**DISCLAIMER: TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS JOB, PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY FROM MHCC'S CAREERS PAGE.**

Reports To: Vice President, External Affairs and Development

Status: Permanent Full-Time

Location: Ottawa, ON – Hybrid (up to 2 days per week in office)

Salary: $125,989 - $140,709

Application Deadline:

October 7, 2025 (Interviews may be held prior to application deadline)

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

Established in 2007 by the Government of Canada, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is a not-for-profit, pan-Canadian Health Organization committed to reducing stigma and improving access to quality mental health and substance use services across Canada. The MHCC collaborates with leading experts, nationally and internationally, including with people with lived and living experience, to develop national standards and strategies, promote innovation, enhance mental health literacy, and advise and support all levels of government and mental health partners to improve mental health outcomes for those living in Canada.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The External Affairs and Development (EAD) team is a trusted resource at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, strategically growing the organization’s influence and impact with decision makers including interest holders, system leaders, and governments to advance MHCC’s priorities, programs and initiatives. The EAD team champions and promotes MHCC programs, policy solutions, strategic initiatives, and best national and international practices to decision makers and key audiences who are best positioned to adopt and act on these priorities.

Reporting to the Vice President, External Affairs and Development (EAD), the Director, External Affairs will oversee a small team of professional external affairs leaders to develop and deliver MHCC’s outreach and engagement efforts with federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments as well as with key partners and leaders in the mental health sector to advance organizational priorities. The position requires the ability to develop productive relationships with senior representatives in governments and community partners across a range of issues while also tracking, monitoring and analyzing emerging issues and trends that influence and impact MHCC priorities, ensuring appropriate engagement responses.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and External Engagement

• Provide leadership, direction and oversight of a professional External Affairs team, ensuring role clarity and alignment with departmental and organizational objectives.
• In collaboration with the Vice-President, EAD, design and deliver a range of engagement strategies and campaigns to advance organizational priorities.
• Develop networks and hold senior relationships with federal, provincial and territorial governments, the mental health community and key partners in relevant sectors.
• Ensure strategic alignment between MHCC’s public campaigns and engagement strategies, and MHCC’s annual priorities and workplan.
• Build and deliver engagement strategies to leverage the President and CEO and senior staff to advance external affairs objectives.
• In collaboration with the Director, Marketing and Communications, support paid and earned media engagement, responses and messaging to position the Commission in accordance with our strategic objectives.
• Facilitate horizontal collaboration within MHCC in issue management, policy development, partner engagement and communications.
• Oversee MHCC’s work serving francophone populations and linguistic minorities.
• Support the Partnership and Operations team within EAD to advance MHCC’s path forward with respect to reconciliation and Indigenous engagement

Supporting People and Organizational Leadership

• Overseeing all aspects of people management including development, coaching, goal setting, and performance feedback.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining departmental policies, procedures, and training standards.
• Model the MHCC values, particularly around diversity and inclusion, team leadership as well as psychological and physical health, safety and wellness.
• Collaborate across teams within the department and across the MHCC.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Financial Oversight and Governance

• Manage annual budgeting and reporting processes including reports to the MHCC Board of Directors.
• As required, represent the Commission on committees and working groups.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proven track record in developing and executing government relations and outreach and engagement initiatives and campaigns.
• People leadership, mentorship and team development and growth.
• Superb writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated analytic skills and strong ability in the areas of collaboration, negotiation, facilitation, and engagement.
• Knowledge of provincial/territorial/federal government health landscape
• An established network with the mental health, health, and /or government sectors.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory skills and commitment to leadership objectives consistent with the MHCC’s core values.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to large and small audiences.
• Project management and organizational skills
• Proactively determine task priorities and workflow organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree with at least seven (7) years of experience and outstanding achievement in the fields of outreach and engagement and partner relations, or equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated experience in leading external affairs initiatives preferably in the not-for-profit sector.
• Minimum of five (5) years progressive senior management experience in supervising a multi-disciplined team.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health issues is an asset.
• Proficiency in both official languages (English and French) is required.

COMPETENCIES

• Values and Ethics
• Respectful of Diversity
• Continuous Learning
• Results Management
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Risk Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Finance and Budget
• Team Leadership
• Psychological and Physical Health, Safety and Wellness
• Oral/Written Communication

PHYSICAL/COGNITIVE DEMANDS:

• Extended periods of time spent in meeting type settings. Extended visual requirements (five (5) plus hours) due to computer related work.
• Extended periods of time spent in sitting position (computer work, meetings etc. five (5) plus hours).
• High requirement in the ability to effectively divide attention to numerous duties and responsibilities.
• Flexibility of work hours to ensure deliverables are met in a fast-paced environment of changing/conflicting priorities and high deadline demands. High degree of concentration required.
• Highly attentive to details.
• High level exposure to extended travel requirements (up to 10-15% and greater at times) and extension of work-day beyond 7.5 hours.
• High analytical and interpretive requirements.
• Must be comfortable working in both open space and/or virtual environments.
• Must be able to work effectively from home temporarily or as needed; including the availability of reliable internet and working environment (desk, chair etc.); please note that the Commission does not reimburse for internet, utilities or other home office type expenses including desks, chairs etc.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEMANDS:

• Continuously deadline driven requirements.
• High level of multitasking.
• High exposure to stress resulting from output requirements.
• High level requirement to maintain concentration for extended periods of time in order to perform analysis and interpretation of data and minimize errors.
• Capacity to effectively organize and prioritize own work.
• Responsive to possible rapid changes in priorities.
• Adaptable to change (organization and work level).
• High degree of emotional intelligence required in order to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.
• Performance goals and objectives are established yearly and regularly reviewed.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Head Office of the Mental Health Commission of Canada is located on the unceded, traditional Territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation in what is now called Ottawa, Ontario. We acknowledge that for thousands of years, the Algonquin People protected these lands, the Ottawa River Watershed, and its tributaries. As a national organization, we also acknowledge that we work on the traditional lands of many different nations. Today, a path to truth and reconciliation begins with recognizing both the stewardship and the sacrifices of the original peoples. We are committed to recognizing the errors of the past, acknowledging the challenges of the present, and contributing to a new and equitable relationship with the First Peoples.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada is committed to diversity in the workplace and workplace well-being. As such, applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds such as; First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, members of a visible minority group and those with lived experience of mental health problems or illnesses are welcomed and encouraged.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Accessible formats and communication support for applicants are available upon request by contacting People and Culture at hr@mentalhealthcommission.ca.

While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.