Program Officer Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

SENIOR ACADEMIC OFFICER

Reference #2026-116

Strong. Proud. Uplifting.

At Ornge, we believe that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Each day, we connect communities with critical care across Ontario, Canada. In the air and by land, our teams deliver equity in emergency response, uplifting the lives of those in our care.

We are excited to onboard individuals who bring energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism to our growing group of difference-makers and life-changers.

Discover Ontario, Canada, and an exciting career with Ornge.

Position Title

Senior Academic Officer

Department/Section

Clinical Affairs

Employment Status

Contract Full Time, 2-Years
*Potential to become permanent full-time

Targeted Hiring Range

$142,176-$168,834

Salary Range

$142,176-$195,492

Work Mode

Hybrid (3 Days In-Office Per Week)
Periodic Travel Required to Thunder Bay, ON

Existing Vacancy

Yes

Location

5310 Explorer Drive, Mississauga

Hours of Work

37.5 Hours/Week; Monday-Friday

Posting Open Date

Friday September 4, 2026

Posting Close Date

Sunday September 20th, 2026

The targeted salary range is supplemented by a competitive total rewards package. The salary offered to the successful candidate will consider a wide array of factors such as the individual's skillset, level of experience applicable to the role and internal equity considerations.

Uplifting Your Career at Ornge

This is a rare opportunity to build something truly unprecedented.

At Ornge, we're in the midst of launching Canada's first Graduate Degree Program of Critical Care Paramedicine program, a groundbreaking graduate degree that will help define the future of advanced paramedic practice, critical care transport, and healthcare education across Ontario and Canada.

As our Senior Academic Officer, you will play a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life.

Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer and serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, you will provide the academic leadership, regulatory expertise, and strategic vision needed to guide the development, approval, launch, and long-term success of this first of its kind program. You will leverage your previous experience developing and implementing degree-level programs to guide Ornge through one of the most significant academic initiatives in its history.

This is more than an academic leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence executive decision making, shape organizational strategy, and help establish the foundation for a new era of graduate healthcare education. Drawing on your experience navigating academic and program standards set by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB), you will help position Ornge as a leading degree-granting institution and a recognized innovator in healthcare education.

Supported by an established and experienced education team, you will build upon existing strengths while leading the evolution of Ornge's academic enterprise. You will cultivate meaningful partnerships with academic institutions, regulators, healthcare organizations, and professional bodies, helping to advance both the organization and the profession of paramedicine.

The impact of your work will extend far beyond Ornge. You will help shape the future of critical care paramedicine education, advance research and scholarly activity, and contribute to a legacy that influences healthcare professionals, patients, and healthcare systems across Ontario and Canada.

If you are a seasoned academic leader with a proven track record of building and launching degree level programs, navigating complex regulatory environments, and advising senior leaders on academic strategy, we invite you to apply your expertise to a truly historic opportunity. As Ornge's academic subject matter expert, you will help shape the future of paramedicine education in Canada through the successful launch of the country's first Graduate Degree of Critical Care Paramedicine program.

Key Accountabilities:

Executive Leadership and Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Medical Officer and Executive Leadership Team on academic strategy, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, program development, research, and future growth opportunities.
• Provide expert guidance on higher education governance, PEQAB requirements, Ministry standards, and degree-granting institution best practices.
• Influence organizational decisions related to academic programming, partnerships, research, innovation, and long-term educational strategy.
• Present recommendations, progress updates, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership and governance bodies.

• Champion Ornge's vision as a leading academic institution for critical care paramedicine education.

Academic Leadership and Graduate's Degree Program Development

• Lead the strategic development, implementation, and successful launch of Canada's first Graduate of Critical Care Paramedicine degree program.
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to an established academic team responsible for curriculum development, faculty engagement, academic operations, student success, and scholarly activity.
• Build upon existing educational programs, processes, and partnerships while establishing the academic framework, governance structure, policies, and standards required to support a graduate-level degree program.
• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Ornge's academic portfolio.
• Position Ornge as a recognized leader in graduate healthcare education and critical care paramedicine.

Regulatory Approval, Quality Assurance and Academic Governance

• Lead all activities required to obtain and maintain approval from the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB), the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and other applicable oversight bodies.
• Provide expert guidance regarding provincial degree quality standards, consent requirements, academic governance, and institutional accountability frameworks.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes that support academic excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with all requirements necessary to maintain degree-granting authority and academic quality standards.
• Serve as Ornge's primary liaison with government ministries, accreditation organizations, academic institutions, and professional associations.

Academic Program and Curriculum Leadership

• Lead the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate-level curriculum, learning outcomes, and academic policies.
• Ensure curriculum aligns with provincial standards, contemporary evidence, healthcare system needs, and the evolving future of critical care paramedicine.
• Oversee innovative educational approaches incorporating simulation, experiential learning, research, scholarship, and technology-enabled learning.
• Guide faculty development, mentorship, and performance excellence to support a world-class learner experience.
• Ensure academic programming reflects best practices in healthcare education and graduate-level scholarship.

Strategic Partnerships and Sector Leadership

• Develop and strengthen relationships with universities, colleges, healthcare organizations, government agencies, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and research partners.
• Establish collaborative partnerships that support academic delivery, research, clinical placements, and future program growth.
• Represent Ornge provincially and nationally as a leader in healthcare education, academic innovation, and paramedicine advancement.
• Identify opportunities to expand Ornge's academic profile and influence within the healthcare and post-secondary sectors.
• Advise executive leadership on emerging trends, opportunities, and risks within higher education and healthcare.

Research and Scholarship

• Advance Ornge's vision as a degree-granting institution through the cultivation of research, scholarly activity, and academic excellence.
• Support faculty, students, and academic partners in pursuing research initiatives that contribute to healthcare innovation and evidence-informed practice.
• Foster a culture of scholarship that strengthens critical care paramedicine as a profession and contributes to improved patient outcomes.
• Promote opportunities for publication, knowledge translation, academic collaboration, and dissemination of research findings.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in a related discipline required; doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 7-9 years of progressively senior academic leadership experience within a university, college, institute, or healthcare education environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading the development, approval, implementation, or renewal of post-secondary degree programs.
• Proven experience successfully navigating PEQAB requirements, Ministry of Colleges and Universities standards, and academic quality assurance frameworks.
• Direct experience obtaining degree program approvals, consent-to-offer degree status, accreditation, or equivalent regulatory approvals.
• Demonstrated success working with external regulatory, accreditation, and government bodies to achieve strategic academic objectives.
• Experience in a senior academic leadership capacity alongside demonstrated success leading established academic teams and driving organizational transformation, innovation, and growth.
• Experience building academic programs, schools, departments, or educational initiatives from concept through launch and ongoing operation.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships across higher education, healthcare, government, and regulatory environments.

Knowledge, Skills & Expertise

• Deep knowledge of Ontario's post-secondary education framework, degree approval processes, academic governance models, and quality assurance requirements.
• Extensive knowledge of PEQAB standards, Ministry requirements, accreditation processes, and institutional compliance obligations.
• Expertise in strategic planning, curriculum development, academic operations, student success, and program evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive stakeholders and provide trusted strategic advice at the senior leadership level.
• Exceptional skills in relationship building, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong leadership, change management, negotiation, and communication capabilities.
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and lead complex transformational initiatives.
• Commitment to academic excellence, innovation, scholarship, and continuous improvement.

Additional Information:

• This is a two-year contract position supporting the continued development and successful launch of the Graduate Degree of Critical Care Paramedicine program, with the inaugural student cohort anticipated to begin in September 2028.
• We anticipate the successful candidate will commence employment early November 2026.
• Given the strategic importance of this role and the ambitious timelines associated with program development and launch, candidates are encouraged to apply early.
• Should the position become permanent, the successful incumbent may be considered for ongoing employment without the position being reposted.

Total Rewards:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision Benefit Plan.
• 24/7 Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Premium Defined Benefits Pension Plan Automatic Enrollment.
• Three Paid Personal Days (Pro-Rated for Year 1).
• Accrued vacation time starting at four weeks per year.
• PERKS! Employee Promotional Programs relating to personal phone plans, furniture, home/car insurance, travel, fitness, attractions and more!
• Tuition reimbursement and opportunities for learning and development.

At Ornge, we are:

• Community connectors.
• Equity in healthcare.
• Strong in our convictions.
• Proud of the services we provide.
• Uplifting in our mission, values, and services.

You can expect us to be:

• Competitive in pay, benefits, vacation time and more.
• Promoters of diversity.
• Champions of inclusivity and accessibility.
• Committed to your career advancement.
• A tight-knit, supportive culture.

A bit about you:

• You are driven by our collective desire to make a difference.
• Excited by problem solving and excels at in-the-moment decision making.
• Teamwork has always been where you thrive.
• You are ready to put your skills into action in a fast-paced environment.

What's next:

• If you are ready to uplift lives, apply directly online.
• On apply, we'll send you an email on how to check your application status within Jobvite.
• Ornge is committed to providing accessible accommodations in compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please email us at HR@ornge.ca.
• Ornge encourages applications from candidates identifying as a member of a traditionally underrepresented group including First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous peoples; Francophone persons; Black and racialized persons; members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; and persons with disabilities.
• Ornge communicates with candidates for job openings by email and does not incorporate AI technology in its recruitment process. Applicants are responsible to check their email for updates and ensure they can receive messages from unfamiliar senders. We send time-sensitive information via email; it is important for applicants to check their email frequently. If we do not receive a response from applicants, we will assume that they are no longer interested in the position, resultin...