President & Chief Executive Officer

Create a better future for individuals with mental health and substance use health needs as the leader of one of Canada’s leading mental health centres.

The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental health care, teaching, and research hospitals. We provide best-in-class care, engage in transformational research, and break down barriers to access. Working in partnership with clients and families, as well as academic and community partners, we offer help and hope to people in Eastern Ontario and beyond.

The Royal includes the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, the Brockville Mental Health Centre, the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, and the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. Through the convergence of patient and family-oriented care, science, education and lived expertise, The Royal has the opportunity to lead as a global force in integrated mental health services and research.

The Royal serves more than 15,000 patients every year with a team of approximately 80 physicians, 1,600 employees, and 78 researchers who work side-by-side to offer novel treatment opportunities. Together, our mission is to transform the lives of people living with complex and treatment-resistant mental illness and substance use.

The Royal has a rich history. Established in 1910, we have evolved and grown into the innovative centre for mental health care, research, and education that is today’s Royal Ottawa Health Care Group - the second-largest specialty mental health centre in Ontario. Looking forward, The Royal strives to provide innovative systems leadership across the region and beyond and accelerate new breakthroughs into crucial and life-saving care.

The mental health field in Canada has undergone a significant shift in recent years. There is greater awareness of mental health and substance use health needs, and a growing recognition of the importance of client- and family-centred care and the need for improved support systems across the continuum of care. The ability of mental health organizations to embrace research with academic partners, including research from the laboratory to the bedside is also critical. With a dynamic and dedicated team that is committed to excellence and innovation, The Royal is poised to lead this revolution in mental and substance use health care.

As President & CEO, your role will involve creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that prioritizes the mental well-being of everyone, both within and beyond the organization and that will be seen as a destination employer, a place where people will want to work and grow their careers. You will have the chance to devise and execute strategies to tackle systemic challenges. Additionally, you will be responsible for promoting diversity, embracing varied perspectives, initiating a shift in work culture and processes, and uniting teams and partners to drive advancements in mental health care within our community.

As a leader, you will possess a remarkable ability to set the tone and shape our institutional culture, ultimately enhancing the hospital's brand. Interpersonal sensitivity and organizational astuteness will empower you to navigate complexities and competing priorities with ease. Excelling at leveraging technology will allow you to promote innovation, and partnerships to drive advancements in funding and overall effectiveness across The Royal.

As a very strong communicator, you will build consensus and engage internal and external stakeholders to establish trust and build committed partnership-driven relationships. A visionary mindset and growth-oriented approach will foster an environment that values diversity and encourages active participation. You can lead a team through change, bringing people together to work towards a common goal.

With a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity, the President & CEO works closely with clients, families, staff, physicians, and community stakeholders, striving to dismantle systemic barriers, promote organizational equity and inclusion, and continuously improve the hospital's operations.

To Apply

To fill this position, The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group has partnered with leadership advisory firm Odgers Berndtson. Applications are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online ideally by August 11, 2023 at https://careers.odgersberndtson.com/en-ca/18681.

For more information, please contact Collin MacLeod or Yasmine Benali of Odgers Berndtson.

We would like to thank all applicants but regret that we are only able to personally contact those individuals whose backgrounds best match the requirements for the role.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers Berndtson and The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Odgers Berndtson is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our DEI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.