Posting closes: May 13, 2026 at 5:00pm

About Us:

The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. We serve everyone from children to adults to seniors, all under one roof. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 400 staff at offices in Cambridge, Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Fergus, and Mount Forest.

We are fully accredited by Accreditation Canada and our proud of our Exemplary Status (the highest standing) received at our most recent accreditation exercise.

Why Join our Team:

Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Our compensation package includes a competitive salary and generous benefits supporting the wellness of our staff. We are proud to be members of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) offering one of Canada’s largest and most respected defined benefit plans.

Career Development Opportunities: Our wide range of services and supports allows for varied opportunities for career growth. Our multi-disciplinary approach to care offers cross collaboration and enhanced opportunities for learning. A formal succession planning process is key to our internal leadership recruitment.

Values that include: Mutual Respect, Accountability, Integrity and Excellence and Innovation and a culture that is welcoming and inclusive.

Commitment to Health and Safety: We have a strong health and safety culture at CMHA WW and work tirelessly to address the health and safety needs of staff and the people we serve.

The Opportunity:

We are recruiting for a Manager, Quality, Risk and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)

• This is a regular full-time newly created position (minimum of 35 hours per week Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) based in Guelph.

The Manager, Quality, Risk & Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) provides strategic and operational leadership to advance the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington’s (CMHA WW) commitment to client safety, quality of care, and effective risk management across community-based mental health and addictions services. Guided by organizational quality, risk, and IPAC frameworks, this role leads the development and implementation of evidence-based, client-centered practices that support safe, consistent, and high-quality care in non-hospital environments.

The Manager, Quality, Risk & IPAC leads integrated quality improvement, risk management, and infection prevention initiatives adapted to diverse service settings, including shared program spaces, outreach, drop-in services, client homes, and group-based care. Key responsibilities include policy and tool development, surveillance, audits, education, Quality of Care Reviews, incident and outbreak response, and continuous improvement activities informed by data and emerging risks.

The Manager, Quality, Risk & IPAC works closely with leadership, clinical teams, and cross-functional committees to strengthen organizational readiness, support Accreditation Canada requirements, and embed a culture of safety, accountability, and learning in alignment with CMHA WW’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Key Responsibilities

Preparation of Quality-of-Care Review Documents

• Conduct thorough and detailed reviews of client case files, analyzing clinical information and relevant data to extract key insights in alignment with the Quality-of-Care Review (QCR) Framework.
• Prepare comprehensive QCR documents that synthesize findings, identify risks, and support informed decision-making by assessors and leadership.
• Disseminate draft QCR documents to assessors, ensuring clarity, completeness, and adherence to organizational standards, and deliver finalized documents.
• Track and support follow-up on system-level recommendations through the Risk Register, ensuring corrective actions are implemented, monitored, and reported on effectively.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of QCR processes, tools, and templates, ensuring documentation is both accurate and actionable.

Facilitate and Support Training in Risk Incident Reporting

• Lead and deliver training for staff on risk incident reporting, promoting a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability.
• Provide hands-on support to staff in completing risk reports during incidents or complaints, ensuring timely and accurate documentation.
• Review, analyze, and finalize incident reports following Quality of Care Reviews, identifying trends, patterns, and potential mitigation strategies to reduce future risk.
• Collaborate with leadership to enhance reporting processes and improve staff confidence and competency in risk management practices.

Support Scheduling and Management of Quality-of-Care Reviews

• Coordinate and manage scheduling for all Quality-of-Care Review activities, ensuring assessments are timely, well-organized, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Support the scheduling and availability of the relevant leadership, and expert external clinical consultation for QCR assessments, anticipating and resolving conflicts to maximize efficiency.
• Serve as a central point of communication between leadership, reviewers, and staff to ensure smooth execution of QCR schedules and related follow-ups.
• Continuously evaluate scheduling processes and tools, recommending improvements to optimize workflow and support organizational effectiveness.

Infection Prevention & Control Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) and infection-related risk portfolio across all CMHA WW sites and community-based programs.
• Develop and maintain community-specific IPAC guidelines that reflect client mobility, fluctuating engagement, shared program environments, and harm-reduction practices.
• Ensure IPAC policies align with national and regional public health guidance, evidence-based best practices, and organizational requirements, including Accreditation Canada Required Safety Practices (RSPs).
• Provide strategic IPAC and infection-related risk advice to Senior Leadership, including emerging infectious disease trends and risks specific to substance use, congregate living, outreach, and community mental health settings.

Infection Risk Consultation and Outbreak Management

• Act as the expert advisor for community-based outbreaks and infection concerns affecting clients and staff, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin/soft tissue infections.
• Support teams in interpreting diagnostic tests, identifying communicability periods, and applying appropriate precautions in environments where full isolation may not be feasible.
• Provide specialized consultation for clients with complex co-occurring needs, including immunocompromised individuals, high-risk substance use, and behavioural factors impacting infection control.
• Apply recognized IPAC specialist competencies, including differentiating colonization versus infection and interpreting laboratory results.
• Provide coaching and guidance during high-risk or rapidly evolving scenarios, such as suspected outbreaks, overdose responses involving biohazard exposure, or uncontrolled community environments.

Surveillance, Auditing, and Quality Improvement

• Lead an IPAC surveillance system tailored to community-based programming, including monitoring infection trends, environmental cleaning practices, sharps and needle disposal risks, shelter-style exposures, and group program incidents.
• Conduct IPAC audits in community settings, ensuring infection control measures are practical, portable, and adaptable to diverse physical environments.
• Prepare regular IPAC and infection-risk reports for organizational leadership and public health partners, ensuring compliance with regulatory, reporting, and accreditation requirements.
• Support continuous quality improvement initiatives by integrating IPAC findings into broader organizational risk, safety, and quality frameworks.

Education, Training, and Program Capacity Building

• Develop and deliver IPAC education and training tailored to community Mental Health and Addictions environments, including direct service staff, administrative staff, and leadership.
• Educate staff on infection prevention principles relevant to harm-reduction services, home visits, shared program supplies, crisis intervention, and outreach work.
• Build and sustain a network of program-level IPAC champions to strengthen local capacity and reinforce infection prevention practices across services.

Incident Review, Risk Assessment, and System Integration

• Lead infection-related risk assessments in community settings, considering factors such as client unpredictability, variable housing conditions, environmental constraints, and congregate programming.
• Review infection-related client safety incidents and staff exposure events in collaboration with Quality and Risk leadership, contributing to corrective action planning and follow-up.
• Integrate infection prevention risks into organizational risk management processes, supporting system-level mitigation and learning.

Job Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Post‑secondary degree in a health-related or social science discipline (e.g., Public Health, Nursing, Health Administration, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, or related field) required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Five to seven (5–7) years of progressive experience in quality improvement, risk management, patient/client safety, and/or infection prevention and control within healthcare or community-based services.
• Experience working in community mental health, addictions, public health, or congregate living environments considered an asset.
• Certification in Infection Control (CIC), Canadian Risk Management (CRM), CPPS, or equivalent considered an asset.
• Experience supporting Quality of Care Reviews, incident review processes, and Accreditation Canada standards considered an asset.
• Valid G Class driver’s license, access to reliable vehicle, and appropriate insurance.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of quality improvement, risk management, and IPAC principles, with ability to apply them in non-hospital, community-based settings.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret incident data, surveillance findings, and risk trends.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of reports, briefings, and recommendations for leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with ability to manage competing priorities.
• High level of professional judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when managing sensitive information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort using data and reporting tools.
• Ability to work effectively in complex, evolving community environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to service excellence, client safety, and continuous improvement.
• Embody CMHA WW values: Mutual Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence, and Innovation.

If you are interested in this position, please submit a resume and cover letter in one document outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience meet the position requirements.

Compensation: Level 8 (Non-Union) $46.37 to $56.33 per hour ($84,393.40 to $102,520.60 annually)

CMHA WW, as an equal opportunity employer, embraces diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to attract, develop and retain talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all qualified persons.

• We do not use AI in our screening process.