sharing strategy.
Measuring and Monitoring Impact

• Support the development and implementation of evidence-based key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure the effectiveness of community engagement, partnership development, and stakeholder relations activities.

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