Program Director

Round Lake Treatment Centre | North Okanagan, British Columbia

Full-time, permanent | Salary: $88,000 -$98,000 annually/ $45.00 – $49.00 hourly based on qualifications, experience and leadership capabilities | Employee benefits and professional development opportunities

About Round Lake Treatment Centre

Round Lake Treatment Centre (RLTC) is a First Nations non-profit, CARF-accredited residential addiction treatment centre located in the North Okanagan of British Columbia. Our guiding philosophy is “Culture is Treatment.”

We believe healing is strengthened through relationships, cultural connection, personal responsibility and an understanding of the whole person—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Our residential treatment program brings together Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, cultural teachings and ceremonies, 12-Step and Wellbriety recovery principles, and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches. Through structured, group-based treatment, we support individuals in understanding addiction, addressing trauma, developing recovery skills and building a foundation for lasting wellness.

Elders, Knowledge Keepers and cultural leaders are essential to our approach. We honour their teachings, knowledge and cultural authority while supporting professional, ethical and trauma-informed care.

Our work is guided by four core values:

Accept Responsibility: Be accountable for our personal wellness.
Live with Integrity: Demonstrate responsibility, accountability and gratitude.
Honour Individual Differences and Achievements: Recognize the dignity, strengths and contributions of others.
Be Compassionate, Respectful, Supportive, Encouraging and Cooperative: Build relationships that support healing, learning and growth.

These values guide how we work with clients, support one another and lead our organization.

The Leadership Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Program Director who shares our commitment to culturally grounded healing and understands the importance of strong, compassionate and accountable leadership.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Director provides strategic and operational leadership to RLTC’s residential treatment program, with responsibility for therapeutic quality, employee development, program consistency and continuous improvement.

This position requires more than clinical knowledge. We are looking for someone who can bring people together around a shared purpose, strengthen the capabilities of a multidisciplinary team, exercise sound professional judgement and translate organizational priorities into meaningful results.

The Program Director works collaboratively with Counsellors, Client Support Workers, nursing personnel, cultural leadership, Elders and Knowledge Keepers to ensure our philosophy and recovery principles are reflected in everyday practice.

As a leader within a CARF-accredited organization, you will help maintain the quality, safety and accountability of our services while supporting an environment where employees can learn, contribute and grow.

What You Will Lead

Culturally Grounded Treatment and Recovery

Uphold RLTC’s Culture is Treatment philosophy throughout program delivery and employee practice.
Support the meaningful integration of Indigenous teachings, ceremony, cultural connection, 12-Step and Wellbriety principles, and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches.
Work respectfully with Elders, Knowledge Keepers and designated cultural leaders, recognizing and honouring cultural protocols and authority.
Ensure treatment approaches reflect an understanding of addiction, trauma, stages of change, recovery readiness, relapse prevention and the individual nature of healing.
Support consistent, client-centred care from admission and assessment through treatment, recovery planning, discharge and continuing-care coordination.

People Leadership and Team Development

Lead, mentor and support therapeutic teams through clear communication, shared expectations and respectful relationships.
Provide supervision, coaching, constructive feedback and ongoing competency development.
Support recruitment, orientation, training, performance assessment, employee retention and succession planning.
Foster a workplace culture where employees feel respected, understand their responsibilities and are supported in developing their professional practice.
Address workplace concerns fairly and consistently, working collaboratively with the Executive Director on matters requiring additional organizational guidance or approval.

Program Quality, Accreditation and Safety

Maintain consistent program practices aligned with applicable CARF accreditation standards, RLTC policies and professional expectations.
Support quality assurance through documentation review, client feedback, program outcomes, staff competency assessment and continuous improvement.
Promote client rights, dignity, confidentiality, professional boundaries and culturally safe, trauma-informed care.
Recognize emerging clinical, cultural, operational and safety concerns and ensure timely consultation, appropriate action and communication.
Work collaboratively with the Quality Assurance team and other departments to strengthen service quality and organizational readiness.

Strategic and Organizational Leadership

Translate RLTC’s mission, vision, values, strategic priorities and annual Program Operational Plan into clear departmental goals and practical actions.
Strengthen communication, coordination and shared accountability across therapeutic teams and other departments.
Identify opportunities to improve program consistency, employee capability, client experience and recovery outcomes.
Provide the Executive Director with timely information, sound assessments and recommendations to support informed organizational decisions.
Contribute to an organizational culture that values learning, collaboration, accountability and thoughtful change.

Required Qualifications and Experience

We welcome applicants who bring a combination of professional knowledge, cultural understanding and demonstrated leadership experience. The successful candidate will have:

Approximately five years of relevant experience in addictions treatment, counselling, Indigenous wellness or related therapeutic services, including demonstrated experience supervising or leading employees.
A strong understanding of addiction and recovery, trauma-informed practice, group-based treatment, professional boundaries and client safety.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop employees, address workplace challenges constructively and maintain professional accountability.
Knowledge of First Nations histories, the impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma, cultural safety and Indigenous approaches to healing.
Experience applying professional standards, maintaining quality documentation and contributing to program evaluation or continuous improvement.
Relevant post-secondary education in addictions, counselling, social work, psychology, Indigenous wellness, health leadership or a related field, or a comparable combination of education, training and experience.

Professional Certification — Required

Applicants must hold a current, recognized professional certification or registration relevant to addictions treatment, counselling or clinical supervision. Relevant credentials may include:

Indigenous Certification Board of Canada (ICBOC) certification
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)
Registered Social Worker or Registered Clinical Social Worker (RSW/RCSW)
Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC)
Recognized clinical-supervision certification

Applicants must be able to provide evidence of current certification or registration appropriate to the position.

Additional Assets

Experience working in a First Nations treatment centre or Indigenous-led health or wellness organization.
Experience in residential addictions treatment.
Experience within a CARF-accredited organization or comparable quality and accreditation framework.
Advanced clinical-supervision training or certification.
Experience in strategic planning, organizational improvement and multidisciplinary team development.
A master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

The Leader We Are Looking For

You understand that effective leadership begins with relationships, integrity and personal accountability.

You are comfortable supporting employees while maintaining clear professional expectations. You recognize individual strengths, encourage learning and approach challenges with fairness, curiosity and sound judgement.

You appreciate that culturally grounded treatment requires more than familiarity with Indigenous practices. It requires humility, respectful relationships, an understanding of cultural authority and a genuine commitment to learning.

You can see the connection between the quality of the therapeutic work, the wellbeing and capability of employees, and the overall effectiveness of the organization.

You are able to think strategically while remaining connected to the realities of daily residential treatment. You communicate openly, collaborate across departments and work constructively with the Executive Director to address challenges, identify opportunities and advance organizational priorities.

Most importantly, you believe in the value of recovery, the capacity of people to grow and the importance of creating conditions where meaningful healing can take place.

Why Join Round Lake Treatment Centre?

At RLTC, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a well-established, culturally grounded residential treatment program where Indigenous knowledge, recovery principles and professional practice are brought together in support of healing.

You will work alongside dedicated employees, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and organizational leaders who share a commitment to client wellness, cultural integrity and continuous learning.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of our therapeutic services, develop the next generation of treatment professionals and contribute to the ongoing strength of a First Nations organization.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to recption@roundlake.bc.ca.

In your cover letter, we invite you to share how your experience, leadership approach and understanding of culturally grounded recovery align with the work of Round Lake Treatment Centre.

This is a First Nations-specific leadership position under Section 42 (special programs) of the BC Human Rights Code. Preference will be given to qualified First Nations candidates.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.