Executive Director

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Roberts Smart Centre (RSC) is seeking a passionate, people centred, and forward-looking leader as its next Executive Director (ED).  A community builder who is committed to advancing RSC’s mission of delivering safe, high-quality, trauma-informed mental health services for children and youth, the ED will play a critical role in strengthening culture, expanding partnerships, optimizing service utilization, and securing the resources required to meet growing community need.

Reporting to the Board of Directors and leading a skilled and committed management team that supports over 120 professional and front-line staff, the new Executive Director will be accountable for the overall leadership, sustainability, and performance of the organization.  As RSC enters a period of transition and opportunity, including the building of a new facility and evolving system expectations, the ED will lead efforts to strengthen internal capacity, enhance operational effectiveness, and foster a strong organizational culture, while advancing external partnerships and initiatives that create conditions for sustained success.

Strategically minded, collaborative, and impact-focused, the ED will partner with the Board to define direction and shape the organization’s next strategic plan.  Building on past successes and with an eye to future growth and development, this is a commitment to design programs, services, and partnerships that drive meaningful and lasting change for the young people RSC has been serving for over 50 years. 

The Executive Director will lead with a collaborative and inclusive approach, supporting and developing staff while fostering a strong, integrated team culture. As a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the ED will cultivate an environment where people of all individuals feel safe, supported, and empowered.

An experienced non-profit leader, the successful candidate will bring a strong foundation of external relations with demonstrated success creating and promoting partnerships and alliances.  The ED will strategically build and strengthen relationships with partners across the mental health sector including hospitals, children’s aid and family services, government and sector networks, community-based organizations, lead agencies, and all those supporting children, youth, and families across Ottawa and Ontario. 

ABOUT ROBERTS SMART CENTRE

The Roberts/Smart Centre (RSC) is an accredited, intensive treatment centre and the only bilingual tertiary mental health provider in Ontario. We are committed to empowering youth facing severe psychosocial challenges, often serving as their last line of defense after navigating numerous other services.  

With over 50 years of experience, our comprehensive, trauma-informed approach includes school-based programs, community support, live-in treatment, and specialized anti-human trafficking initiatives. At RSC, we strive to foster resilience and support young people to forge their paths to success.

Roberts Smart Centre’s story began in 1973, when Dr. C.A. Roberts and Mr. R.S. Smart, joined forces and founded the Ottawa Carleton Regional Residential Treatment Centre for the Ottawa Health Region.

The Centre quickly expanded and now operates:

• Secure Treatment Facility
• Two Open Live-In Treatment programs in a home setting
• School-based Mental Health and Day Treatment programs in schools across Eastern Ontario
• The Roberts/Smart Academy, a fully accredited private school
• CORATH (anti-human trafficking initiative)
• Therapeutic Camping and Outdoor Treatment
• Community Reintegration program
• Programs for families

Renamed the Roberts/Smart Centre in 1997, we provide treatment to youth from across Ontario dealing with complex mental health and behavioural challenges in a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment.  Our multi-disciplinary team includes psychiatrists, occupational therapists, clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, and child and youth counsellors who have special training in trauma-informed, client-centered, therapeutic crisis Intervention, and collaborative problem-solving.

Our approach to mental health treatment is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered. Through our programs and services, we help youth to recover and heal through treatment, education, and life-skills development.

After a detailed review of our care, governance, and safety standards, RSC achieved reaccreditation through 2029 by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation. For youth and families, this means knowing that the services they receive meet the highest standards of safety and quality. Accreditation also connects us with other accredited organizations across Ontario, giving us the chance to share knowledge and strengthen the care that young people depend on.

OUR MISSION

The Roberts/Smart Centre is a tertiary provider and provincial leader in the delivery of inclusive, community-based, individualized treatment and clinical services in both official languages to improve the lives of youth and their families from across Ontario living with complex mental health and behavioural needs.

OUR VISION

We envision a future in which youth with complex mental health and behavioural challenges receive innovative, highest quality, progressive and supportive treatment - when they need it and in the way they need it - to help them heal, learn, grow and live their full potential.

OUR VALUES

• Strength-based
• Individualized opportunity for youth
• Respect and collaboration
• Commitment to service excellence
• Cultural safety and sensitivity, inclusivity, and diversity
• Excellence in governance

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Secure Treatment Facility

Our Secure Treatment program is an intensive, live-in treatment option for youth ages 12-18 dealing with complex mental health and behavioural issues. Admission to our Secure Treatment Facility in Ottawa requires a court order and is open to youth from all over Ontario.

RSC is working with the Ministry of Health and the Health Capital Investment Branch team to continue to move forward plans for a new Secure Treatment Facility. This work aligns with the Provincial initiative to expand intensive services for youth with mental health challenges. This future space will give young people a modern, therapeutic environment designed to support healing and growth. It represents an important step toward ensuring that youth have the right setting to build skills, find stability, and prepare for brighter futures.

Open Live-In Treatment Centre

The Centre operates two open live-in programs for youth with mental health concerns. These programs are in urban homes in Ottawa. They exist to provide care in both official languages for those youth whose difficulties require treatment on a 24-hour basis. The program capitalizes on the “in-residence” component of intervention in providing a therapeutic milieu and programs related to lifestyle, education, and recreation.

Day Treatment Program

Day treatment provides youth with a therapeutic, structured, meaningful, and directed learning program. As these programs address the academic needs of the youth, they simultaneously provide support to the treatment plan of the student.

Roberts/Smart Academy

The Roberts/Smart Academy is open to youth aged 12-18, who come from Ottawa or elsewhere in the province, with mental health and behavioural needs that exceed what a traditional school setting could provide.

School-Based Mental Health

The RSC provides mental health services in local high schools through the School-Based Mental Health program. These services provide individualized, youth-driven support to teens within the school setting as well throughout the summer months where needed. Services provided focus on prevention, reduction, and support for mental health challenges.

Caregiver and Family Education and Support

Counsellors offer a family support group along with teaching an innovative, compassionate, and proven approach, called Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) that helps with understanding and supporting youth. Learning side-by-side with other caregivers and parents provides an optimum setting to shift understanding and learn a new ways of working with their child.

CORATH - Empowering Youth Experiencing Human Trafficking.

Creating Opportunities and Resources Against the Trafficking of Humans (CORATH) is a community program for youth aged 12 to 24 who have been or are at risk of being trafficked, notably through sexual exploitation.

2024-2025 RSC by the Numbers

At the Roberts/Smart Centre, our financial decisions reflect our values and our deep commitment to youth. We continued to direct our resources toward what matters most: supporting young people on their path to healing. As a result, our greatest investment remains in people. From front-line staff to clinical professionals and specialized teams, it is their care, expertise, and compassion that drive meaningful change. Prioritizing salaries, benefits, and professional supports is not just a financial choice - it is a recognition that our staff are the foundation of everything we do.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• About Roberts Smart Centre
• 2024-2025 Annual Report
• 2019-2024 Strategic Plan
• Ways to Give
• Day Treatment Programs
• CORATH
• Roberts Smart Academy
• School-Based Mental Health Programs
• Secure Treatment
• Open Live-In
• News

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy, Growth & System Leadership

• Working closely with the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership Team, lead the development and execution of multi year strategic and service plans that position RSC for sustainable growth and impact.
• Identify and advance growth opportunities, service transformations, and new models of care (e.g., virtual services, and capital planning).
• Anticipate and respond to emerging community and system needs, including increasing demand for child and youth mental health services.
• Ensure RSC’s programs, capacity, and infrastructure are aligned with regional and provincial system priorities.

Governance & Board Relations

• Maintain a strong, transparent, and productive relationship with the Board of Directors.
• Provide timely, accurate, and strategic reporting on organizational performance, risks, finances, and emerging issues.
• Support Board committees and ensure alignment with governance policies, by laws, ONCA, CRA and other regulatory requirements, and best practices.

Service Performance, Quality & Accountability

• Accountable for the delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality services in compliance with applicable legislation and standards, in partnership with the leadership and clinical/program teams.
• Oversee serious occurrence management, trend analysis, and continuous quality improvement practices.
• Maintain accreditation readiness and fidelity to evidence informed service models.
• Work with senior leaders to address operational barriers to service access, including improving referral pathways and maximizing service utilization.

People, Culture & Leadership

• Lead and model a healthy, accountable, and respectful organizational culture grounded in trust, transparency, and collaboration.
• Provide strong people leadership in a complex environment with a long organizational history and evolving relationships.
• Ensure the continued development and support of a cohesive, collaborative, effective and high-performing senior leadership team in relation to successfully meet strategic and annual operating objectives.
• Empower and support clinical, program, and operational leaders to succeed in their areas of expertise.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.

• Ensure effective staff assessment and individual and team performance.

• Promote psychological health and safety, ensure all required HR legislation and policy requirements are met and constructive labour management relations.

Partnerships, Funding & External Relations

• Build and sustain strong partnerships with hospitals, schools, child welfare, youth justice, primary care, funders, and community organizations to support coordinated access to care.
• Act as a primary external representative and relationship builder for RSC with government, funders, donors, and system partners. Attend and participate in external meetings, groups, and networks that support RSC’s growth and profile in the sector.
• Provide the leadership and long-term vision required to build capacity, ensure sustainability and increase RSC’s ability to diversify and increase revenue.
• Support revenue development efforts, including government funding relationships, grants, philanthropy, and corporate partnerships.
• Ensure RSC is viewed as a credible, collaborative, and solutions-oriented system partner.

Operations, Finance & Infrastructure

• Provide overall leadership for organizational operations, including annual budgeting, service targets, and financial stewardship.
• Ensure organizational resources are aligned with strategic priorities and service delivery goals.
• Ensure effective procurement, facilities management, and
• Strengthen digital infrastructure, including EHR/EMR systems, data governance, privacy, and information security.

Diversity, Inclusion & Access To Care

• Ensure services are responsive to the diverse cultural, linguistic, developmental, and social needs of children, youth, and families served by RSC.
• Foster an inclusive and respectful workplace where staff feel supported and equipped to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Identify and address barriers to equitable access, engagement, and utilization of services.
• Ensure organizational policies and practices reflect fairness, dignity, and respect for all individuals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Senior leadership experience in complex, multidisciplinary and/or unionized environments.
• Demonstrated success in non-profit or public sector organizational leadership, service growth, partnership development, and change management.
• An authentic interest in and commitment to RSC’s mission and the essential role of providing youth mental health care. Knowledge of the healthcare sector in Ontario is an asset.
• Experience reporting to and/or working directly with a Board of Directors.
• Proven experience building and leading high-performing teams in an inclusive, values-based, collaborative culture that strives for accountability and operational excellence.
• Knowledge and experience with not-for-profit governance, strategic and annual planning, financial management, and the oversight of operations and staff.
• Accomplished networker and relationship builder with experience representing an organization with diverse audiences, including staff, volunteers, community partners, donors, funders, and government.
• Experience with capital build projects or major organizational transitions is an asset.
• Strong financial, operational, and risk management capability with experience providing financial oversight and reporting on complex budgets.
• Aptitude to lead through complexity, inspire trust, and strengthen organizational culture.
• Strong ability to develop productive relationships through a visible, compassionate, supportive, and collaborative management style with both internal and external stakeholders
• Skilled in leading and managing change and encouraging and supporting teams in the development and implementation of new strategies and procedures.
• Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience leading in a unionized environment with knowledge and sensitivity regarding collective agreements is an asset.
• Ability to communicate in French is an asset.
• Graduate education in a relevant field (e.g., leadership, public or business administration, health or social services) is an asset; equivalent combination of education and senior leadership experience will be considered.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Robert Smarts Centre. For more information about this unique healthcare leadership opportunity, please contact Ellie Rusonik, Senior Vice President/ Lead, KCI Search + Talent by email at RSC@KCITalent.com.

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by June 15, 2026. 

To view the full executive brief, visit: www.kcitalent.com

Artificial intelligence will not be used to screen resumes or assess candidates in this search. This posting is for a current vacancy.

The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $170,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package including HOOPP.

Roberts Smart Centre embraces an environment aligned with our values: strength-based; individualized opportunity for youth; respect and collaboration; commitment to service excellence; cultural safety and sensitivity, inclusivity, and diversity; excellence in governance.

Roberts Smart Centre is committed to equitable and inclusive hiring practices. If you require accommodation, please notify the Search Consultant and they will work with you to meet your needs.