Senior Medical Officer & Deputy Chief of Staff (RPT 0.6 FTE)

The Royal; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 220,000; Part time

Job summary

The Royal is seeking a Senior Medical Officer & Deputy Chief of Staff to join its leadership team. This role requires a licensed psychiatrist with significant clinical experience and leadership skills, focused on driving clinical quality, safety, innovation, and collaboration in mental healthcare. The successful candidate will lead strategic improvements and foster partnerships while shaping the future of mental healthcare in Ontario in a dynamic team environment.

Qualifications

• License or eligibility for a license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
• 10 to 15 years of clinical experience in the mental health field.
• At least five years in a senior leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Drive clinical transformation and service renewal.
• Strengthen system partnerships.
• Lead the modernization of medical leadership.
• Advance academic and research alignment.
• Implement technology and quality standards.
• Support a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Skills

Clinical excellence

Leadership

Collaboration

Operational governance

Quality and safety advancement

Academic collaboration

Education

Licensed psychiatrist

Job description

Position Information

Posting Number: ROM25-119E Title: Senior Medical Officer & Deputy Chief of Staff (RPT 0.6 FTE) Position Status: Regular Part-time FTE: 0.6 Job Schedule: Days Department: Corporate Leadership Union: Non-union Site: Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre Number of Vacancies: 1

About The Royal

As one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health science centres, The Royal has a clear purpose: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. This is at the core of everything we do and it is driven by the passion, focus and dedication of our employees. Every day, the work that we do transforms the lives of people with mental illness through specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research and education.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, with a secondary advisory relationship to the President and CEO, the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) is the most senior operational physician leader at The Royal and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. This newly created position brings together clinical credibility, operational leadership, and system integration at a pivotal moment for mental health care in Ontario.

The SMO will drive the advancement of a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable medical culture across The Royal. Working closely with three future Medical Directors and the Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services, the SMO will lead strategic improvements in clinical quality, physician engagement, medical education, and patient safety. The SMO will also help optimize the rollout of a new Health Information System (EPIC), modernize medical governance, and foster deeper integration between care, research, and education.

This is a rare opportunity to join a dynamic leadership team and shape the future of a leading academic mental health centre, strengthening partnerships, driving innovation, and advancing excellence in care.

Key Leadership Priorities Include

Drive clinical transformation and service renewal: Champion care redesign that improves access, supports accountability and interprofessional collaboration, and better reflects the needs of patients, families, and communities.

Strengthen system partnerships: Build clear care pathways with hospitals, primary care, and community agencies to support integrated mental health care across the region

Lead the modernization of medical leadership: Support a cohesive, high-performing medical leadership team, with a strong focus on performance, professionalism, and shared purpose.

Advance academic and research alignment: Foster stronger collaboration with the University of Ottawa and The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research to support research, innovation and education.

Implement technology and quality standards: Ensure the successful adoption and sustainment of EPIC, while advancing data-informed decision-making and consistent clinical standards.

Support a culture of learning and continuous improvement: Create an inclusive, forward-thinking environment where medical staff are supported in their growth and where interprofessional collaboration thrives.

The Person

Role

You are a psychiatrist licensed or eligible for a license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, with 10 to 15 years of clinical experience in the mental health field and at least five years in a senior leadership role. You bring:

A track record of advancing quality, safety, and clinical innovation in complex healthcare environments

Operational and governance experience in mental health, including inpatient and outpatient services

The ability to lead through influence, inspire clinical excellence, and build trust across disciplines

Experience supporting medical education and a commitment to academic collaboration

A systems mindset, inclusive leadership style, and a strong commitment to equity and patient-centred care

To confidentially explore this opportunity, please email your resume, quoting the position title, to [e-mail]. An Executive Brief is available upon request.

Additional Information

• All applicants must provide a recent resume that clearly indicate that they meet the required qualifications.
• Please apply by clicking on the Apply button below.
• The Royal sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in a career with us; however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
• All new hires will be required to obtain a clear and valid Criminal Record or Vulnerable Sector Records Check as a pre-condition of employment.
• The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group is committed to equity and inclusion in the workplace. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that a diverse workforce enhances the quality of care and organizational strength. We encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities and welcome individuals from all backgrounds. Upon request, accommodations due to disability are available throughout the recruitment process.