Mental Health and Wellness Program Lead | Ottawa, Ontario (Hybrid)

St. John Ambulance; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to improving mental health and wellness across Canada. As a Mental Health and Wellness Program Lead, you will play a pivotal role in managing impactful training programs that address the pressing mental health crisis, particularly in the context of substance use. This position offers a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with a passionate team, drive innovative solutions, and make a significant difference in the community. If you are an empathetic leader with a strong background in program management and mental health, this role is perfect for you. Embrace the chance to foster resilience and support frontline workers in their critical roles.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Group benefits program

Employee pension plan

Opportunities for continuous learning

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in managing mental health programs and cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of substance use and harm reduction practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of SJA’s Mental Health and Wellness programs.
• Lead the development of the Emotional First Aid program.

Skills

Empathy and understanding of mental health crisis

Program management

Public speaking

Stakeholder relationship management

Time management

Fluency in English

French language skills

Education

Education in mental health or related fields

Work experience in harm reduction

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

OneDrive

Planner

Job description

Position name: Mental Health and Wellness Program Lead

Reports to: Chief Learning Officer (CLO)

Department: National Training Team

Location: Remote / Hybrid

Status: Full Time

The Opportunity
As a Mental Health and Wellness (MHW) Program Lead, you are essential in overseeing and managing engaging, innovative, and impactful Mental Health training programs for St. John Ambulance.

What this Position Involves:
Your role focuses on overseeing and managing other SJA mental health initiatives, including the Health Canada funded Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis (EFA) program. You have a strong foundation in mental health education, facilitation, and program management. As the MHW Program Lead, you work within a multidisciplinary team in a centralized training department that is responsible for the design, production, evaluation, and maintenance of the St. John Ambulance core training programs. You will hit the ground running and need to be a self-starter, as this role is designed for someone with experience.

Our Mission
St. John Ambulance is a humanitarian organization and is a member of the international Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Order of St. John). This non-profit organization has operated in Canada since 1883 with a mission to improve people’s health, safety, and quality of life through training and community services. St. John Ambulance instructors provide first aid and CPR training to over 500,000 people in Canada each year, and its volunteers provide millions of hours of community service across Canada. All proceeds from training and product sales fund St. John Ambulance’s community services, such as Medical First Response, Therapy Dog Services, Disaster Response, and youth programming.

About the EFA Program:
Funded by Health Canada, St. John Ambulance has been granted a unique opportunity to provide mental health training to peers and frontline workers who assist individuals using drugs and face direct and/or vicarious trauma in their professional and community roles. This program aims to meet critical needs surrounding mental wellness as it applies to peers and frontline workers of the drug poisoning crisis, with a focus on providing tools to promote resiliency and reduce the impact of grief and burnout in the frontline workforce.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us:

• Impactful Work: Your contributions will directly improve the safety and well-being of others.
• Innovative Environment: We encourage creativity and innovation in all our training programs.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and development.
• Supportive Team: Collaborate with enthusiastic and resolute professionals.
• A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: SJA is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, and we actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What You Will be Doing:

Managing the SJA MHW Programs:

• Oversee all aspects of SJA’s Mental Health and Wellness programs.
• Facilitate communications and activities for the SJA Mental Health Advisory Group (MHAG) and MHW Community of Practice (CoP).
• Lead the development and management of SJA’s Health Canada Funded Program, the Emotional First Aid for Peers and Frontline Workers of the Drug Poisoning Crisis (EFA), including milestone tracking, budgeting, and reporting.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal teams, external stakeholders, and program funders.
• Oversee and coordinate EFA project team activities, including hosting weekly meetings and delegating tasks effectively.

Collaborating with Stakeholders:

• Partner with subject matter experts (SMEs), SJA Training Team, and council members to design and refine mental health courses and related content.

What We Are Looking For:

• Deep empathy and understanding of the mental health crisis in Canada, particularly in relation to the drug poisoning crisis.
• Strong professional knowledge of substance use, harm reduction, and mental health and wellness (work experience or education in these areas is highly preferred).
• Experience in program management and leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience working in community programs relating to substance use, harm reduction, and mental health & wellness considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated success in delivering online training sessions and public speaking preferred.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships and facilitate collaborative discussions.
• A dynamic personality able to generate and maintain new professional relationships with other organizations.
• Advanced working knowledge of tools like Microsoft Office Suite, OneDrive, Planner, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom (essential).
• Ability to work autonomously and handle multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong time management skills required, along with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Fluency in English is required. French language verbal and written skills are highly desirable.

Working Conditions:

• Overtime and schedule flexibility may be required from time to time.
• Some travel within Canada may be required.
• SJA offers a competitive salary, group benefits program, and employee pension plan.

While SJA thanks all candidates for their interest, only those candidates whose skills and experience most closely match the position requirements will be contacted and invited for interviews. SJA is an equal Opportunity Employer.