The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) oversees the practice of
occupational therapy across the province. As a regulator, it is responsible for
making sure the public receives safe, effective and ethical care.
COTO is a progressive and dynamic organization, focused on its core mandate to
protect the public interest. Ongoing work on various strategic priorities, and an
upcoming retirement, has created the need for a new Director of Registration and
Quality Assurance. This executive leader will steward regulatory programs, ensure
clarity for registrants, and collaborate effectively with the Board and Committees.
This role is not just about leading registration and quality assurance and advising
the practice team. It is a cornerstone role that will provide guidance and support to
the Registrar and CEO, the Board and the broader community.
Responsibilities
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP - REGISTRATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
Directs the strategic and operational plans for the Registration and Quality
Assurance programs, ensuring effective development, implementation
and evaluation of the programs’ objectives.
Oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of a
modernized and harmonized Quality Assurance program in line with best
practices and compliant with relevant legislation, regulation, and College
bylaws.
Provides direction to program managers in achieving program goals and
objectives, and in setting, tracking and achieving performance metrics.
Ensures timely and appropriate monitoring and compliance of all
committee outcomes, providing guidance regarding interpretation and
enforcement of compliance standards and resolution of non-compliance.
Advises the Practice program as needed, providing expertise and guidance
about the practice of the profession, in collaboration with the Registrar
and CEO.
COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE SUPPORT
Ensures the delivery of appropriate staffing and support to the Registration
Committee, Quality Assurance Committee, subcommittees and/or
working groups as needed.
Ensures decisions of committees are drafted accurately, completely and in
a timely manner.
Oversees scheduling, preparation and provision of documents/resource
materials, and maintenance of policies for committees, subcommittees
and working groups.
Ensures committee members receive quality orientation, training and
education regarding policies, processes and procedures required to make
fair decisions about case files.
Builds and maintains cooperative working relationships with internal
colleagues and external stakeholders, ensuring the appropriate flow of
timely and accurate information.
PEOPLE LEADERSHIP
Aligns Registration and Quality Assurance teams with the strategic
directions, mandate and regulatory philosophy of the College.
Participates in the recruitment and selection process, facilitating ongoing
training, professional development, performance management, coaching
and mentoring of teams in accordance with College’s policies and best
human resources practices.
Delegates work assignments in accordance with individual skills and
competencies, ensuring adequate time and resources are provided to
meet performance expectations.
Evaluates the ongoing performance and goals of the Registration and
Quality Assurance managers and conducts annual performance reviews.
Ensures that program managers and staff have opportunities to
participate in professional development, regulatory networks and
information sharing opportunities.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Leads teams in monitoring program costs and ensuring appropriate
budget planning and expenditures.
Conducts annual and quarterly review of program budget lines,
anticipating surplus and shortfall, and implements variance adjustments,
alerting the Registrar and CEO and Chief Financial and Operating Officer
of potential financial risk.
Provides input to intermediate and long-term College operating and
capital budgets.
Negotiates contracts for services with vendors and external service
providers, monitoring contract deliverables and service level agreements,
taking corrective action, and mitigating risk with the Registrar and CEO, as
needed.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Leads development, implementation, and improvement of data collection
processes.
Develops, implements, and monitors key indicators, evaluating
performance against defined targets.
Integrates data reports and analyses to identify trends and areas of risk
and leads the development of quality improvement initiatives to meet
targets and address risks.
Establishes standards and priorities for monitoring data collection,
overseeing analysis of trends and development of regulations, standards
and guidelines within respective program areas.
COMMUNICATIONS/EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Represents the College in addressing questions and concerns raised by
registrants and other interested parties about the College, the
Registration and Quality Assurance program areas.
Participates on various committees, networks, working groups and task
forces in alignment with the College’s strategic priorities.
Leads and participates in the drafting of documents and responses for
interest holders/interested parties (e.g., the Ministry of Health,
professional associations) as required, disseminating information in a
variety of formats for various audiences.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Engages in needs analysis, identifying and articulating issues or gaps in
program, and cross-program processes and deliverables, defining desired
state characteristics and success criteria.
Liaises with external agencies on projects related to program functions, as
specified by the Registrar and CEO.
Approves business-case for change including resource requirements
(time, staff, materials), cost/benefit of current versus changed state,
project charter, milestones/deliverables, and contingency plans.
Monitors project implementation, ensuring activities meet success criteria
and issues are addressed.
EDUCATION
Leads the identification of key program issues requiring College discussion
and action, ensuring consistent and timely education regarding the same.
Develops network related to occupational therapy profession and
represents the College on positions to interested groups as requested by
the Registrar and CEO.
Writes submissions for College publications.
Recommends and participates in education opportunities for the public
and other stakeholders and communicates broadly with registrants.
TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION
Fosters collaboration amongst program areas to support the ongoing
development, evaluation and consistent application of high-quality
Registration and Quality Assurance functions.
Works with Communication team with respect to media access to
information regarding Committee activities, ensuring consistent
messaging and branding of the College’s positions and responses to key
issues.
Collaborates with the Policy Analyst in the research and development of
policy and legislative proposals, crafting of policy positions and
maintenance of College manuals and documentation.
Works collaboratively as part of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss
and implement College-wide projects and strategic initiatives.
About the Individual
The ideal candidate will be an occupational therapist with experience in practice
standards, quality assurance, and program oversight, aligned with COTO’s mandate
to ensure safe, competent, and ethical care across the profession.
As an experienced regulatory leader, you have demonstrated the ability to lead
through complexity and change while maintaining a clear focus on long-term
vision and innovation.
You are equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves and taking a hands-on
approach when needed, ensuring that both strategic leadership and day-to-day
operational needs are met.
Your engaging, honest, and transparent communications style allows you to
cultivate and maintain strong and trusting relationships with your colleagues,
direct reports, partners, and Board members.
Candidates must demonstrate strong alignment with COTO’s values - respectful of
all voices, conscious of bias, open-minded, and dedicated to learning. The College is
committed to integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices throughout
the organization and the occupational therapy profession to protect the public
interest.
Qualifications
· University preparation in Occupational Therapy and current registration
with the College or an occupational therapy regulator in Canada.
· Minimum 5 years’ experience in a leadership role.
· Proven program/project management and people management skills.
· Familiarity with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and with a
regulatory environment is preferred.
· Experience working effectively with a Board and committees is preferred.
· French language proficiency is preferred.
Key Competencies
· Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including tact and
diplomacy in sensitive situations.
· Strong strategic, analytical and conceptual thinking capabilities.
· Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
· Proven organizational and time management skills, able to set priorities
to meet deadlines.
· Models a high degree of professionalism, collaboration, and empathy.
· Exemplary stakeholder engagement and networking skills.
· Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills for a variety of
audiences.
· Leadership and supervisory skills including task delegation,
performance management, and providing/receiving feedback.
· Experience with development, implementation and/or facilitation of
proposals, policies and procedures.
· Demonstrated understanding and application of the principles of
continuous quality improvement.
· Flexible and positive; comfortable adapting to change and fostering an
environment that welcomes it.
· Demonstrated ability to leverage Microsoft Office Suite at an executive
level including Sharepoint and Dynamics 365
· Proven track record of overseeing enterprise database systems and
ensuring data governance, and expertise in managing document
management frameworks.
Location: Downtown Toronto, Hybrid Schedule
Salary Range and Compensation: This role has a fulsome compensation package
that includes a salary of $130,000-$180,000, a HOOPP defined benefit pension plan,
four weeks vacation and fully paid health benefits.
Use of AI: Griffith Group Executive Search does not use artificial intelligence to
screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.
Reason for posting: Existing Vacancy
