Manager, Children's Services

Posting closes:  February 3, 2026 at 5:00pm

About Us:

The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. We serve everyone from children to adults to seniors, all under one roof. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 400 staff at offices in Cambridge, Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Fergus, and Mount Forest. 

We are fully accredited by Accreditation Canada and our proud of our Exemplary Status (the highest standing) received at our most recent accreditation exercise.

Why Join our Team:

Competitive Compensation and Benefits:  Our compensation package includes a competitive salary and generous benefits supporting the wellness of our staff.  We are proud to be members of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) offering one of Canada’s largest and most respected defined benefit plans.

Career Development Opportunities:  Our wide range of services and supports allows for varied opportunities for career growth.  Our multi-disciplinary approach to care offers cross collaboration and enhanced opportunities for learning.  A formal succession planning process is key to our internal leadership recruitment.

Values that include:  Mutual Respect, Accountability, Integrity and Excellence and Innovation and a culture that is welcoming and inclusive. 

Commitment to Health and Safety:  We have a strong health and safety culture at CMHA WW and work tirelessly to address the health and safety needs of staff and the people we serve. 

The Opportunity:

We are recruiting for a MANAGER, Children's Services

- This is a regular full-time newly created position (minimum of 35 hours per week) based on-site at 737 Woolwich Street, Guelph.

The Manager, Children’s Services provides strategic and operational leadership to programs supporting children, youth, and families within the community. Reporting to the Director of Services, this role is accountable for overseeing children’s mental health and developmental services, as well as select specialty programs, ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented, and inclusive service delivery that aligns with CMHA WW’s mission, vision, and values.

The Manager provides supervision and guidance to clinical leaders, coordinators, and staff, fostering a collaborative, client and family centered approach to care. This role also plays an active leadership role both internally, through policy and procedure development, strategic planning, and quality improvement, and externally, by building strong partnerships with funders, service providers, and community stakeholders across Waterloo Wellington. The Manager is key in supporting provincial initiatives within the children and youth mental health system, and works on priorities and identified projects with community partners.

The Manager, Children's Services, provides leadership and operational oversight to ensure the delivery of high-quality, client-centered mental health and addiction services. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and operational management for children’s services and specialty programs.


• Ensure services are delivered in alignment with organizational mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.


• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring programs run effectively and efficiently.


• Lead the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and service standards for the portfolio.


• Support the integration of best practice models and evidence-informed approaches into service delivery.

Team Supervision & Development

• Supervise and support clinical leaders, coordinators, and frontline staff to promote excellence in service delivery.


• Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance management for staff in a unionized environment.


• Foster a positive, engaged, and high-performing team culture that supports recovery and resiliency principles.


• Promote team effectiveness and accountability through clear goals, feedback, and professional development opportunities.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Represent CMHA WW on committees, networks, and community planning tables related to children’s mental health and developmental services.


• Build and maintain strong working relationships with funders, service providers, and other key stakeholders.


• Act as a key liaison to ensure coordination of services across the system of care across the Waterloo and Wellington regions.


• Promote CMHA WW as a leader in children’s services through community engagement and advocacy.

Program Development & Quality Improvement

• Utilize service data and outcome information to inform decision-making, program development, and continuous improvement.


• Lead program evaluation and improvement initiatives to enhance service quality, integration, and accountability.


• Promote innovation and process improvements that strengthen client care and align with system priorities.


• Support and facilitate planning initiatives that contribute to a more integrated and effective mental health and addictions system

Financial & Resource Management

• Contribute to the development and monitoring of program budgets, ensuring responsible fiscal management.


• Ensure resources are allocated effectively to meet program and client needs.


• Collaborate with organizational leadership to align financial, human, and operational resources with program priorities.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Health or Social Science field, with current registration and good standing in a Regulated Health Professions College in Ontario.


• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working with children, youth and families mental health and developmental needs.


• Minimum of three (3) years’ leadership experience in healthcare, non-profit, or public sector settings supervising and coaching staff, addressing performance issues, and supporting professional growth in a unionized environment.


• Demonstrated experience in program administration, service planning, and applying service data for decision-making.


• Extensive knowledge of recovery- and resiliency-based service delivery principles and their application in community settings.


• Theoretical and practical knowledge of community-based service models and modalities for children, youth, and families.


• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary teams, management, funders and community partners.


• Skilled in problem recognition, analysis, and resolution in fast-paced, dynamic environments.


• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfortable using internet and database applications.


• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize competing tasks and manage shifting priorities effectively.


• Valid G Class driver’s license, access to a reliable personal vehicle, and appropriate insurance (travel to on-site meetings, events, and donor visits are required).


• Embodies and promotes CMHA WW’s core values of Mutual Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence, and Innovation in all professional interactions and decision-making.

If you are interested in this position, please submit a resume and cover letter in one document outlining how your skills, qualifications and experience meet the position requirements.

 Compensation:  $94,712.80 to $115,078.60 (Non-Union)

CMHA WW, as an equal opportunity employer, embraces diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.  Our goal is to attract, develop and retain talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all qualified persons.

*We do not use AI in our screening process.