External Relations Officer

Date Posted: 02/12/2026
Req ID: 46916
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number:
Existing Vacancy: Yes

Description:

About us:
Home to over 40 departments and institutes, the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine lies at the heart of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network and is a global leader in ground-breaking research and education, spanning clinical medicine, basic science and the rehabilitation sciences sectors.
Your opportunity:
The Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology is among the oldest in North America. We offer training in pharmacology and toxicology to both undergraduate and graduate students who may subsequently go on to exciting research, regulatory and administrative careers in academic, industrial, and healthcare provision settings. We also
The Mitochondria Innovation Initiative (MITO2i) is a strategic initiative of the University of Toronto bringing together academic researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and community partners to accelerate mitochondrial science, innovation, and translation. MITO2i aims to strengthen Canada's leadership in mitochondrial research while catalyzing partnerships that advance therapeutics, diagnostics, and real-world impact.
As External Relations Officer, you will be working in close partnership with the MITO2i Executive Team. You will support the implementation of initiatives that enhance MITO2i's visibility, partnerships, and engagement across the mitochondrial ecosystem, including academic, clinical, industry, investor, and patient-community stakeholders. You will advise on and execute integrated communications, outreach, and partnership strategies that position MITO2i as a national and global hub for mitochondrial innovation.
This is a unique opportunity for a communicationsand partnership professional who understands the mitochondrial science, mitochondrial industry, translational research, and innovation ecosystem, and who is motivated to help grow a high-visibility initiative with global reach.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating directly with the MITO2i Executive Team to shape strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development priorities
• Expanding MITO2i's external profile and brand presence across scientific, clinical, industry, and public audiences
• Identifying and cultivating new collaborations, sponsorships, and strategic alliances that advance MITO2i's mission
• Developing outreach communications, events, and engagement initiatives tailored to the mitochondrial research and innovation landscape
• Serving as a connector across mitochondria-focused stakeholders and sectors, strengthening Canada's mitochondrial innovation network
• Advising MITO2i Executive's Team on marketing and advertising strategies for multimedia channels to promote engagement from external stakeholders
• Working with the MITO2i Executive Teams and University Offices to bring new potential collaborators, partners and investors for the MITO2i community
• Reaching out to partners, establishing and maintaining relationships and identifying opportunities for investment and innovation that are mutually beneficial

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience
• Minimum four years' experience in mitochondrial research or mitochondrial industry relationship or mitochondrial stakeholders relationship
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies and plans
• Experience advising clients on effective marketing and advertising approaches across multimedia channels while shaping and strengthening brand strategies
• Proven experience leveraging data insights to target outreach collaborations, with a track record of identifying opportunities to amplify programs and initiatives through external partnerships
• Experience with events from concept through execution, managing logistics, liaising with vendors, and maintaining event calendars
• Experience producing promotional and outreach materials and designing surveys and evaluation tools
• Experience developing and maintaining brand presence across all communications channels
• Experience developing and delivering presentations to secure sponsorships
• Experience building and maintaining strategic partnerships with internal and external constituents
• Advanced proficiency in M365, Adobe Creative Suite, social media, survey tools and content management systems
• Skilled in working with content management systems, web analytics and e-newsletter software
• Superb written and oral communications skills
• Excellent research, writing, editing, and print design/layout skills are essential
• A self-starter possessing the ability to work independently in a high-profile, time-sensitive environment while balancing competing priorities
• Demonstrated ability to create concise, effective written content, drawing from interviews with sources as well as translation of clinical and scientific material for a lay audience
• Must be creative, resourceful and solutions-oriented

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Articulate
• Communicator
• Entrepreneurial
• Multi-tasker
• Persuasive

This is a one year term part-time position.

Closing Date: 02/23/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW 
Appointment Type: Grant - Term 
Schedule: Part-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: Prorated USW Pay Band 11 -- $53, with an annual step progression to a maximum of $68, Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.    
Job Category: Communication/Media/Public Relations
Recruiter: Callum Ferguson

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.