Program Manager (SRI) - Physical Sciences - Regular Full-time 2025-15241

One of Canada’s Top 10 Research Hospitals, Sunnybrook Research Institute is developing innovations in care for the more than 1.3 million patients the hospital cares for annually.

Sunnybrook Research Institute is the research enterprise of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. Research spans three Toronto-based campuses, eight programs and three scientific platforms. Our main aims are to understand and prevent disease, and to develop treatments that enhance and extend life. Our vision is to invent the future of health care. Each year, we conduct about $100 million in research across 500,000 square feet, including in the world’s first Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics.

INOVAIT is Canada’s image-guided therapy (IGT) and artificial intelligence (AI) network. INOVAIT supports Canadian IGT companies and academic institutions to go faster and farther to build and validate medical technologies, positively impact the healthcare system, and create high-quality jobs. The Network brings together small, medium-sized, and large companies, research organizations, post-secondary institutions, and not-for-profit organizations to collaborate on game-changing projects to transform healthcare. INOVAIT strengthens the Canadian IGT ecosystem by fueling continuous innovation that revolutionizes healthcare globally. INOVAIT was established in 2020 by Sunnybrook Research Institute and supported by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund (SRF).

Reporting to the INOVAIT Executive Directors, the Program Manager (Strategic Relations and Communications) will lead INOVAIT’s Networking Program, one of the core pillars of INOVAIT. The Program Manager is the leader shaping the public voice and impression of INOVAIT. Working closely with other managers, this role plays an integral part in sharing the Network’s mission, ensuring INOVAIT’s initiatives and value propositions are clearly articulated to diverse audiences.

This role leads the development and execution of integrated communication strategies, including content creation for newsletters, press releases, websites, social media, and event campaigns. It oversees the INOVAIT and Medventions websites, job board, and membership portal, while ensuring brand consistency and high-quality messaging across all channels. The manager also drives media outreach, government relations, and public relations efforts, developing policy documents, RFPs, and briefings for government stakeholders and elected officials to amplify INOVAIT’s impact on a national and international stage.

Beyond communications, the Program Manager contributes to shaping the Network’s strategic direction by providing insights into stakeholder needs and monitoring ecosystem developments. The role actively fosters relationships with industry partners, government representatives, academic institutions, and media outlets to strengthen INOVAIT’s profile as a leader in medtech and AI innovation.

The position also leads the planning and execution of major events—conferences, workshops, and networking sessions—overseeing logistics. By leveraging digital tools such as HubSpot, the Program Manager drives member engagement, outreach campaigns, and onboarding initiatives.

Overall, this role is essential in advancing INOVAIT’s mission by guiding strategy, amplifying its voice, and driving meaningful connections across stakeholders, government, and the public.

Summary of Duties:

Membership & Government Relations

• Lead planning and execution of membership rollouts and onboarding
• Draft and format policy documents, RFPs, and stakeholder briefings for Ministerial and Senatorial offices and other relevant government committees
• Represent INOVAIT in coordination with other life sciences innovation networks on the national and international stage
• Guiding and directing the HubSpot CRM organization and specific membership engagement
• Supporting Member communications and marketing needs on an ad-hoc basis
• Attend and participate in SRF meetings with government and institutional leadership

Strategic Communications & Content:

• Lead the development and implementation of the network’s communication strategies and marketing campaigns.
  • Work and collaborate with senior management on the development and execution of network strategy and outreach communications.
• Source and manage service providers including website developers, designers, and writers.
• Create a variety of communication materials including, print, digital and social media, project management and applicable budget management.
• Maintain and update the INOVAIT and Medventions website content, including event pages, team bios, and project listings.
• Direct and oversee the development, maintenance, and growth of:
  • The INOVAIT Job Board
  • The INOVAIT Membership Portal and Map
• Create digital design assets such as presentation slides and thumbnails for online platforms.
• Investigate and recommend new digital tools relevant for supporting network operations and growth.
• Help INOVAIT’s team improve and effectively communicate their offerings and value propositions
• Develop and manage the INOVAIT brand, ensuring high quality and consistent messaging and branding across all channels and materials for all audiences (e.g., website, social media, press releases, monthly newsletters, video and photo galleries, etc.)
• Manage and monitor INOVAIT’s communication channels, including social media
• Develop relationships and seek opportunities to collaborate with other service organizations and media outlets in Canada’s healthcare innovation ecosystem
  • Collaborate with internal and external teams to develop and refine messaging for outreach campaigns.
• Develop and maintain media relationships with national and targeted media contacts
  • Ensure that INOVAIT’s key developments are platformed in relevant media
• Work with academic and industry professionals and subject matter experts to create and develop cutting-edge and engaging content (i.e., articles, stories, news, videos, case studies, etc.) that showcases the network
• Oversee French translation workflows (if required)
   

Event Planning and Execution:

• Coordinate the planning and delivery of networking and community events (e.g., annual meetings, industry exhibitions, educational lectures and workshops and networking mixers)
• Plan and coordinate conferences, symposiums, and workshops, including vendor management and A/V arrangements
• Draft event invitations, promotional materials and follow-up surveys.
• Oversee logistics such as venue bookings, catering, signage, and attendee communications.
• Manage guest speaker arrangements and prepare speaking notes.
   

• Project Management:

• Organize and manage timelines, tasks, and deliverables for events, newsletters, reports, and other communications- or strategy-related projects.
  • Track and report on project statuses, timelines, and expenditures
• Develop budgets, logistics plans, and materials for events, ensuring alignment with network goals.
   

• Stakeholder and Member Engagement:

• Responsible for identifying and forming relationships with strategic partners, including elected officials and their staff.
• Lead stakeholder communications and outreach.
• Create, maintain, and strengthen relationships with key strategic stakeholders and members

Qualifications:

• Proven track record of leading stakeholder and communications for a network or similar entity
• At a minimum a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Political Science, Health Policy, or a related field
• 5-7 years of experience in communications, marketing, public affairs, or stakeholder relations, ideally within healthcare, life sciences, innovation networks or government. 
• Experience with:

o Leading integrated communication strategies (web, digital, social, PR, and media).

o Government relations: drafting briefing notes, RFPs, and policy documents for federal/provincial audiences.

o Events management: planning and executing high-profile conferences, workshops, or industry-focused events

o Brand management: maintaining consistent messaging across multi-channel campaigns.

• Demonstrated proficiency in:

o Interpersonal, time management and organizational skills.

o Oral and written communication skills and attention to detail.

o CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp, or equivalent).

o Web management skills (e.g., WordPress or equivalent CMS)

o Graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, Canva, or similar) for producing digital and print assets

o Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, or similar) to track performance

o Event tools (e.g., Zoom, Eventbrite, or similar)

o Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Figma

• Assets

o A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Health Administration, Strategic Communications, or a related field

o Experience working within innovation networks, research institutes, or non-profits

o Familiarity with Canada’s healthcare innovation ecosystem (medtech, AI, life sciences)

o Experience preparing materials for federal ministries, SRF programs, or parliamentary committees

o Comfort representing INOVAIT externally at public speaking events, panels, and media interviews.

o Knowledge of equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in communications and stakeholder engagement

• Fluency in French