Ottawa Salus Corporation is a charitable organization, who for over 30 years has promoted the rehabilitation of adults, 16 years of age or older, in the Ottawa area who are recovering from mental illness. One out of five Canadians suffers from this at some time so the constituency which Salus serves is enormous.

Ottawa Salus was started in the 1970's by a committee of concerned parents, social workers, and doctors. They were reacting to the lack of community services for people who were being discharged from hospitals during the first wave of de-institutionalization following the discovery of psychotropic medication.

Ottawa Salus Corporation offers rehabilitation services, community support services, individualized, intensive case management services, recreology and occupational therapy along with housing to men and women recovering from mental illness.

Despite the lack of models for supportive housing, the committee determined that supports were necessary for people to regain their health. Accordingly, they purchased a rooming house in Centretown using their own money and staffed it with volunteer labour. Government money was eventually received to fund this first group home and all the other housing that Salus has purchased since. The name "Salus" (meaning health) embodied the vision that this planning group had for their housing.

Ottawa Salus now employs a team of 80 dedicated employees with a 2008-2009 operating budget of $6 million and supports over 235 tenants in 12 buildings and 261 clients in the community. The Ottawa Salus Corporation is looking for an experienced, highly credible professional with a strong social conscience to fill the senior position of Executive Director, based in Ottawa.

Under the policy guidance of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director manages the affairs of the Organization, and develops, implements and evaluates its programs. He / she manages the organization’s finances, staff, and properties as well as maintains liaison at the executive level with community organizations and funding agencies. He / she supports the Board of Directors and its accountable committees. The Executive Director provides supervision and leadership to the 7 Managers in order to ensure the delivery and development of quality services within the agency’s framework of mission, goals and strategic plan.

Education:
• Masters degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Health Administration, or Business Administration is preferred

Experience:
• Significant leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector (social services and/or health related organization)
• Demonstrated experience in board and committee work, program planning and implementation, public relations and community liaison work.
• Significant experience managing staff in a social services agency including development and implementation of personnel policies, administering/ negotiating collective agreements.
• Sound experience in financial management including budget planning and execution, financial statements, etc.

Knowledge:
• Wide-ranging knowledge of all aspects of the mental health field and of relevant legislation
• Comprehensive knowledge of the social housing field and of relevant legislation

Competencies:
• Passion for Salus’s Values, Vision and Mandate
• Management excellence
• Integrity and trust
• Cross-cultural agility
• Communication
• Financial acumen
• Teamwork
• Planning and organization
• Resource and fiscal management
• Strategic agility

Pre Hiring Requirements:
• Criminal reference check

Languages:
• French and English required