Job Title: Director, Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre

Competition Number:

Administrative Unit: Counselling Center

Immediate Supervisor: Dean, Faculties of Human Sciences and Philosophy

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time (Non-Unionized)

Work Schedule: 35 hours per week

Salary Scale: Level 11 - ( - $ )

In this document, the masculine pronoun is used without discrimination and only for conciseness.

Saint Paul University (1848) is the founding college of the University of Ottawa, with which it has maintained a federated relationship since 1965. Bilingual and on a human scale, it has more than 1,000 students. It offers programs in Social Communication, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Canon Law, Public Ethics, Conflict Studies, Theology, Human Relations, Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, and Social Innovation. Saint Paul University offers an environment conducive to professional growth and competitive benefits.

Saint Paul University is known for its integration of learning and research with social engagement, resulting in a unique student experience. It participates in dialogue on contemporary issues and is committed to social justice.

SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Dean of the Faculties of Human Sciences and Philosophy, the Director is responsible for developing a strategic vision and ensuring its implementation. The Director's main objective is to fulfill the mandate of the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy:

1. Train master's, graduate diploma, and doctoral students in counselling and spirituality by providing a supervised framework for applying their clinical knowledge and skills with clients.
2. Serve the community by offering accessible, bilingual (French and English) psychotherapy services for individuals, couples, or families.
3. Advance knowledge through research in counselling, psychotherapy, and spirituality.

In close collaboration with the School of Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Spirituality, the Director ensures coherent integration between the theoretical training acquired in the classroom and the application of clinical knowledge and skills at the Counselling Centre. This person develops internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with:

• legislative frameworks governing the delivery of mental health services,
• professional requirements of regulatory bodies,
• the pedagogical and developmental needs of students,
• and university policies.

This person represents the counselling and spirituality programs to professional orders and associations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A) Strategic Leadership

• Define the vision, orientations, and action plans for the Centre, in alignment with academic, clinical, and institutional objectives.
• Develop, in collaboration with faculty members and relevant university services, grant applications to support the development of the Centre and its main activities.
• Monitor performance indicators (attendance statistics, financial profitability statistics, satisfaction of clients, students, and partners) and develop strategies to optimize outcomes.
• Develop policies to ensure the smooth operation of the service and ensure that existing policies and procedures are adequate, reviewed, and respected.
• Drive innovation and the continuous improvement of processes and services offered to both clients and students.
• Build relationships with professional orders, professional associations, other universities, regional and provincial funding bodies, and partners.
• In collaboration with the Communications Service, promote the services the Centre can offer to reach target clientele.
• Represent the Centre to the media and the public, in coordination with the Communications Service and in consultation with the strategic supervisor/partner (i.e., the Dean and the School).

B) Management of Human, Material, and Financial Resources

• Oversee the overall operations of the Centre, directly supervising administrative staff and ensuring effective coordination of human, material, financial, and communication resources.
• Support, guide, and evaluate the work of Centre staff by ensuring work planning, performance evaluation, ongoing professional development, and staff engagement toward the Centre's objectives.
• Supervise the hiring and onboarding process for clinical supervisors, assess the quality of their work, and ensure compliance with their clinical and contractual obligations.
• Plan and recommend the annual operations budget (revenues and expenses), taking into account projections and recurring and extraordinary needs of the Centre.
• Ensure the accuracy of monthly financial reports provided to the Finance Department, track revenues, and maximize income.

C) Clinical, Professional, and Legal Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to ensure the safety of employees, students, and clients, and protocols for emergency intervention, including risks of violence and suicide.
• Be available at all times to support staff or students in managing emergency situations.
• Be available by email or for meetings for clinical or administrative consultations.
• Ensure compliance of the Centre's policies and procedures with:
  • applicable laws (PHIPA, PIPEDA) in collaboration with the University Secretary (Custodian of Personal Health Information); manage access requests and third-party disclosure requests, and collaborate with the University Secretary in responding to court orders (subpoenas),
  • the standards and professional obligations of regulatory bodies (CRPO),
  • university policies,
  • and best practices.
• Ensure that existing policies and procedures are respected and implemented, particularly that file documentation standards are met through regular file audits.
• Report any contentious cases to designated persons in accordance with the University's internal policies.

D) Collaboration in the School's Educational Mission

• Promote a safe, healthy, and inclusive internship environment for all trainees at the Counselling Centre.
• Collaborate with the School of Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Spirituality and its various stakeholders (directors of clinical training, clinical professors, etc.) to ensure coherence between theoretical learning acquired in the classroom and the application of clinical knowledge and skills at the Counselling Centre.
• Maintain excellent communication with students, supervisors, professors, the School, and the Faculty.
• Coordinate clinical supervision groups for each academic term, ensuring that each student is exposed to various styles of clinical supervision.
• Develop strategies for orienting, training, and guiding students in the Centre's operations.
• Develop and update tools, templates, guides, and schedules to effectively support students during their internships.
• Collaborate with directors of clinical training to resolve issues related to student training or the quality of their internship experience.
• Ensure that the clinical experience and clinical supervision meet CRPO definitions and record the hours at the end of the program of study.
• Closely track trainees' client contact hours and clinical supervision hours, ensuring progress toward meeting program requirements (150 hours). Any risk of not meeting objectives requires early intervention and close collaboration with the trainees concerned.
• Ensure that the service coordinates the trainee evaluation process and the collection and retention of evaluation forms.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATION

• Graduate degree in counselling or a related discipline authorizing the practice of psychotherapy.
• Member in good standing with the CRPO with autonomous practice rights or another equivalent professional order.
• Five (5) years of experience in the mental health field, ideally including at least two (2) years in a management role within an organization employing staff or contractors (associates).
• Excellent written and oral language skills in both official languages.
• In-depth knowledge of the laws, code of ethics, and professional practice standards governing psychotherapy in Ontario, as well as their application.
• Experience in administrative and budgetary management.
• Knowledge of the university environment (an asset).
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong clinical judgment, professional ethics, and integrity.
• Innovative, dynamic, insightful, and results-oriented personality.
• Ability to work efficiently and to plan and execute multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Availability (occasionally) in the evenings and on weekends to respond to emergencies.

Interested candidates are requested to submit an online application at by September 4th , 2025 at 11:59 pm.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. We will be contacting only those candidates who have been chosen for the next step of the selection process.

We are committed to ensure employment equity and we encourage the participation of all individuals eligible to work in Canada. If your application is successful and you require accommodation during the selection process, please notify us if you are contacted for an interview . click apply for full job details