Executive Director & Chief Nursing Executive (RFT 1.0 FTE)

About The Royal

The Royal is a mental illness treatment, teaching and research hospital focused on patients with complex mental illness and addiction.

At The Royal, we provide treatment for people living with serious mental illness while advancing research to bring the most effective new discoveries into practice. We believe that mental illness does not define a person. Our goal is to help patients move beyond the labels and stigma, and to create opportunities for healing, growth and choice.

Through specialized programs, leading research and strong community partnerships, we work alongside people and families to create spaces of dignity and possibility—where recovery is real, and lives can be reclaimed.

The Royal operates in a highly regulated, publicly funded healthcare environment. We work closely with government, health system partners, and academic institutions. We are guided by our iCARE values: Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.

About the Role

The Royal’s Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) & Executive Director is an influential and values-driven senior leader shaping the future of nursing, clinical professional practice, and clinical support services. Reporting to both the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services (SVP), you’ll advance care quality, inspire teams, drive workforce development, and cultivate a culture of innovation, compassion, and collaboration across the organization. In this role, you will guide major portfolios including Nursing & Professional Practice (Allied Health), Pharmacy, Patient Relations, Lab & Diagnostics, Infection Prevention & Control, Spiritual Care, and clinical EPIC optimization. You will also co-lead, with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and SVP, the expansion of our clinical informatics capacity.

The Chief Nurse Executive champions our ICARE values by fostering innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect, and excellence, while promoting a safe, inclusive, equitable, and discrimination-free environment for patients, clients, and colleagues.

As the organization evolves to meet the goals of our SPARQ Strategic Plan, it is possible that realignment of responsibilities may take place.

Key Responsibilities:

Chief Nursing Executive

• Lead the future of nursing at The Royal by setting bold clinical and professional practice standards that elevate patient care across the organization.
• Drive innovation in nursing and allied health through evidence-based policies, modernized care protocols, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure nursing services and professional practice meet the highest regulatory and legislative standards, including CNO, RHPA, and Public Hospitals Act requirements.

Leadership & Governance

• In collaboration with Physician Leaders, ensure compliance with healthcare, mental health, and employment legislation while upholding accreditation standards and patient safety.
• Model ethical, collaborative and transparent leadership that builds trust with staff, physicians, patients, families, partners and Trustees.
• Establish effective governance, policies, and communication frameworks that enhance collaboration and represent The Royal at senior system planning tables.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Oversee operations to deliver high quality, patient-centered mental health care while fostering an engaged, supported, and empowered workforce.
• Lead sustainable budgeting and resource planning that balance innovation with operational excellence to advance clinical quality and team development.

People Leadership & Communication

• Champion interprofessional collaboration to break down silos and strengthen integrated, patient-centered care.
• Drive leadership development, talent strategies, and succession planning to build strong, interprofessional teams that support innovation and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Health/Business Administration, or related field; doctoral degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive clinical and leadership experience in healthcare, including substantial nursing, professional practice and hospital administration experience.
• 5–7 years of senior or executive leadership overseeing multiple teams, service lines, or portfolios.
• Knowledge of healthcare legislation, accreditation standards, risk management, privacy, and patient safety frameworks.
• Experience with digital tools, clinical informatics, and EHR optimization is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Bilingual (French/English) is considered a strong asset.

Compensation

Competitive executive compensation package, including salary and comprehensive benefits, commensurate with experience and qualifications.