As a Director of Clinical Psychology with the Department of National Defence, you will lead and manage clinical psychology services that support the health and wellbeing of Canadian Armed Forces members and their families. This senior leadership role combines clinical expertise with strategic management responsibility, requiring you to oversee psychology teams, develop clinical programs, and ensure the delivery of high-quality mental health care across military health services. You will work in a unique environment where your clinical knowledge directly impacts operational readiness and personnel welfare. This position involves collaborating with interdisciplinary health care teams, military leadership, and external health care partners to address the psychological needs of military populations. Your work environment includes military bases, Defence hospitals, and operational settings, where you may contribute to deployments or support personnel in challenging circumstances. The role demands both deep clinical competency and the ability to manage budgets, staff, and complex organizational challenges within the federal Public Service.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of clinical psychology services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the clinical psychology team, Monitor performance metrics and report on results, Develop and implement operational plans and procedures, Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure service quality
Required Skills
Clinical skills, Patient/client assessment, Empathy and communication, Record-keeping, Interdisciplinary collaboration, Team leadership, Operational planning, Stakeholder engagement, Results management
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent; significant experience in the relevant discipline with demonstrated leadership
Training
To qualify for this position, you must hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology (PhD or PsyD) from a recognized institution. You are required to be a licensed or registered clinical psychologist in good standing with your provincial or territorial regulatory body. Many candidates possess additional certifications in specialized areas such as trauma-informed care, military psychology, or operational stress injury management. Professional development is ongoing and includes participation in continuing education programs, military-specific psychology training, and leadership development courses offered through the Canadian Armed Forces and the Public Service. The Department supports professional memberships in organizations such as the Canadian Psychological Association and encourages engagement with research and evidence-based practice. Advanced certifications in areas relevant to military health, such as post-traumatic stress disorder treatment or suicide prevention, are valued and often supported through departmental funding.
Entry Plans
Entry into this career typically occurs through a public service competition open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the educational and professional requirements. The Treasury Board Job Architecture positions this role at the Director level, which may be filled through various entry mechanisms including external recruitment competitions, internal promotions from senior clinical psychology positions, and lateral moves from other federal health organizations. Candidates may also enter through specialized recruitment pools maintained by the Department of National Defence for health care professionals. Lateral transfers from provincial health systems, university health centres, or other federal departments are possible for those with equivalent experience and qualifications. The Public Service Commission oversees the appointment process to ensure fairness and merit-based selection. Interested candidates should monitor the DND careers website and the Government of Canada Job Bank for posted competitions.
Part-Time Options
Part-time arrangements for Director-level positions in clinical psychology are limited due to the managerial and leadership responsibilities inherent to the role. However, the Department of National Defence is committed to supporting work-life balance and may consider flexible work arrangements on a case-by-case basis, subject to operational requirements and approval by senior management. Remote work options may be available for administrative and strategic planning components of the role, particularly for tasks that do not require direct clinical presence or on-site collaboration. Any flexible or part-time arrangement would be negotiated at the time of appointment and would need to align with the Department's service delivery obligations to the Canadian Armed Forces. Employees are encouraged to discuss accommodation possibilities with their manager and Human Resources Business Partner during the recruitment and onboarding process.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
