Contract position: April 13, 2026 to August 31, 2026 (with renewal contingent on funding)

School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) works together with Ontario school districts to support student mental health. As a provincial implementation support team, School Mental Health Ontario provides leadership, resources, implementation coaching and a community of practice to promote the uptake, scaling and sustainability of evidence-based, implementation-sensitive, culturally responsive, identity-affirming practices in school mental health. School Mental Health Ontario serves the 72 English and French school boards in Ontario, remote school authorities and provincial demonstration schools. The team works alongside the Ministry of Education and has a role within the wider system of care, linking with partner ministries and organizations to advance child and youth mental health.

We are currently hiring for the role of Implementation Support Coach and Portfolio Consultant (Bilingual, EN/FR). The successful candidate will provide implementation coaching to assigned Ontario French language school boards, drawing on established protocols, benchmarks and expectations alongside partner coaches. This role also includes facilitation of a portfolio related to mental health leadership and learning. This requires the design, coordination and delivery of professional learning events for mental health leadership teams in school districts across Ontario, as well as the co-development of resources and supports for and with mental health leaders and managers of psychology and social work services.

Currently, we are seeking an experienced, equity-minded school mental health professional who has demonstrated proficiency in school mental health leadership, service delivery and related supervisory experience within the Ontario school system.

At School Mental Health Ontario, we recognize diversity as a source of organizational strength. We are actively seeking applications from those who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing student mental health with a clear focus on human rights, and on reducing disproportionality and disparity in outcomes. Those with experience in serving racialized communities and those with identities that have been historically or are presently disadvantaged and marginalized will bring particular assets that are highly valued within the team.

This role includes, but is not limited to:

1. Providing implementation coaching support to assigned Ontario school boards regarding student mental health, primarily through consultation with the superintendent with responsibility for mental health, the mental health leader and managers of psychological services and managers of social work services in each assigned board. This includes, for example:
   • helping board mental health leadership teams to create, execute and monitor a robust mental health and addictions strategy and action plan that is contextualized for the needs of students they serve, and aligned with PPM 169 expectations
   • guiding boards in selecting, implementing and monitoring evidence-informed, identity-affirming mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention programming
   • assisting boards to customize provincial resources for the local context and the students served, ensuring that programming is reflective and responsive to the needs of every student and family
   • helping boards and their communities plan and implement steps toward enhancing their local system of care, following the Right Time, Right Care vision
   • providing ongoing implementation support, troubleshooting and crisis response (including postvention support)
2. Coordinating and facilitating regional learning and peer networking meetings alongside other implementation support coaches serving the region, with a view to creating space for dialogue and learning related to locally relevant priorities. Support the French language community of practice for mental health leadership teams in French language school districts.
3. Leading the design, development and delivery of provincial mental health leadership meetings. Ensure these meetings promote high-quality learning, practice consistency and cross-board sharing across the Ontario-wide community of practice.
4. Organizing leadership and learning sessions for district mental health leadership teams on identified topics (e.g., measurement and monitoring, suicide prevention, social-emotional learning with identity-affirming considerations). 
5. Welcoming and orienting new mental health leaders and managers. Provide an overview of available supports and related dates, ensure a connection has been made with their implementation support coach, and that they can access the portal and orientation materials. Assist with updates to the mental health leadership team database.
6. Organizing regular meetings of mental health leaders and managers. As well, join meetings with managers of psychological services and social work services (alongside colleagues from the School Mental Health Ontario Prevention and Early Intervention and Intensive Support and Service Pathways teams). Meet regularly with the executive teams of the manager associations.
7. Provide consultation on matters related specifically to French language support. Lead communities of practice that uniquely support French mental health leadership teams.
8. Promote the use of the Identity-Affirming School Mental Health Frame. Work with leaders who represent specific populations, with particular emphasis on historically disadvantaged groups, to identify and introduce identity/intersectionality-specific mental health supports, and/or to adapt existing protocols, with a view to ensuring that services meet the needs of students who may experience racism, marginalization or oppression.
9. Attend regular School Mental Health Ontario team meetings, and implementation support coaching rounds, to contribute to consistency of coaching practice across the province. Complete tracking forms and other administrative tasks. Support ongoing projects related to uptake and implementation of high-yield programming and resources. Assist with ministry reporting, as requested.

Qualifications:

1. Regulated mental health professional in good standing with an Ontario professional college (e.g., CPBAO, OCSWSSW, CRPO), registered to practice with children, youth and families, with a minimum of Masters-level education in social work or clinical/school psychology.
2. At least five years of experience working within a school board setting in the role of school mental health professional in a management capacity.
3. Fluent in both English and French. Familiarity with the structure, needs, resources and strengths of Ontario French-language school districts regarding mental health and wellness.
4. Evidence of effective consultation, coaching and facilitation skills. Proficient use of systems thinking and organizational change management techniques. Demonstrated understanding of implementation science and its application to school mental health.
5. Demonstrated commitment to principles of equity, inclusion, anti-racism, respect and social justice. Experience serving racialized communities and those with identities that have been historically or are presently disadvantaged and marginalized. Commitment to evidence-informed, identity affirming, culturally responsive and youth-engaged approaches to clinical service in schools.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
7. Strong initiative and ability to work independently. Demonstrated experience working with colleagues in a team environment. Proven ability to work in collaborative ways with community partners and various stakeholders. Excellent relationship-building skills.
8. Skilled in the Microsoft Office suite (including OneDrive, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint), as well as the ability to learn new programs quickly and comfort and ability with a range of web-based virtual meeting programs.
9. Access to a vehicle and ability to travel to in-person coaching meetings as required.
10. A clear police record check must be presented prior to hiring.

The deadline for submission is 4 p.m. ET on April 2, 2026.

Please apply to hr@smho-smso.ca with a cover letter and resume. Include the position title you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

Applicants are thanked in advance for their interest, however only those who have been short-listed for an interview will be contacted. Accommodation for applicants is available in the recruitment process. All interviews will be held virtually.