As a Manager - Psychology with the Department of National Defence, you will lead and oversee psychological services that support the health, wellness, and operational effectiveness of Canadian Armed Forces members and their families. In this role, you will manage a team of psychology professionals, develop psychological service delivery strategies, and ensure evidence-based practices are implemented across your unit or facility. You will work at the intersection of clinical excellence and military operations, addressing the unique mental health needs of a military population including operational stress, trauma, career transitions, and family support. Your decisions will directly impact the psychological resilience and well-being of service members and contribute to the overall readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces.
You will spend your time balancing multiple responsibilities: supervising and developing your psychology team, participating in clinical governance and quality assurance, collaborating with medical officers and other health care professionals, and ensuring compliance with federal health regulations and DND policies. Your work environment includes military medical clinics, psychological health centres, operational settings, and administrative offices. You may conduct clinical consultations, attend multidisciplinary team meetings, review case files and service metrics, and represent psychology services in strategic planning discussions. This role requires strong clinical knowledge, leadership capability, and the ability to advocate for psychological services within a complex military health care system.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of psychology services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the 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, People management, Operational oversight, Quality assurance, Resource coordination
Typical Education
Post-secondary education in the relevant field; supervisory and operational management experience
Training
To qualify for a Manager - Psychology position, you must hold a doctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) from a Canadian university or an equivalent international qualification. You must be registered as a psychologist with the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory body and maintain current, unrestricted licensure throughout your employment. Prior to appointment, you may be required to obtain security clearance and pass a medical evaluation appropriate to the role.
Professional development is continuous in this role. DND supports participation in professional psychology associations such as the Canadian Psychological Association and specialty divisions relevant to your work (military psychology, health psychology, etc.). You will have opportunities to attend conferences, pursue specialized training in military-relevant areas such as operational psychology or trauma-informed care, and develop leadership skills through DND management development programs. Many managers pursue additional credentials or training in organizational leadership, human resources management, or health services administration to strengthen their ability to lead teams and manage complex service delivery models.
Entry Plans
Entry into a Manager - Psychology position typically occurs through competitive staffing processes advertised on the Government of Canada's official job board (jobs.gc.ca). These competitions may be open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents and are conducted by DND Human Resources.
Common pathways include: (1) External recruitment: If you are a licensed psychologist working outside the federal Public Service, you can apply to advertised manager competitions. These competitions assess your clinical expertise, leadership experience, and management capability; (2) Internal promotion: Psychologists already employed in DND in non-management roles (such as Psychologist positions) can apply to manager-level competitions. This path recognizes your knowledge of DND operations and culture; (3) Lateral moves: Psychologists from other federal departments or agencies may apply if competitions are open to the broader Public Service.
Before reaching a manager level, many candidates first join DND as a Psychologist, gaining experience in military psychology, understanding DND's organizational structure, and developing the leadership competencies required for management. This pathway allows you to demonstrate capability while contributing to service delivery. Competitions are merit-based and typically include written assessments, interviews, and panel evaluations focused on clinical judgment, team leadership, strategic thinking, and fit within the military health care context.
Part-Time Options
Part-time and flexible work arrangements for Manager - Psychology positions are possible but less common than in non-management roles, as management positions typically require full-time presence to ensure team supervision, operational continuity, and service availability. However, arrangements may be negotiated depending on operational needs, team structure, and individual circumstances.
Remote work options have expanded within DND. Some aspects of this role—such as administrative work, report writing, virtual team meetings, and professional development—can be performed remotely. However, clinical consultations, team supervision, and operational engagement typically require in-person attendance at your assigned location. Any remote arrangement would be determined through discussion with your manager and must balance DND's operational requirements with work-life flexibility.
If part-time or flexible arrangements are important to you, discuss these possibilities during the recruitment process or after appointment. DND is committed to supporting work-life balance within the constraints of delivering health care services to the military population. The feasibility of flexible arrangements depends on your specific position, team needs, and the criticality of your role to operations.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
