Lead Mental Health Programming for Ontario's Justice Sector
Are you a licensed mental health leader with a passion for building innovative programs and supporting professionals in high-pressure, trauma-exposed environments?
The Ministry of the Attorney General is seeking a
Senior Manager, Mental Health Services to lead the development of a new Mental Health Support Services Unit within the Human Resources Strategic Business Unit. In this role, you will design and deliver mental health programs that support employees across the justice system, providing trauma-informed services that strengthen well-being across the justice workforce.
If you thrive in building programs from concept to delivery and are driven to create psychologically safe workplaces, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact.
The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, together.
A career in the Ontario Public Service is driven by a passion for creating a stronger Ontario. If you share this ambition, we are fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where employees have the tools and opportunities they need to be fulfilled and inspired to move Ontario forward. Our leaders enjoy:
- Purpose-driven culture: Be part of a dynamic leadership team dedicated to serving 15 million Ontarians. Your leadership will drive long-term impact and contribute to public service excellence.
- Empowering work environment: Thrive in an inclusive and diverse workplace that reflects the population we serve. Enjoy a culture of holistic well-being, flexibility, and safety, with tailored work arrangements to suit your life stage. Our modern, friendly, and accessible workplaces support you in bringing your authentic self to work and exploring your full potential.
- Expansive leadership opportunities: Benefit from endless growth opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to lead across various sectors. In the Ontario Public Service, your leadership journey can span multiple ministries and functions.
- Recognition and Rewards: Your efforts will be recognized both formally and informally, ensuring you feel valued and supported. We offer competitive salaries with performance-based pay, a defined-benefit pension plan, and comprehensive benefits that support your holistic wellness. Enjoy a range of vacation and leave options, along with access to employee and family assistance programs and inclusive counselling services.
At the Ontario Public Service, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. As a leader, you'll be at the forefront of creating a dynamic work environment that sparks innovation, fosters collaboration, and champions inclusivity. We value a diverse, anti-racist, and accessible workplace where everyone feels safe and respected. By embracing these values, you'll help build a vibrant team culture where every individual can thrive. Your leadership will inspire and motivate your team to achieve their best, aligning their efforts with our strategic vision.
To succeed in this role, you will:
- Lead the design and implementation of a new mental health services program for Ministry of the Attorney General employees
- Deliver oversight and ensure services align with professional standards and ministry needs
- Provide strategic and informed advice to senior leadership on mental health services, risks, and approaches
- Develop and deliver programming to build awareness, trust, and support early intervention
- Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external partners to support coordinated care and referrals
- Oversee program operations and evaluation to ensure effective delivery and continuous improvement
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment
Meet Your New Team
The
Mental Health Support Services team will be a new unit supporting the well-being of Ministry of the Attorney General employees. The team will deliver trauma-informed, justice-aware support designed for high-pressure, trauma-exposed environments, promoting access to care, reducing stigma, and strengthening psychologically safe workplaces.
Why join us
- Build a program from the ground up that supports the mental health and well-being of justice sector professionals
- Drive meaningful culture change by reducing stigma and strengthening psychologically safe workplaces
- Lead purpose-driven work supporting trauma-exposed employees in a collaborative, high-impact environment.
- Professional Designation: You are a registered and licensed mental health professional in good standing with your Ontario regulatory body (e.g., psychologist, psychotherapist, social worker, nurse).
- People Management: Leads and develops a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing environment.
- Coaching & Development: Provides clear direction, mentorship, and support to strengthen team capacity and sustain performance.
- Program Leadership: Builds and implements services from the ground up, demonstrating initiative, sound judgment, and autonomy.
- Mental Health Expertise: Strong clinical knowledge, including trauma-informed approaches and experience supporting trauma-exposed workers.
- Program Development & Delivery: Designs, implements, and evaluates mental health or social service programs from concept through to execution.
- Operational Oversight: Manages program activities, priorities, and continuous improvement in complex, high-stakes environments.
- Strategic Advisory & Communication: Provides clear, clinically informed advice and delivers briefings with credibility and tact.
- Relationship Building: Builds strong partnerships with internal partners and external service providers to support integrated care.
- Influence & Engagement: Engages leaders and staff through presentations, coaching, and training to promote awareness and early support.
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
Think this role could be right for you?
We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:
• Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
• Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage.
Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.
Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:
- diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- accessibility
- Anti-Racism Policy
