About YOU

You are a visionary and values-driven leader with a passion for improving services that support children, youth, and families. With expertise in clinical strategy, service design, evaluation, and quality improvement, you bring a systems-thinking approach to your work—building frameworks and processes that ensure services are high-quality, equitable, and aligned with system priorities. You use data and evidence to drive continuous improvement and translate strategy into action. A natural collaborator, you work across teams to embed best practices into everyday service delivery. Guided by a commitment to inclusion, equity, and excellence, you’re motivated by impact—creating meaningful change that empowers staff and helps people thrive. You’re not just focused on systems—you care deeply about the people those systems serve.

About ROCK

ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) is recognized as the number one non-profit employer of choice, leading the way in providing mental health services to children, youth, and families in the Halton region. We are an accredited organization with exemplary standings from Accreditation Canada, reflecting our commitment to high-quality care. Our dynamic and collaborative team is dedicated to achieving our mission and vision, fostering a positive and inclusive environment that mirrors the diversity of the community we serve. At ROCK, we offer various professional development opportunities, company events, and a supportive culture that encourages innovation and growth. ROCK is site certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical problem solving. Our hybrid work model provides flexibility, combining on-site and virtual environments, to best meet the needs of our staff and clients. Join us in making a meaningful impact in mental health care.

This is Contract Full-time position till March 31, 2027.

The ROLE

Strategic Service Development

• Lead development of service design frameworks and innovative models of care.

• Conduct environment scans, identify sector trends, and recommend strategies to adapt and strengthen the service continuum.

• Provide consultation to program leaders in applying evidence-based practices and emerging approaches.

Quality & Standards

• Develop and oversee the agency’s quality improvement and clinical practice frameworks.

• Support the leadership of accreditation readiness and ensure compliance with professional, regulatory and funder requirements

• Establish systems for monitoring service performance against benchmarks.

• Translate standards into practical tools, training, and processes for staff, supporting consistent day-to-day implementation

• Ensure compliance with the specific requirements of Section 27 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as any further health and safety responsibilities outlined in the agency’s policy and procedure documents

Program Evaluation

• Design and implement an agency-wide program evaluation framework that measures service outcomes, client experience, and community impact.

• Partner with data, IT and program teams to collect, analyze, and interpret outcome data.

• Translate evaluation findings into actionable insights to inform decision-making, strategic planning and system advocacy.

• “Act as the bridge between system strategies and frontline operationalization.

• Support directors in embedding evaluation into service delivery, ensuring staff understand and use data for continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with external partners and funders to align evaluation approaches with sector-wide priorities.

Equity, Client-Centred & Inclusive Approaches

• Embed equity, diversity, cultural safety, and accessibility principles into service strategy, evaluation and quality frameworks.

• Establish processes to integrate client/family voice and lived experience into service design and measurement.

• Work with program leaders to co-design and implement equity-driven initiatives that reduce access barriers.

Collaboration & Leadership Support

• Act as a subject matter expert and advisor to the VP Services and directors.

• Works closely with the Vice President of Services to implement the VP’s clinical and service

• Partner with directors and managers to implement quality improvement and evaluation plans, without direct line management of staff.

• Provide training, tools, and coaching to leaders and teams on evaluation, quality improvement, and evidence-informed practice.

• Represent the agency on system planning tables, research/evaluation collaborations, and quality/standards working groups.

• Other duties as may reasonably be assigned

Who we’re looking for:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Nursing or related clinical discipline (PhD or equivalent asset).

• MBA or comparable advance degree in management, administration or health leadership

• 8+ years of progressive senior leadership in service design, quality, or program evaluation within health, mental health or social services.

• Demonstrated expertise in program evaluation, quality improvement, and accreditation.

• Strong knowledge of children’s services and Ontario’s policy/funding environment.

• Proven ability to influence without direct authority, and to work collaboratively across portfolios.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking & Innovation: Anticipates system trends and develops proactive service strategies.

• Evaluation & Evidence Use: Designs evaluation frameworks and translates data into actionable insights.

• Quality & Accountability: Champions accreditation, standards, and continuous improvement.

• Equity & Inclusion: Ensures fairness, accessibility, and cultural humility in all frameworks.

• Collaboration & Influence: Builds alignment across leaders and stakeholders without direct line authority.

• Advisory Leadership: Acts as a trusted advisor to senior and program leaders.

Additional Requirements**:**

• Current (within 3 months) criminal reference check and after every three (3) years

• Ability to work flexible and extended hours

Our rewards ROCK, join our team and ENJOY:

Our rewards ROCK, join our team and ENJOY:
Flexibility: Plan your schedule to balance with your personal life.

100% employer paid premiums for extended health and dental benefits. (Contract >1 year; you need to be exclusively working with ROCK)
Recharge: Paid time off, Vacation time, and 2 additional ROCK holidays.
Learning: Access to professional development assistance to help you grow.
Wellness: Health Care Spending Account and discounted GoodLife memberships.

Be part of a team that makes a difference. Apply today and help us shape the future of mental health care for children, youth, and families!

ROCK is committed to fostering a positive and progressive workforce reflecting the community we serve and promoting diversity at all levels in a dynamic and inclusive environment. We provide equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and ROCK’s Accommodation Policy.

If you are invited to participate in the interview process and require accommodation for the interview, we ask that you provide your accommodation request as soon as reasonably practicable. Please be advised that you may be requested to provide verifiable supporting information, such as medical or other documentation depending upon the type of Code-protected accommodation, to Human Resources to ensure that appropriate accommodation is provided to you throughout the hiring process. ROCK treats all accommodation requests confidentially.

Please note that ROCK positions are currently working in an on-site and virtual hybrid model. Positions are located in the Halton Region and travel between sites may be required.