Director of Operations and Client Engagement - Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

There are nearly 40,000 Indigenous people in our Nation’s Capital and Wabano serves over 15,000 of them every year. While Wabano’s core business is health care, we are the cultural hub for Indigenous people in the National Capital region. For over 20 years, Wabano has offered an array of support services to the diverse and growing Indigenous community, from Elder teachings, to ceremonies, to homeless outreach to art therapy.

In the last five years, Wabano has doubled in size and now has five robust departments with 120 staff, creating and delivering unique services for every stage of the life cycle. Out of the five departments, the Mental Wellness team has been a cornerstone of the therapeutic services offered at Wabano. This interdisciplinary team of clinical therapists, art therapists, family support workers, cultural “grandparents” and system navigators offers mental wellness services to support people wherever they are on their healing journey.

Wabano is now looking for an experienced professional to continue the Mental Wellness team’s success and reach. If you are the right person for this role, you understand process, people, and how they work in tandem for service excellence. You have experience managing and leading teams in a community-based organization. You thrive equally on balancing budgets and balancing workflow (yours and your team’s). But most of all, you have the passion and drive to build strong teams that have the right mix of skills to serve and transform community.

The Responsibilities

Reporting to the CEO and working as a member of our senior management team, the Director of Operations and Client Engagement will support the operational success of Wabano’s Mental Wellness Department and its interdisciplinary teams. We will rely on you to maintain a strong, enthusiastic team dedicated to improving the lives of Indigenous people and with the skills to meet both funder and community expectations.

The Director will ensure that Wabano’s Mental Wellness programs and services align to Wabano’s strategic plan, meet professional and accreditation standards, and most importantly, respond to community needs.

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

Lead and manage

• Supervise and coach 2-3 Team Leads and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Provide leadership and performance management to mental health and addiction staff, including supporting employees through conflict resolution and client crisis management.
• Talent management: recruit, hire, and oversee orientation and continual learning of the department.
• Plan and coordinate professional development activities.

Create, deliver and evaluate quality services

• Identify client and community needs, advocate for new funding through proposal writing and stakeholder relationships and support team in creating services to meet these needs – balancing with funder requirements.
• Develop and manage the implementation of strategic and annual workplans for Wabano and the team members.
• Be inspired by Indigenous ways of being and knowing, finding innovative ways to merge culture with services.
• Monitor quality of all services, identifying areas for improvement and leading quality improvement initiative when needed.
• Streamline internal operational processes so that staff can do their work effectively.

Develop partnerships

• Represent Wabano in relevant committees and coalitions, advocating for Indigenous needs and initiatives and overseeing any joint projects.
• Ensure interdepartmental collaboration and service integration.
• Maintain key linkages with other organizations and individuals promoting health activities in Ottawa to ensure Indigenous representation.

Manage Program budgets and Reporting

• Create budget forecasts and spending plans, in collaboration with the CEO.
• Manage program budgets and monitor spending.
• Maintain and collate statistics for evaluation and reports to funders and other stakeholders and ensure all reports are completed accurately and on time.
• Manage funder and stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social services or mental health-related field or combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience with team(s) of 10 or more people.
• 5 years experience in project management in community-based organization.
  • Experience in Indigenous organization considered an asset.
  • Experience in health care setting or mental health setting considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve goals set out in strategic plans.
• Talent for networking and relationship management with a broad spectrum of contacts.
• Experience, understanding, and knowledge about social determinants of health and how they relate to the urban Indigenous community.
• Sensitivity to Indigenous traditions and cultural practices. Specific knowledge and experience with Indigenous healing practices will be considered an asset.
• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and creative problem-solving skills.

Salary

$88,000- $95,000 + benefits

Why Work for Us

You would be a part of a collaborative and supportive work environment. Additionally, you would have access to:

• Collaborative and Supportive Work Environment
• Group Health and Dental Insurance
• Employee Pension Plan (defined benefits) with matching contribution from Wabano
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness spending account
• Four (4) weeks paid vacation time

Application Details

Please submit your application to jobs@wabano.com. Application materials include a cover letter and resume. This opportunity will remain open until filled, so tell us your story early!

Successful applicants will be required to provide a criminal reference check to work with a vulnerable population.

Wabano is an inclusive and equitable organization, encouraging applications from qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. The position is open to all qualified applicants, although preference will be given to candidates of Indigenous ancestry (please self-identify in your application).

Wabano is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If contacted for an employment opportunity or interviewing, please advise if you require accommodation.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.