ABOUT THE JOB

The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division is seeking an Operations Supervisor for the Independent Rights Advice Service (IRAS) who will be responsible for supporting the Provincial IRAS Manager with the operational aspects of this newly launched service for involuntary patients under the Mental Health Act. IRAS is designed and delivered by CMHA BC in close collaboration with partner organizations.

Reporting to the Provincial Manager of IRAS, the Operations Supervisor will lead all the provincial infrastructure and operational components of the service, primarily related to human resources, finances and information technology. We are seeking someone who is enthusiastic about ensuring a strong service backbone so that frontline staff can focus on delivering a new, provincial mental health service focused on person-centered support, autonomy, and human rights. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Human resources 

Responsible for overseeing people at IRAS’ provincial office including: 

• Recruiting, onboarding and offboarding of direct reports.
• Supervising direct reports using effective management practices to support the achievement of program outcomes, to protect worker safety and to ensure adherence to internal and external policies, procedures, regulations, and safety standards.
• Addressing performance and disciplinary issues as required, in collaboration with the Provincial IRAS Manager and HR.
• Working closely with the Provincial Manager and Director to continually assess program structure and recommend strategic improvements.
• Working with supervisors at subcontracted agencies delivering the service to problem-solve operational and logistical issues and streamline recruitment practices.

Finances 

Responsible for managing finances of provincial IRAS operations including: 

• Collaborating on annual budget alongside Manager and Director.
• Monitoring monthly revenue and expense reports.
• Preparing semi-annual forecasts and recommending remediation strategies for shortfalls. 
• Processing program expenses for staff and subcontractors.
• Reviewing financial reports from subcontractors.
• Preparing quarterly financial summaries.
• Leading infrastructure-related procurement including identifying vendors, drafting any contract language of operational scope, reviewing vendor invoices.
• Monitoring contract dates and liaising with Manager and Director on upcoming contract expiry and renewals to prepare for approval and sign-off by a senior leader.

Information Technology 

Responsible for managing the technology needs of provincial IRAS operations including: 

• Ensuring a cost-effective, reliable, responsive, and effective website and intake portal and database that meets staff, health-practitioner, patient and program-evaluation needs. 
• Performance and licensing of platforms such as intake/database, videoconferencing, and fax-to-email software
• Assessing compliance with all regulations and privacy guidelines established for IRAS. 
• Collaborating with Manager to lead procedures in the event of privacy breaches or other adverse outcomes related to information technology.
• Ordering equipment and special supplies for provincial staff
• Performing research and collecting and analyzing data to solve IT problems.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

ABOUT YOU

Education & Experience 

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in areas such as planning, business administration or operations, health administration, project management.
• Experience managing frontline staff in a unionized environment who are doing in-person work, including outreach and potentially morally distressing work. (required).
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in an operational, managerial, or supervisory role in a health, social services, government, or community nonprofit organization.

In addition, demonstrated experience and confidence in: 

• Working in large or complex service delivery projects, especially partnership-based ones. 
• Co-developing services and solutions with people with lived and living experience relevant to the service (Note: personal experience with mental health issues, services, or involuntary treatment is also an asset a candidate can bring to this role). 
• Supervising, coaching, and performance-managing staff, including staff with lived and living experience (peers). 
• Supervising a remote workforce. 
• Overseeing aspects of HR from recruitment to offboarding for direct reports using collaboration and relationship-based approaches, ideally with experience in a unionized environment. 
• Managing financial, procurement-related, contractual, and risk-management aspects of program or service. 
• Working with user-led/technology-based solutions, particularly vendors working to customize software to meet budget, timelines, and program needs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multiple communities and stakeholders
• Experience and comfort prioritizing multiple forms of knowledge and expertise
• Adaptability, comfort with unpredictability in a rapidly changing environment
• Strong people, mentorship, conflict-management, and diplomacy skills
• Ability to work with humility and create a culture of ongoing learning
• Strategic and conceptual thinking, including the ability to adapt
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and the involuntary treatment system in BC
• Knowledge of human rights and their benefits as a determinant of health
• Knowledge of public legal education and information provision
• Knowledge of reconciliation, decolonization, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act 
• Knowledge of privacy regulations and requirements in BC and Canada
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability and confidence to take initiative and work in a self-directed manner in a complex, ever shifting environment
• Proven organizational skills and a high attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize workload to meet deadlines
• Resourcefulness, judgment, and innovation to solve problems
• Knowledge and agility to use Office 365 and cloud-based management software tools

Our key values and principles 

The IRAS Operations Supervisor consistently conducts themselves in alignment with CMHA BC’s core values: 

• Inclusive
• Proactive
• Compassionate
• Steadfast
• Collaborative

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The position is 37.5 hours per week, primarily during regular office business hours.
• The position can be based out of the Vancouver or Victoria office and offers hybrid working arrangement.
• Some in-office in-person presence will be required to build relationships with direct reports and attend key meetings and events.
• The position requires occasional flexibility to travel.
• This position will supervise unionized and exempt staff.
• This is a temporary position ending on March 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
• This position will require occasional travel within the province.
• Successful completion of background screening checks including a criminal record check and education verification.
• Salary Range: $69,669 - $100,149
• Typical Hiring Range: $87,086-$92,950 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter, clearly documenting how you satisfy the requirements outlined in this job posting to by 5 p.m. April 16, 2025.   

The subject line should mention " Operations Supervisor, IRAS ". 

CMHA BC Division is committed to our workforce reflecting the diversity of the communities within which we work. As such, we encourage applications from persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, people of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the diversity of our staff. Personal experience with mental illness and or addiction, either through self or a loved one, is an asset. 

ABOUT US

Founded in 1918, The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health and addiction, CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and support recovery from mental illness and/or addiction.

We respectfully acknowledge xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), səl'ilwətaʔɬ (TsleilWaututh), Lkwungen (Songhees) and Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples on whose traditional, unceded lands the CMHA BC offices are located.