Location: Toronto, ON Canada

Type: Permanent

Group/Grade: Bargaining Unit/Officer

Grade Rate: $115,232.38 (start)

Date: September 18, 2026 The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is Canada’s largest nurses’ union. We are powered by our members — 68,000 nurses and health-care professionals, and 18,000 nursing student affiliates — who provide care in hospitals, long-term care, public health, the community, clinics and industry. Our mission is to defend the rights of and advocate for nurses and health-care professionals who care for the health of Ontarians.

We empower members and fight against unfair and unsafe treatment, negotiate and enforce our contracts, offer benefits and insurance, provide tailored education and development opportunities and much more. We confront governments, administrations and other policymakers head on to fight for high-quality public health care. ONA is seeking to fill the role of Media Relations Officer on the Communications Team at our Toronto office.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The Media Relations

Officer will bring experience and expertise in media, public relations, as well as broader organizational communications. This role will work collaboratively with their team to anchor the union’s media relations, while supporting the broader work of the team with a flexible approach. The successful candidate will join a dynamic group of professionals and work closely with leadership and other staff teams to support the day-to-day activities of the union.

This is what else you may expect from this role:

- Monitor daily media requests seeking background, commentary and/or interviews and respond in a timely manner.
- Produce and distribute a daily media scan covering key topics and maintain its distribution list.
- Work with a wide range of internal experts and decision makers to assemble, refine and provide relevant and accurate background information and messaging.
- Develop and maintain provincial and local media contacts and recent media sources reporting on health care, labour, provincial politics and other relevant topics.
- Effectively pitch stories to journalists and other public relations sources to drive proactive coverage on priority issues.
- Provide expertise and recommendations on effectively garnering coverage, both in legacy media and reputable new media sources.
- Research, write and produce a wide range of media and public relations materials such as releases,



advisories, backgrounders, key messages, speeches, scripts, op-eds, articles, stories, media kits and more.
- Create video and other content for social media and ONA’s digital magazine to report on the union’s activities as needed.
- Work with communications staff to develop detailed communications and media relations plans, and coordinate implementation.
- Plan, coordinate and execute communications and media events.
- Develop strategic public relations messaging for a wide range of initiatives.
- Work with the senior manager and leadership to monitor sentiment and provide support in managing and responding to emerging issues.
- Provide training and coaching in effective media relations and public speaking to the official spokesperson, Board of Directors, and other members as needed.
- Ensure adherence to the union’s spokesperson policy in all media relations activities.
- Track, analyze and regularly report on key metrics showing ONA’s media relations performance, identifying trends and opportunities.
- Ensure adherence to ONA’s brand voice and communications style in all written materials and deliverables.
- Review and edit a wide range of organizational materials following ONA’s Communications Style Guide and brand guidelines.
- Coordinate with allied organizations on joint initiatives.
- Coordinate with a wide variety of vendors and agencies.
- Ensure accuracy and attention to detail across all deliverables.
- Ensure deliverables reflect best practice standards, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

Support broader communications work, which may include:

- Write a wide range of communications pieces for internal and external audiences.
- Produce or oversee design production for a wide range of print and digital materials.
- Develop and plan internal communications, as needed.
- Monitor the main organizational email and respond according to procedures.
- Work with the editor to write and contribute to ONA’s digital magazine, F-Word.




- Provide communications support for a wide range of campaigns and bargaining.
- Write and produce member email and text message updates.
- Provide/coordinate photography and videography and produce video content.
- Work with the social media lead to manage accounts and develop content.
- Work with the website lead to produce content and updates.
- Other duties as assigned.

What we are looking for

- A bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma in journalism.
- Five years of professional full-time experience leading media relations, and public relations.
- Strong experience planning and executing broader organizational communications.
- Experience and familiarity with unions, health care, and political environments.
- Expert writer and editor.
- Experience with new media content creation.
- Ability to work effectively in high-pressure environments on strict deadlines.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
- Highly adaptable and works well independently and with cross-functional teams.
- Excellent communications skills including proactive engagement and collaboration.
- Fluency in French is an asset.
- Experience with Meltwater or similar platforms is an asset.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and/or video production is an asset.
- Familiarity with Action Network is considered an asset.

Note: There may be a need for flexible scheduling for evening/weekend work. The successful candidate must be able to travel, possess a valid driver’s license and have access to an automobile for business use. Ability to travel across Ontario, is also expected, as could other areas outside of Ontario.

All interested candidates may apply via ONA Jobs by 4:30 p.m. on October 2, 2026

The Ontario Nurses’ Association is committed to employment equity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from equity-deserving groups including individuals of Indigenous descent, Racialized individuals, individuals living with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI persons. We also provide accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’).

If you require accommodation for a disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please notify Human Resources at [email protected].

Thank you for your interest in joining us. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

📌 Labour Relations Officer- Media (Toronto)
🏢 Ontario Nurses' Association
📍 Toronto