Program Manager, Employee Wellness

City of Ottawa; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 113,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Ottawa seeks a Manager for the Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Unit. This role involves leading a team to develop and implement strategies that promote employee health and well-being, ensuring a psychologically safe workplace. Candidates should have a Master's degree and significant experience in mental health, along with strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in employee mental health and well-being.
• Registered Social Worker with OCSWSSW or equivalent.
• Experience in managing human and financial resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in planning and implementing well-being programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with staff and management.
• Manage human and financial resources for the unit.

Skills

Communication

Crisis Management

Analytical Skills

Collaboration

Conflict Resolution

Education

Master's degree in social work, psychology, or education

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

Requisition ID: 17275
Department: Finance and Corporate Services Dept.
Service: Human Resources Services
Branch:Employee Wellness Branch
Employment Type: 1 Full-time Permanent
Work Hours: 35.00 /hours per week
Affiliation: MPE
Salary Information: $113,700.86 - $143,798.20 annually (2025 rates of pay)
Location: 100 Constellation, Nepean
City: Ottawa, ON
Job Category: Administrative and Support Services
Application Close:03/06/2025

Candidates are encouraged to self-identify as a member of one or more employment equity designated groups through the questions in the online application process.

The City of Ottawa promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion and adheres to the tenets of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We are committed to an equitable, strategic and inclusive hiring process and support a workforce that reflects the diverse population of Ottawa.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the position, the following are considered assets:

• Member of Indigenous, Black or other racialized community, persons with disabilities, women or other equity-deserving groups
• Experience working with diverse communities and intersecting social identities, such as race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, class and religion facing systemic and structural barriers
• Knowledge of community demographics and their needs, systemic challenges and strengths
• Demonstrated understanding of the value of equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Ability to apply an equity, diversity and inclusion lens to all work, including interactions and internal decision-making processes
• Ability to communicate in a language other than French or English

JOB SUMMARY

The Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Unit develops the corporate well-being strategy and framework to support organizational health and well-being and encourage healthy, proactive behaviors. The unit’s mission will be to act in alignment with the City’s values, create, and foster a psychologically safe workplace culture, adapt to the diverse intersectional needs of the employee population, and evolve into a trauma-informed organization.
You lead a team of professional staff in the Workplace Mental Health Well-being Unit, providing expertise in the planning, design, implementation, communications and evaluation of well-being programs, facilitated discussions, providing clinical oversight of Peer Support Networks. You are responsible for building and maintaining strong, inclusive working relationships with staff and management, and representing the corporation at collective bargaining on matters related to well-being programs.
You are also responsible for managing the unit’s human (including contracted services) and financial resources, and partner relationships.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Maters degree in social work, psychology, education or related field, including training in mediation, advanced post trauma and suicide intervention.
Minimum of 8 years of related experience in employee mental health and well-being, social work, psychology, occupational health and safety, including a minimum of 4 years in the management of human and financial resources.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

Registered Social Worker with OCSWSSW or equivalent certified counsellor in the Province of Ontario
The following certification(s) and/or license(s) is/are desirable:
Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL)
Psychological First Aid Certification
Critical Incident Stress Management Certification

KNOWLEDGE

• Methods, techniques and practices relative to wellness program design and governance, including trauma informed approaches
• Understanding of CSA Psycholoical Health and Safety in the Workplace
• Faimiliarity with the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
• Counselling approaches and mediation techniques
• Legislation, policies, regulations, guidelines and operational procedures relevant to the operational area
• Supervisory experience and motivational techniques. Working knowledge of human resource best practices, trends and development
• Financial management practices and budget processes
• Industry trends and developments
• Business administration concepts, theories, principles and methodologies
• Computer applications, including MS Office, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP, and other corporate standard software
• Must possess the training, experience and knowledge to organize the work and its performance
• Legislation, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines relevant to the work
• Must be familiar with applicable health and safety legislation, have knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the work place, and have knowledge of appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure the health and safety of staff in accordance with applicable legislation and municipal policies and procedures

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to write/draft clear, concise correspondence, reports, policies, resources, grant proposals, and recommendations, including evaluations and summaries of research and analysis to guide program development, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to demonstrate human relations, communications, facilitation, presentation, and collaboration skills to maintain effective working relations with parties involved; facilitate discussions, leveraging diversity and differences; deliver training; and present information and promote programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to enact research and analytical skills to identify needs and develop, plan, maintain, and evaluate programs and projects that support psychological and physical health of an organization.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and collaborate with internal and external partners, including on delivering specialized wellbeing training and education.
• Deal effectively with complex matters related to mental health and psychological safety.
• Skilled in crisis management
• Demonstrated commitment to working through an Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppression, Trauma informed lens
• Demonstrated capacity to provide/offer strategic interventions that incorporate equity, cultural safety and inclusion practice and principles to a diverse employee population including Persons with Disabilities, Black, Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neurodiverse communities
• Demonstrates a strong strengths-based, recovery-oriented, client-focused philosophy in all interactions.
• Demonstrated ability in conflict resolution.

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Core Behaviours
Core behaviours define the City's expectations of the behaviours employees should demonstrate in performing their work. They are reflective of the City's culture and values and guide all our present and future activities. Every employee is encouraged to learn, embody, and demonstrate these core behaviours.

Review the Core Behaviours.

Leadership Competencies
The City has defined key competencies that leaders are expected to embody and demonstrate to successfully move the organization towards achieving its strategic objectives and create an organizational culture that supports and empowers employees to excel, grow and reach their full potential. These leadership competencies and associated behaviours are expected to be demonstrated by leaders at all levels of the organization.

Review the Leadership Competencies.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Language Requirement: English oral, reading, writing
• Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic requirements.
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The City of Ottawa provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted to proceed to the selection process, please advise us if you require any accommodation.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Please contact the HR Service Centre at 613-580-2424, extension 47411.