ABOUT CMHA BC DIVISION

The Canadian Mental Health Association British Columbia Division (CMHA BC) is a provincial leader in mental health, providing policy advocacy, province-wide programs, and public education to promote mental health for all British Columbians. As the provincial division of a national charity, CMHA BC develops and delivers innovative mental health initiatives while providing strategic leadership and support to a network of 14 local branches.

Our vision is "Mentally healthy people in a healthy society." CMHA BC directly administers numerous specialized provincial programs including family-focused programs, skill building initiatives, workplace mental health services, and system advocacy, reaching thousands of people annually. We also play a crucial role in system transformation through policy development, research, and government relations that drive mental health reform across BC. CMHA BC is committed to advancing the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by learning from and working with Indigenous partners, through a process of mutual respect and cultural humility, to ensure our programs are culturally safe and meaningful.

CMHA BC is now recruiting a Senior Director of Policy and Systems Transformation, a newly created senior role to provide strategic vision and leadership for transformative mental health and substance use policy reform across British Columbia.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Director of Policy and Systems Transformation is a strategic leadership position within CMHA BC, reporting directly to the CEO, Jonny Morris, and working closely with the Executive Director of Programs and other members of the executive team. This elevated role provides strategic vision and leadership for transformative mental health and substance use policy reform across British Columbia.

As CMHA BC expands its capacity for large-scale systems transformation, this newly created executive-level position builds upon and elevates the organization's existing policy work.

Working collaboratively with the Director of Policy and current policy teams, the Senior Director focuses specifically on macro-level systems change, provincial and national coalition building, and strategic partnerships with senior government officials and health authorities.

This position operates at a systems level - identifying macrotrends, building provincial and national coalitions, designing comprehensive transformation frameworks, and influencing system change.

The Senior Director leads CMHA BC's long-term reform agenda, collaborating with the CEO and Board to set the organization's policy direction and driving strategic initiatives that reshape mental health and substance use systems and structures.

The Senior Director will oversee a team of nine, including initial oversight of the CRCL (Crisis Response Community Led) crisis care initiative, coupled with initial budget oversight of approximately $10 million annual resources in transformational crisis care, policy and systems change initiatives.

As the organization's most senior policy strategist, the Senior Director provides thought leadership on transformational policy approaches, guides cross-sectoral collaboration initiatives, and develops innovative funding and governance models that can fundamentally redesign how mental health services are conceptualized, funded, and delivered throughout the province. This role serves as a key ambassador for CMHA BC's systems transformation vision with senior government officials, health authorities, community partners, and key decision-makers.

Key strategic policy priorities include advancing CMHA BC's comprehensive "Mental Health for All" roadmap with 31 actionable recommendations for creating a voluntary, integrated, and holistic system of care in BC, advocating for improved access to community based mental health services, influencing Mental Health Act reform, advancing peer employment models, and driving system-level responses to the toxic drug crisis.

Reporting directly to the CEO, Jonny Morris, the Senior Director will provide expert policy guidance to the CEO and the executive team on policy priorities and direction, ensuring all initiatives align with CMHA BC's established strategic plan and organizational vision. The Senior Director plays a key leadership role in implementing CMHA BC's strategic priorities to reach all British Columbians throughout their lifespan, uplift the voices of people with lived and living experience, and advance the human right to our best possible mental health.

LEADERSHIP

Jonathan (Jonny) Morris
Chief Executive Officer
CMHA BC

Jonny has more than 25 years of experience in community-based mental health services, policy and advocacy. He has research and practice experience in suicide prevention, is a trained counsellor and has taught child and youth care courses at the University of Victoria and Douglas College.

Jonny is committed to a vision of mental health for all, working at the Canadian Mental Health Association to lead system change efforts in preventing mental health problems, responding to crisis and improving care when people need to go to hospital. As an advocate for reducing stigma, he regularly speaks with workplaces, colleges, universities and communities about the opportunity to ensure mental health is a priority.

Previously, Jonny led the policy and legislation branch for BC's Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, helping build the newly formed ministry from the ground up, eventually leading the Policy and Legislation Branch as Senior Director. In this role, Jonny was responsible for providing advice on a range of complex policy and legislative initiatives, while leading several transformational mental health and addictions programs.

In his past role at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Jonny provided leadership for provincial mental health and substance use operations through the Association's provincial office and the branch network across British Columbia. His work focused on addressing systemic disparities between physical and mental health, campus mental health, the criminal justice system, systems transformation, policy and government relations.

Jonny comes at his work with lived experience personally and as a family member.

This is a tremendous new leadership opportunity to:

• Lead transformative mental health and substance use policy reform at provincial and national levels.

• Be a thought partner and strategic contributor to an exceptional and dynamic leadership team.

• Provide high-level guidance and support to a dedicated team of policy professionals and systems change advocates.

• Develop and implement sophisticated policy frameworks that influence government decision-making and drive system transformation.

• Bring a strategic lens to developing coalitions and collaborative approaches to complex mental health challenges.

• Join an exceptionally passionate and mission-driven team that is making tremendous impact in reshaping mental health care.

• Help address complex and evolving social and health policy issues at the highest levels of provincial government.

• Develop and expand on innovative approaches to transforming mental health and substance use systems across British Columbia.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Systems Transformation Strategy

• Lead the development of CMHA BC's long-term mental health systems transformation agenda, identifying structural barriers and designing comprehensive reform strategies that go beyond incremental program improvements.
• Design innovative governance, funding, and service delivery models that fundamentally reshape how mental health and substance use care is organized and delivered in BC.
• Develop cross-sectoral partnership frameworks that bring together health, housing, justice, education, and social service systems to create integrated approaches to complex mental health challenges.
• Analyze provincial, national, and international mental health systems to identify best practices and transformative approaches that could be adapted to the BC context.
• Provide strategic guidance to the CEO on emerging opportunities for system-level intervention and organizational positioning.
• Establish mechanisms to measure and evaluate systems change efforts, developing indicators and frameworks that track progress toward transformational goals.

Provincial and National Leadership

• Represent CMHA BC on high-level provincial and national forums focused on mental health and substance use system transformation.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with senior government officials, health authority leaders, and community partners to advance CMHA BC's transformation agenda.

• Build strategic alliances with other provincial and national organizations to create powerful coalitions for mental health system reform.

• Lead CMHA BC's participation in collaborative initiatives that have the potential to influence provincial mental health and substance use policy at a systemic level.

• Provide thought leadership through keynote presentations, position papers, and media engagement on transformative approaches to mental health care.

• Develop sophisticated influence strategies that build support for fundamental systems change among key decision-makers.

• Support the CEO with strategic policy insights and transformation opportunities that align with organizational priorities.

• Provide expert policy guidance to the CEO and the executive team on policy priorities and direction, ensuring all initiatives align with CMHA BC's established strategic plan and organizational vision.

• Engage the Board in challenging conversations and decision-making to advance CMHA BC's transformation impact.

Innovation and Research Leadership

• Establish a research and innovation hub within CMHA BC that explores cutting-edge approaches to mental health system design and service delivery.
• Develop partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and research organizations to strengthen the evidence base for transformational approaches.
• Oversee the development of policy frameworks, white papers, and system design models that advance innovative thinking in mental health care.
• Guide the evolution of non-traditional mental health initiatives into models for broader system reform.
• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and approaches that could fundamentally change how mental health services are designed and delivered.
• Create knowledge mobilization strategies that effectively communicate innovative ideas and research findings to influence system change.
• Direct the development of demonstration projects that test transformative approaches to mental health care delivery.

Strategic Investment and Funding Reform

• Develop innovative funding models that could reshape how mental health and substance use services are financed in BC.

• Identify opportunities for strategic investments that could catalyze system-level change in mental health care.

• Lead discussions with government officials and funders about new approaches to mental health funding that reflect recovery-oriented and person-centered principles.

• Analyze provincial budget allocations and funding mechanisms to identify leverage points for system transformation.

• Develop proposals for alternative payment models, social impact bonds, and other innovative financing approaches that could support transformative care models.

• Guide CMHA BC's long-term sustainability strategy for systems transformation initiatives. Strategic Guidance and Mentorship

• Provide strategic guidance that helps align policy work with broader transformation objectives.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Programs to identify how program innovations can inform, and advance systems change.

• Partner with the Senior Director Development and Communications on fundraising initiatives and sharing compelling narratives of CMHA BC's transformation work.

• Support the development of leadership capacity across CMHA BC on systems thinking, policy influence, and transformation approaches.

• Create opportunities for knowledge exchange and strategic dialogue among CMHA branches on systems transformation priorities.

• Identify emerging leaders within the organization and sector who demonstrate potential to advance the systems transformation agenda.

• Foster a culture of innovation, strategic thinking, and transformational leadership within CMHA BC.

• Work with the executive team to ensure organizational alignment around systems change priorities.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing policy and systems transformation team currently consisting of nine, with oversight of initiatives such as the CRCL crisis care program.

• Oversee current budget responsibilities of approximately $10 million in transformational policy and systems change initiatives, ensuring strategic resource allocation and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS

Desired Education & Experience

• Master's degree or higher in Public Policy, Health Systems, Public Administration, or related field (PhD preferred), or equivalent experience, training, and professional development.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in mental health policy, systems transformation, or health system redesign, with demonstrated leadership accomplishments, or equivalent experience, training, and professional development.
• At least 7 years of experience at a senior strategic level, with proven track record of influencing system-level change in health or social services, or equivalent experience, training, and professional development.
• Extensive experience in government relations, including work with senior government officials and administrators.
• Background in health system redesign, integrated care models, or cross-sectoral collaboration initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in building coalitions and partnerships for complex systems change.
• Experience developing innovative financing models, governance structures, or service delivery frameworks.
• Track record of thought leadership in mental health or health systems transformation.

Knowledge & Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of mental health and substance use systems, including governance structures, funding mechanisms, and policy levers for change.

• Sophisticated knowledge of health system design, integration approaches, and transformation frameworks.

• Advanced understanding of the BC political landscape, decision-making processes, and policy development pathways.

• Deep knowledge of emerging trends and innovations in mental health care nationally and internationally.

• Superior strategic thinking capabilities, with ability to envision and articulate transformative system changes.

• Exceptional relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior government officials and organizational leaders.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex system concepts into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.

• Advanced knowledge of implementation science, systems change theory, and complexity approaches to transformation.

• Understanding of community-led crisis response models and how they can inform broader system redesign.

• Knowledge of innovative funding approaches, including social finance, value-based payment, and cross-sectoral investment models.

Strategic Competencies

• Systems Leadership: Exceptional ability to understand complex systems dynamics and identify leverage points for transformative change.
• Strategic Influence: Sophisticated capacity to build support for system reform and effectively advocate for change at the highest levels of government and health authorities.
• Innovation Mindset: Demonstrated ability to envision alternative approaches, challenge conventional thinking, and develop creative solutions to complex system challenges.
• Coalition Building: Proven skill in bringing diverse stakeholders together around a shared vision for transformation.
• Policy Entrepreneurship: Ability to identify and capitalize on windows of opportunity for significant policy or system reform.
• Strategic Communication: Capacity to frame complex issues in compelling ways that resonate with decision-makers and mobilize support for change.
• Adaptive Leadership: Experience leading in complex, uncertain environments and adapting strategies as contexts evolve.
• Cross-Sectoral Thinking: Ability to work across traditional system boundaries to create integrated solutions to mental health challenges.

Competencies and Traits

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A passion for the CMHA BC mission and goals, and a keen desire to support mental health systems transformation.

• A big-picture perspective with strategic and connective mind to grasp trends and themes at the systems level.

• Accountability and transparency rooted in open communications; attuned to multidirectional communications and iterative feedback mechanisms.

• Flexible and adaptive manner and style; comfort with ambiguity yet a desire to create clear transformation frameworks and pathways.

• Supportive, available, and warm leadership style. Exceptionally strong change management and leadership abilities; a champion for transformational culture and performance management skills.

• A profound understanding and commitment to systems-level change and transformation approaches.

• Reflection and self-awareness; the ability to own mistakes and work on themselves as a leader. A learning orientation with strong ethics and clear values.

• Assertiveness and self-sufficiency, with the patience and persistence to move complex systems transformation initiatives forward.

• Collaboration and curiosity at the highest levels of government and organizational leadership.

Conditions of Employment:

• The successful candidate must undergo a provincial criminal record check, including the vulnerable sector check, prior to employment.
• Education credentials will also be subject to verification.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

• Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer
• Member of the executive team
• Works collaboratively with the Executive Director of Programs and Chief Operating Officer
• Leads a team focused on policy research, systems transformation, and innovation

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division maintains offices in downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria. This role may be based at either office, depending on the candidate’s location and preference.

• Minimum 3 days per week in-office presence required, with flexible work arrangements for remaining days.

• Regular travel within British Columbia is required to engage with stakeholders, government officials, and community partners.

• Occasional travel across Canada may be required to attend national meetings and conferences.

• Evening and weekend work may occasionally be necessary to support government relations activities, stakeholder consultations, and public presentations.

• The standard work week is 37.5 hours, with typical business hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

CMHA BC offers a welcoming and supportive work environment that promotes individual wellness and fosters staff development while driving meaningful impact through initiatives that support the mental health of all British Columbians.

• A supportive leadership culture committed to professional development and work-life balance
• Generous benefits, including:

o Extended health and dental coverage
o Health savings account
o Unlimited mental health benefits
o Membership in the Municipal Pension Plan
o Paid holidays and compensatory days off

• This position is governed by the compensation reference plan of the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC).
• In determining salary, CMHA BC considers factors such as the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and internal equity. The final salary offer will be at the sole discretion of CMHA BC and will form part of a competitive total compensation package.

Salary Range: $108,120.00 – $145,976.00
Typical Hiring Range: $125,000.00 – $135,000.00

APPLICATION TIMING AND SELECTION PROCESS

All submissions should be received by 4:30pm on Monday August 11th, 2025. Please apply with a cover letter/expression of interest and resume/CV in the same document to https://cmhabc.bamboohr.com/careers/84.

Early submissions and enquiries are encouraged and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

CMHA BC Division is committed to our workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work. As such, we encourage applications from persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the diversity of our staff. Personal experience with mental illness and or addiction, either through self or a loved one, is an asset.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. CMHA BC must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

TERRITORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We respectfully acknowledge xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Lkwungen (Songhees) and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) peoples on whose traditional, unceded lands the CMHA BC offices are located.