Manager, Indigenous Public Health

The Region of Durham is committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within our organization and the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from people who are Indigenous, racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, members of LGBTQ2S+ communities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of our workforce, including those who experience systemic barriers.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code, accommodation will be provided throughout the recruitment process upon request, based on any Code-protected ground.

Please note that this position is intended to be held by an Indigenous person with lived understanding of Indigenous cultures, worldviews, and community practices. Applicants will be invited to voluntarily self identify as First Nation, Metis or Inuit during the application process. This information is collected confidentially and used to confirm eligibility for this position.

Reporting to the Commissioner & Medical Officer of Health, this position builds collaborative relationships with local Indigenous communities and organizations, built on a foundation of trust, respect, reciprocity, partnership, collaboration and open communication. The position will work with communities to co-design and advance public health initiatives that incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and doing into public health programs and services to support the needs of Indigenous Peoples in alignment with the Ontario Public Health Standards.

The Manager will:

• Work in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities to identify positive health outcomes, public health needs and shared public health priorities, built on a strength-based and wholistic approach to health and well-being.
• Lead capacity-building initiatives to support Health Department staff to develop and deliver respectful and culturally inclusive programs and services.
• Lead and oversee outreach to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities and organizations.
• Provide strategic advice to the leadership team to support strong relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities and Indigenous-led organizations.
• Develop policy recommendations that include culturally relevant approaches for the leadership team.
• Work with community to co-design short-term and longer-term strategic program goals, priorities and evaluation plans to guide culturally grounded public health programs and advance Indigenous health priorities.
• Lead efforts to engage and work with First Nations, Inuit and Metis to identify health information of interest, data gaps and opportunities to measure health outcomes, in accordance with OCAP, OCAS and IQ principles.
• Represent the Health Department in local and provincial Indigenous Circles, networks, working groups and committees.
• Report on Indigenous public health issues and support advocacy efforts.
• Lead specialized staff and oversee human resources functions, including recruitment, orientation, performance and skill development.

Ideally, the successful applicant will possess:

• Lived experience and strong connections to Indigenous Peoples and communities.

An undergraduate degree in a health-related field, Indigenous Health, Indigenous Studies, public policy, or a combination of lived experience, education and strong connection with First Nations, Inuit and Metis groups.

• Knowledge of Indigenous histories, cultures, practices, and governance structures.
• Knowledge and understanding of Indigenous health equity and determinants of health and practical knowledge of cultural awareness and trauma-informed approaches.

• Knowledge of public health and familiarity with the Health Protection and Promotion Act and Ontario Public Health Standards.
• Experience successfully leading and managing program development and implementation, preferably for a public health department, Indigenous health organization, healthcare organization or other non-profit or government agency/organization (e.g., municipality, provincial ministry or provincial agency).
• Knowledge of data governance principles such as OCAP (First Nations), OCAS (Metis), and IQ (Inuit).

Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, and an ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of staff, partners, elected officials, and community members.

• A master's degree in public health, public health policy, Indigenous Studies, or other relevant discipline is considered an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software.
• Candidates who have similar experience, education, qualifications or related work experience are encouraged to apply as the needs of the organization continue to evolve.

- Salary: $132,969 to $166,211 per annum

Conditions of Employment

All applicants are expected to comply with the Region of Durham's Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct Policies throughout the recruitment process. Prior to the start date, the successful candidate will be required to provide a satisfactory Police Vulnerable Sector Check dated within two (2) months from date of hire. Proof of education, qualifications and any other job bona fide requirements will also be collected.

External Application Process

Come find a home where exciting and rewarding careers are balanced with your lifestyle. We thank all applicants; however, only those being considered will be contacted. Please apply online (www.durham.ca) no later than midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on August 6, 2026.

The Region of Durham is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity and you require accommodation, or if this information is required in an accessible format, please contact us at: RecruitingHelp@durham.ca and a Recruiter will provide appropriate assistance pursuant to the Region's Accommodation and Accessibility policies. Please note that resumes should not be sent to RecruitingHelp@durham.ca.

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The Region of Durham may utilize artificial intelligence to assist in the preliminary assessment of applicant qualifications and submitted materials. These tools are used for the purpose of supporting and enhancing an evaluation by a human decision-maker and any information provided by AI to a human decision-maker is not determinative. Final decisions are made solely by authorized human decision-makers.