Executive Director, PTSI Centre of Excellence

Runnymede Healthcare Centre is a dynamic and evolving 206-bed rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital passionately dedicated to serving the community in Toronto’s west end. The interprofessional team delivers comprehensive clinical services to help patients regain their functional abilities and confidently reintegrate into their communities. Runnymede cares for individuals requiring specialized treatment and daily support that exceeds the capabilities of home or long-term care settings. Runnymede’s innovative clinical programs address not just medical needs, but also mobility, social, and spiritual well-being. Guided by iCARE values, their dedicated staff delivers outstanding care to every patient. For nearly 80 years, Runnymede has been a trusted healthcare partner in west Toronto. The hospital constantly evolves to meet the needs of the community, setting a higher bar for holistic and innovative care.

Runnymede Healthcare Centre is developing Canada’s first dedicated Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) Centre of Excellence for First Responders and frontline healthcare workers. Recognizing the unique occupational experiences of those who serve and protect our communities, the Centre aims to address gaps in access to specialized mental health care through an integrated, rehabilitation-focused model supporting the full continuum of care, from prevention and treatment through recovery and return to work. The initiative will span two purpose-built facilities: Station No. 3434, an outpatient clinic in Toronto, and the Caledon Recovery Centre, a planned 40-bed residential facility in Peel Region. Together, these sites are intended to provide coordinated, trauma-informed care through a combination of clinical treatment, rehabilitation, peer support, and virtual care. Guided by the philosophy of “Back to Work – Back to Life,” the PTSI Centre of Excellence represents an ambitious opportunity to advance care for First Responders and frontline healthcare workers while establishing a model with the potential to inform practice more broadly across Canada.

Reporting to the Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Clinical Programs, the Executive Director will lead the development, implementation, and operationalization of the PTSI Centre of Excellence. This is a rare opportunity to translate an ambitious vision and functional plan into a sustainable, high-performing program, with accountability spanning clinical and operational model development, organizational infrastructure, workforce planning, partnerships, and performance measurement. From design and implementation through facility activation, opening, and operational stabilization, the Executive Director will bring together the people, systems, and resources required to establish the Centre and support its long-term success. The role will also shape the Centre's research, education, and knowledge-sharing strategy, establishing a culture of inquiry, innovation, and evidence-informed practice from the outset. Working in partnership with academic institutions, researchers, clinicians, and system partners, the Executive Director will champion the generation, evaluation, and translation of new knowledge, ensuring the Centre contributes meaningfully to advancing best practices in PTSI prevention, treatment, recovery, and return-to-work outcomes for First Responders and frontline healthcare workers.

The ideal candidate is a respected clinical and executive leader with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, or another related and relevant field, and a strong background in mental health, trauma or psychological health. Direct experience working with PTSI, Operational Stress Injury (OSI), or related first responder mental health populations is required, alongside the clinical credibility and understanding needed to lead specialized, multidisciplinary care. A proven builder, the successful candidate will have experience developing and operationalizing complex clinical programs or services, translating strategy into implementation, and establishing the operating models, teams, infrastructure, and partnerships required for sustainable success. They will combine strategic vision with operational discipline and bring the judgment to navigate complex healthcare environments and competing priorities.

The successful candidate will also be an accomplished relationship-builder, able to establish trust with clinicians, researchers, government and funding partners, healthcare leaders, and First Responder communities. Experience in Psychological Health and Safety (PHS) will be important, alongside a commitment to evidence-informed practice, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement. Above all, the successful candidate will be motivated by the opportunity to lead a significant new initiative and make a lasting contribution to the mental health and recovery of those who serve our communities.

This is a publicly advertised job posting for a new vacancy. Odgers does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.

To Apply

To fill this position, Runnymede Healthcare Centre has partnered with leadership advisory firm Odgers. Applications are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online at https://en-careers.odgers.com/en-ca/job/32247/

We would like to thank all applicants but regret that we are only able to personally contact those individuals whose backgrounds best match the requirements for the role.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Runnymede Healthcare Centre is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers and Runnymede Healthcare Centre throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Odgers is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our DEI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.