Director of Health Services Quality and Modernization

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse • Ottawa, ON

8h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Health Services Quality and Modernization (DHSQM) is a senior leadership role reporting to the Chief Science and Innovation Officer. The Director of Health Services Quality and Modernization is responsible for advancing innovative, client-centered, and evidence-informed health services and systems within the substance use health sector.

This role provides strategic direction for quality improvement, service transformation, modernization initiatives, performance excellence, and integrated care models that improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. It also strengthens provider, organizational, and system capacity by equipping teams, agencies, leaders, and decision makers with the tools, guidance, training, and resources needed to implement and sustain high-quality, evidence-informed practices and services.

The Director will lead organizational change efforts that strengthen accessibility, effectiveness, equity, and sustainability of health systems and services across the spectrum of substance use health care supports and services, including harm reduction, treatment pathways, and recovery supports. The incumbent will foster strong partnerships across the sector to successfully implement change, and work collaboratively across internal teams, government interest holders, healthcare and system partners, and community agencies.

This role requires the ability to work effectively in both English and French to support diverse interest holders, communications, and partnerships.

Requirements

• PHD or Master’s degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, community health, mental health, or substance use health services.
• Demonstrated success leading, implementing, and evaluating large-scale transformation, modernization, or quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic research leadership that drives innovation, informs decision-making, and delivers measurable organizational and system-wide impact.
• Experience working within publicly funded, not-for-profit, or government-regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of substance use systems, harm reduction approaches, recovery-oriented care, and integrated service models.
• Experience leading through complexity, ambiguity, and organizational change.
• The ability to work in both English and French.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and systems perspective.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical skills with experience using metrics and data to drive decisions.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and report-writing skills.
• High emotional intelligence and values-based leadership style.

Nice To Haves

• Registered health professional (i.e., registered social worker, psychologist, nurse, pharmacist)
• Experience working in or with governmental, non-governmental or international organizations

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year modernization strategy for substance use health services aligned with organizational priorities and emerging sector needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve programs, systems, and service pathways, and support sector partners to co-design and implement redesign efforts by providing evidence, tools, and practical implementation and evaluation supports to improve client experience, efficiency, and outcomes.
• Lead research initiatives within the field to strengthen the evidence base and evaluate the effectiveness of implementation strategies and programs.
• Lead innovation initiatives including digital transformation, integrated care models, virtual support, and data-enabled decision making.
• Monitor emerging trends, legislation, policy changes, and best practices in substance use health, mental health, and healthcare modernization.
• Provide strategic oversight of the team’s research, evaluation, and implementation projects, leveraging strong clinical knowledge and research expertise to ensure initiatives are evidence-informed, effectively executed, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to secure and grow external funding through strategic partnerships, grant acquisition, and investment opportunities that advance organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Establish and oversee a quality management framework focused on continuous improvement, risk reduction, safety, and measurable outcomes.
• Support provider and organizational quality improvement readiness, program evaluation, and quality assurance activities.
• Develop key performance indicators to monitor effectiveness and accountability.
• Promote a culture of learning, innovation, and evidence-based practice.
• Provide strategic oversight for programs and initiatives supporting evidence-based support and services across the continuum of care, including harm reduction, treatment and recovery.
• Ensure programs and initiatives are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, equitable, and person-centered.
• Support system transformation strategies that improve connections between health, social, and community services.
• Advance practices that reduce stigma and barriers to care.
• Build strong partnerships with government, hospitals, community agencies, primary care, public health, and Indigenous organizations.
• Represent the organization in sector tables, working groups, and strategic partnerships.
• Prepare executive briefings, reports, recommendations, and presentations for senior leadership and the Board as required.
• Support advocacy efforts related to health system improvements and service accessibility.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, and project teams.
• Foster accountability, engagement, collaboration, and innovation within teams.
• Support change management initiatives and strengthen leadership capacity across the organization.

Benefits

• Occasional exposure to psychological challenging conditions, such as deadline pressure, interpersonal conflict or extended work hours for which no additional compensation is provided
• Work performed in an office setup or from home (flex-hybrid model) environment, with occasional on-site presence and extended hours during events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree