As a Director of Medicine within the Department of National Defence, you will provide strategic leadership and clinical direction for medical services and healthcare operations. You are responsible for overseeing medical departments, clinics, or health services facilities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare to Canadian Armed Forces members and eligible dependants. Your role combines clinical expertise with management responsibility, requiring you to balance patient care standards with operational efficiency and compliance with federal health regulations.
Your key responsibilities include developing and implementing medical policies and procedures, managing healthcare budgets and resources, supervising medical and support staff, and ensuring compliance with professional standards and federal legislation. You will collaborate with other health professionals, senior military leadership, and external healthcare partners to optimize service delivery. You may also contribute to healthcare innovation, training programs, and strategic planning initiatives within the DND health services portfolio.
You will work in military medical facilities, field environments, or headquarters settings, depending on your assignment. This role requires strong leadership skills, clinical judgment, and the ability to work effectively in a structured military environment while maintaining the highest standards of patient care and professional conduct.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of medicine services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the medicine 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
You must hold a Medical Doctor degree (M.D. or equivalent) from a recognized institution and be licensed to practice medicine in Canada. Most candidates hold certification from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (RCPC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or equivalent credentials. Prior experience as a physician, typically 5 to 10 years, is expected before appointment to a Director-level position.
Ongoing professional development is required to maintain medical licensure and may include continuing medical education credits, participation in professional military health services training, and management or leadership development programs offered through the Public Service or DND. You are expected to maintain current certifications and engage in lifelong learning relevant to military medicine, healthcare administration, and leadership.
Entry Plans
Entry to this position typically occurs through advertised Public Service staffing processes managed by the Treasury Board Secretariat and DND. These competitions are open to Canadian citizens and may include internal candidates (current DND employees) as well as external applicants. Experienced physicians working in civilian healthcare systems can apply when positions are advertised.
Lateral moves from other Director-level positions within DND or the broader federal public service may also be possible for those with appropriate medical credentials and management experience. Some candidates may enter through specialized recruitment initiatives targeting healthcare professionals. Advancement to Director level usually requires progressing through intermediate physician ranks within the DND medical system, though experienced external candidates with proven management background may enter at this level directly.
All candidates must meet Treasury Board qualification standards, pass security clearance processes, and demonstrate alignment with Government of Canada values and DND operational requirements.
Part-Time Options
Director-level positions in military medicine are typically full-time roles due to the leadership and operational responsibilities involved. However, flexible arrangements may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis depending on organizational needs and collective agreement provisions.
Remote work options are limited for this role, as Directors are expected to maintain regular on-site presence for supervision, clinical oversight, and facility management. However, some administrative and strategic planning activities may be performed remotely when operationally feasible.
Leave entitlements follow Treasury Board policies for federal employees, including annual leave, sick leave, and other statutory leave provisions. DND also supports employee wellness and work-life balance initiatives within the constraints of military operational requirements.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
