Director, Mental Health Crisis Response Education and Applied Training Program

Department: Faculty of Human & Social Sciences 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Brantford 

Reports to: Sr. Admin Officer - Faculty of Human and Social Sciences (FHSS)

Employee Group: Management 

Application Deadline: July 8, 2026

Requisition ID: 11522 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

This job posting is for a current vacancy.

Position Summary

The Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being (CPSW) is within the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences (FHSS). CPSW offers exciting learning opportunities through professional development programs for people working or aspiring to work in a wide range of industries, including public safety, health, wellness, and well-being. The Mental Health Crisis Response Education and Applied Training Program (MHCR) is housed within CPSW.

The MHCR is a hybrid, scenario-based curriculum that offers an evidence-based, standardized training protocol on de-escalation and mental health crisis response for police services, with the objective to further develop de-escalation and communication strategies, mental health awareness, empathy, and cultural safety for police response to citizens in a mental health crisis. As of April 1, 2024, the Ministry of the Solicitor General mandated that all police officers in Ontario complete this training annually in compliance with Ontario Regulation 87/24. MHCR is also mandatory as part of the basic constable training course at the Ontario Police College.

As a key member of the MHCR team, reporting to the Senior Administrative Officer (SAO) in the FHSS on the Brantford campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, the primary role of the Director, MHCR is to manage the financial sustainability and strategic growth of the Mental Health Crisis Response Education and Applied Training program (MHCR) by representing the university’s business interests and external relations in the fiscal management and strategic planning for the MHCR’s provincially mandated operations and expansion into other geographic or relevant professional jurisdictions. The Director, MHCR is responsible for the development of MHCR business plans, budget management, goal setting, and implementation of the strategic plans, and supervision of the MHCR staff.

Working collaboratively, the Director, MHCR must function with a high degree of integrity, authenticity, neutrality, and flexibility to lead this expanding program and team. The incumbent evaluates project outcomes against progress toward institutional goals and ensures integration with future planning. The role recognizes that change in a university environment demands high levels of tact, diplomacy, sophisticated listening, and creativity. The incumbent provides leadership in a collaborative and consultative manner, and will liaise with the Dean, the MHRC Scientific Director, Intellectual Property authors/collaborators, the Manager of FHSS Continuing Education, MHCR operations team members, and other internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of business and financial acumen, strategic understanding, analytical capability, and project management skills to ensure sustainable delivery of the MHCR’s professional development programs.

This position is situated on the Brantford Campus.

Accountabilities

Strategic Operations 

• Main point of contact for relevant university staff, interest holders, and governments or regulatory bodies, including, but not limited to, the Manager of FHSS Continuing Education, Office of Research Services (ORS), Financial Resources, Procurement, Internal and External media contracts, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), and the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
• Responsible for negotiations, renewals, and revisions on operating agreements with external vendors
• Identify project priorities of MHCR and develop short, medium, and long-term goals and business plans
• On behalf of Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, sits on a range of committees, including, but not limited to MHCR Steering Committee, OACP Steering Committee, Police Services Committee, Ontario Police College (OPC) Steering Committee, OPC Working Group
• Draft agreements and/or memorandums of understanding
• Develop and implement protocols and best practices regarding the administration of the MHCR, including, but not limited to reporting, decision making, and consultation timelines.
• Liaise with and respect the expertise and responsibilities of the MHCR Scientific Officer and internal and external IP collaborators regarding the academic side of the project, particularly in regards curriculum development and research.

Budget oversight & compliance

• Leads MHCR operations, budget development, business plans;
• Provides administrative oversight for fee structure;
• Manages finances of MHCR by reconciling projected budgets against actual expenses
• Develops and oversees short and long-term financial planning in consultation with MHCR financial support.

Project Management 

• Leads and/or assists projects that arise through prioritization of activities in the existing provincial legislation and potential expansion, including direct responsibility for project management, communications, and expediting project-related activities as approved by the Dean;
• Conducts required research in support of project objectives;
• Owns overall responsibility for business plans, budgeting, resource planning, risk assessment and risk management, meeting facilitation, financial status reporting, presentations, etc.;
• Takes initiative to drive project agendas forward and ensure accountability of projects and processes;
• Ensures effective communication with project partners and interest holders, within the university and in the external community, as required;
• Assists with new project development through research and proposal preparation, as requested by the Dean.

Communications Management

• Acts as liaison with internal and external groups on behalf of FHSS and the MHCR program through extensive knowledge of the subject matter and insightful, tactful interactions within and outside the organization;
• Works behind the scenes to address issues to prioritize the involvement of the Dean of FHSS and ensure consistent application of policy, practice, and principles, at times speaking on behalf of the university during one-on-one interactions, group meetings, or public events;
• Works closely with the Dean of FHSS and the university’s External Relations and legal counsel around strategic communications in response to specific issues;

Office Management 

• Works with the SAO to establish procedures for record keeping and monitors processes to ensure security and confidentiality of data; ensures adherence to office policies and procedures as part of an overall effort to set a tone and culture within the MHCR operations team;
• Coordinates administrative staff activities to ensure operational efficiency; assigns and monitors administrative responsibilities and tasks among staff; evaluates and manages administrative staff performance;
• Recruits and selects administrative office staff; Develops, implements, and coordinates strategies and operational enhancements aimed at ensuring exceptional office functionality;
• Engenders trust, teamwork, and high levels of personal motivation among MHCR project members

Reporting Relationships

This role supervises the following roles:

• Administrative Coordinator
• Program Coordinator
• Program Operations Coordinator

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in business or related field
• Five years of experience providing project, senior administrative and management support to a senior role.
• Preferably experience working in post-secondary education, the mental health crisis field, law, or law enforcement.
• Awareness and understanding of human resource policies and experience working with operating agreements
• Demonstrated ability to lead, support, manage and motivate diverse teams
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain trust and credibility
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, and non-verbal) as well as relationship-building skills
• Knowledge of integrated strategic project planning and budgeting, and associated tools for effective reporting, timelines, resource allocation, visualization of process and outcome data, and project evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to be a creative problem-solver and to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time in a fast-paced environment
• Strong research, analytical, and technological skills
• Ability to build business models and future planning
• Ability to anticipate the needs and priorities of the MHCR project
• Strong project management skills and demonstrated completion of projects with multi-interest holder involvement in a complex environment
• Ability to participate effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment
• Acceptance of additional responsibilities and capacity to work under pressure and in a changeable environment
• High client service orientation
• Ability to consistently exercise independent judgment
• In-depth knowledge of the university’s processes

Hours of Work: This is a full-time, limited term role with an approximate end date of July 31, 2027. The normal hours of work are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm including a one (1) hour unpaid meal period.

This position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). All arrangement must be approved by the direct manager. In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation:

Level: MG-2B

Hiring Range: $85,357 to $106,696

Broad salary ranges include a hiring range ($85,357 - $96,027 of range midpoint), a target range ($97,093.36 - $117,366 of range midpoint), and a premium range ($118,432.56 - $133,370 of range midpoint).

When new employees are hired the appropriate base salary is determined using these sub-ranges as a guide while adhering to rules on hiring as defined in our compensation policy. Considerations for new hire salaries include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.

Please note, when pre-screening questions are used as part of the application process, AI is utilized to score responses. All other aspects of the hiring process are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team.