Best Place I’ve Ever Worked - Senior Manager Lung Health Foundation Employee Review

I was hired into a manager role, which was a significant step up from my previous position and a great opportunity to stretch my skills early in my career. The organization provides strong exposure and hands-on experience, allowing you to take ownership of meaningful work while continuing to learn. I’ve had fantastic opportunities to grow professionally, develop new skills, and gain confidence as a leader as I am now in a senior manager position. In addition to day-to-day learning, I’ve been able to travel, collaborate across teams, and build a strong professional network with colleagues and partners in the clinical and public health space. These experiences have been invaluable for understanding the broader system and advancing my career. Overall, it’s an excellent environment for motivated early-career professionals looking to learn quickly and build a solid foundation. The perks of the organization are an added bonus: flexible hybrid work environment with only 2 days in office, half day Fridays from mid May to September (yes, that’s the entire summer!) and other days off like a week long office closure at the holidays.

The "how do you work in fast-paced environments" question applies here, so it's not necessarily a con if you can truly handle changing environments, including project plans and heavier workloads. You certainly require project management experience, or really strong organizational & time management skills - if you have those things, I wouldn't say that the workloads are unreasonable, it's just a small organization with a large mandate and everyone has to manage accordingly.

The organization is deeply mission-driven, with a clear commitment to improving lung health outcomes across Canada. It’s motivating to be part of a team that is genuinely focused on making a difference in people’s lives. One of the standout aspects is the leadership. There is a strong emphasis on strategic thinking, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. Senior leadership is approachable and open to new ideas, which creates an environment where staff feel heard and empowered to contribute. The team culture is another strength. Colleagues are supportive, highly skilled, and committed to the work. There are opportunities to lead initiatives, work cross-functionally, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the health system, which makes the work both dynamic and impactful. The organization is also evolving in a positive direction, with a growing focus on innovation, health equity, and system-level change. This creates exciting opportunities for professional growth and for shaping meaningful, large-scale initiatives.

As with many non-profits, resources can be constrained at times, and priorities can shift quickly in response to external factors. That said, leadership is transparent about these challenges and works to navigate them thoughtfully.