Director of Operations - Psychedelic Medicine
NuVista Mental Health
Full-Time - Remote
Reports to: VP National Programs
NuVista Mental Health is a national network of mental health clinics serving communities across Canada. With locations from coast to coast and a growing portfolio of specialized sub-brands, NuVista is committed to accessible, evidence-based, and patient-centred care.
The Director of Operations – Psychedelic Medicine provides national leadership for the safe, compliant, and scalable delivery of psychedelic-assisted medical treatments across NuVista’s platform. This role plays a critical part in advancing innovative care models while ensuring regulatory excellence, strong payer relationships, and seamless clinical operations.
This role is responsible for:
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Medical Operations and Clinical Governance
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Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
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Insurance, VAC strategy
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Pharmacy and External Partnerships
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People Leadership and Program Integration
Key Responsibilities
Medical Operations and Clinical Governance
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Oversee the safe and effective administration of psychedelic treatments in medical settings
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Develop and maintain clinical policies, procedures, and operational standards
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Partner with psychiatry, nursing, and clinic leadership to ensure consistent, high-quality care
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Support case management workflows to ensure timely patient access to treatment
Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
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Maintain compliance with federal and provincial regulations governing psychedelic-assisted treatments across Canada
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Ensure controlled substance handling, documentation, reporting, and audit readiness
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Lead regulatory reviews and corrective action planning as required
Insurance, VAC Strategy
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Oversee insurance case management and expedited approvals for psychedelic treatments
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Identify opportunities to improve approval timelines through streamlined submissions and relationship building
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Escalate stalled or complex authorizations to senior leadership
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Build and maintain strong relationships with insurers and VAC representatives
Pharmacy and External Partnerships
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Own strategic relationships with compounding and specialty pharmacies
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Serve as the primary liaison with pharmacy partners, insurers, and regulators
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Support payer pilots, coverage expansion initiatives, and funding opportunities
People Leadership and Program Integration
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Hire, train, and develop Client Care Coordinators, Nurses, and Nurse Practitioners
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Establish training standards, role clarity, and competency expectations
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Identify opportunities to integrate psychedelic treatments with therapy, psychiatry, and other medical services
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7–10+ years of experience in healthcare or medical operations (non-therapy-only environments)
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Experience overseeing regulated medical treatments and/or controlled substances
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Strong knowledge of Canadian healthcare regulatory requirements
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Demonstrated experience working with insurers and public payers, including VAC
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Proven leadership experience across nursing, NP, and clinical support teams
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Experience operating in a high-growth or evolving clinical environment
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Strong judgment, communication, and stakeholder management skills
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Leadership: Leads by example, makes sound decisions, and motivates others to achieve goals.
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Strategic Thinking: Establishes and communicates vision and applies creativity to solutions.
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Decision Making: Makes informed, timely decisions and seeks input when appropriate.
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Employee Development: Coaches, mentors, and supports growth and development of team members.
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Problem Solving: Analyzes issues thoroughly and develops effective solutions.
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Ethics & Integrity: Demonstrates honesty, accountability, and maintains strict confidentiality.
