IDEA Specialist, Office of I-IDEAS - Temporary Full-Time (1.0) (until March 2027)

If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub. 

To successfully apply for this position, please submit your application by 11:59 pm the day before the advertised closing date in the posting to ensure your application is received.   

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. 
 
CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. 
 
Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario. 

The Office of I-IDEAS (Indigeneity, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice) is responsible for creating and implementing strategies and actions that result in greater recognition and support of equitable outcomes and positive experiences for all patients, families, staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers. The Office functions as a hub of continual learning, engagement and innovation to advance widespread behavioural and system-level change to create a sustainable and diverse workforce and improve the quality of experience and care at CHEO.

As part of the Office, you will act as an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Specialist, to assist management to advance recommendations in the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (IDEA) Roadmap for Change and support overall strategic objectives. You develop, lead and support strategic initiatives and projects designed to improve care and work experiences by creating processes to address discrimination and remove systemic barriers.

You will apply an equity lens and develop, implement, and evaluate corporate policies and programs, facilitate the planning and implementation of I-IDEAS strategic initiatives, drive the implementation of CHEO’s Accessibility Plan and French Language Services Improvement Plan, develop a Black Health Plan, consult with a broad range of contributors and partners to ensure input, provide analyses of IDEA data, and recommend and implement mitigation strategies. 

This will involve research, writing and analysis to identify trends, interpret assessment results and convert findings into action plans for various initiatives; consult and/or facilitate with other services and key community and/or internal contributors as required on projects; facilitate IDEA conversations and/or training; monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements to existing IDEA plans; and prepare reports and presentations for contributors and partners, management, and the board.

• Interpreting, advising on, and developing resources to address systemic barriers and ensure compliance with CHEO policies and governmental policies, regulations, and legislation.
• Assessing corporate and departmental IDEA training needs, contributing to the development, delivery and sourcing of awareness building and formal and informal learning opportunities.
• Conducting research, developing, reviewing and writing policies and corporate tools to drive systemic and structural change.
• Analyzing IDEA data and developing statistical reports on an ongoing basis, identify trends and gaps and recommend and implement mitigation strategies.
• Acting as an internal consultant to assist in developing project concepts, plans and options.
• Participating in and/or facilitating advisory committees, consultation groups and conversations to ensure CHEO is considering and incorporating recommendations, lived experiences and concerns from contributors and partners
• Developing or consulting on the development of IDEA communications materials.
• Identifying, facilitating and/or developing IDEA training plans for specific departments or to address specific issues across departments/corporation.
• Researching and analyzing current situation to develop project scope.
• Identifying partners, program resources, and budgets related to the issue being studied.
• Ensuring alignment with overall departmental/corporate policy frameworks, goals, and objectives.
• Evaluating project results and preparing reports for management and making recommendations to facilitate strategic decision making, as required.
• Support the Director of Office of I-IDEAS, by engaging in conversations, creative problem-solving and raising critical issues and areas requiring attention
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, clients, learners, community leaders and members, management, board, and staff across TEAM CHEO (CHEO, Research Institute and Foundation) corporations and departments.
• Representing the Office at and reporting back from the external and internal tables, conferences, training, and other events to share best practices, build relationships and contribute to solution building.  

• Completion of a 4-year university degree in Humanities, Social Sciences, or a related area or equivalent experience (5 years) in leading and developing IDEA policies and programs in a professional capacity. Experience in government, healthcare organizations or complex community-based organizations are an asset. (Essential)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience directly related to the development and implementation of IDEA policies and programs, data analysis and management, stakeholder engagement, and IDEA awareness building and training programs. (Essential)
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation; general knowledge of corporate/departmental policies and procedures related to health and safety. (Essential)
• MS Office including Word, Excel; knowledge of SAP is desirable (Essential)
• Community development, capacity building and inclusive public engagement theory, concepts, and practice (Essential)
• Advanced research, statistical analysis and report writing techniques and processes (Essential)
• Project management/program development and program evaluation (Essential)
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers (Essential)
• Demonstrated experience in the implementation of strategies to increase inclusion (i.e., education, intervention, programs) (Essential)
• Ability to identify opportunities to develop and implement initiatives to encourage cultural change (Essential)
• Display sensitivity and commitment to human rights and equity issues (Essential)
• Bilingual (French / English) (Preferred)
• Criminal Record Check (Essential)

*Timeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs.

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process.  This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.  
 

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.     

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at TalentAcquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. 

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at TalentAcquisition@cheo.on.ca. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.