POSITION SUMMARY The Engagement Consultant will provide expertise, guidance and consultation on meaningful engagement principles and practices to Knowledge Institute teams and projects to support its partners, including Ontario’s child and youth mental health and substance use health/addictions lead agencies and their service area partners.

The Engagement Consultant will also lead the creation of relevant knowledge products and tools to mobilize the latest evidence on engagement topics, directly with organization staff and leaders in the sector.

The Engagement

Consultant has advanced knowledge, skills and expertise in engagement principles and practices, including youth and/or family engagement, ideally achieved through on-the-ground experience supporting project-level, organizational-level or system-level engagement at an organization.

Reporting to a manager, the Engagement Consultant will coordinate their work with other Knowledge Institute staff members, including those with lived expertise, as well as with members of the leadership team.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

- Apply expertise in youth and family engagement to develop engagement supports to projects (e.g., examples, templates, resources from the quality standards for youth and family engagement).
- Act as an internal expert to the Knowledge Institute team on engagement principles and practices.
- Provide consultation and guidance to leaders and teams at CYMHA agencies across Ontario as they work to implement quality standards for youth and/or family engagement and/or meaningful engagement within projects.
- Plan, develop and deliver training on meaningful youth or family engagement practices for CYMHA service providers and leaders across the province either in person or virtually.
- Offer consultation on meaningful youth or family engagement practices for CYMHA service providers and leaders.
- Evaluate trainings and consultations and make improvements to the content and/or delivery as required.




- Lead the development of engagement-related knowledge products and tools that meet the needs of partners in the CYMHA sector.
- Work with other Knowledge Institute team members (e.g. communications team) as required in product development.
- Lead or participate in key provincial or regional efforts, communities of practice or networks relating to meaningful engagement, bridging evidence-based programs/practices with lived expertise in the child and youth mental health and addictions sector.
- Convene regional and/or provincial networks to inform the latest evidence base of youth and family engagement principles and practices.
- Develop, implement and evaluate new partnerships relating to the engagement practices and principles in the mental health and substance use health and addictions sector.
- Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of Knowledge Institute programs and initiatives to respond to emerging needs of the sector and to strengthen or enhance Knowledge Institute programs.
- Help to profile the work of the Knowledge Institute to external and internal partners.
- Perform work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and all CHEO corporate/departmental policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
- Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

- Master’s degree in psychology, sociology, health systems policy, health administration or a related field (Essential)
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in applying engagement practices at an organizational or system level through planning and leading engagement efforts,



guidelines or evidence-based practices in health care or child and youth mental and addictions settings. (Essential)
- Advanced knowledge of engagement principles and practices in youth or family engagement acquired through both work experience and an understanding of research literature (Essential)
- Demonstrated ability to work within a consultative model with experience working with agencies at organizational or system level (Essential)
- Demonstrated skills in group facilitation and adult education (Essential)
- Robust interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with a broad range of internal and external partners, including tact and adaptability (Essential)
- Experience working with, and knowledge of, the child and youth mental health and substance use health and addictions system (Preferred)
- Experience working in partnership with diverse populations such as Indigenous, BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities (Preferred)
- Independent worker and self-directed learner (Essential)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills (Essential)
- Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to meet timelines and deliverables, and ability to manage competing priorities (Essential)
- Valid Ontario driver’s license; Some travel across the province will be required to attend meetings, events and conferences (Essential)
- Criminal Record Check (Level 1) (Essential)
- Bilingualism (English/French) (Essential)

Experience and formal training combined with demonstrated performance and ability may substitute for stipulated academic/experience requirements

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

📌 Engagement Consultant, Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions - Permanent Full-Time (Ottawa)
🏢 CHEO
📍 Ottawa