Job Summary:

The Associate Senior Medical Director (ASMD), Addiction Services will provide expert medical leadership oversight and direction to support the development, implementation, and integration of a provincially coordinated Addiction Services portfolio in alignment with the strategic vision for Recovery Alberta. The ASMD combines clinical expertise with system-level leadership, supporting evidence-informed practice, physician engagement, and alignment with Provincial priorities and policy direction of the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction. This role contributes to strategic planning, clinical governance, and system transformation initiatives that improve access, quality, safety, and outcomes across the continuum of care.  

You can make a difference by guiding Recovery Alberta’s approach to addiction recovery and helping Albertans to overcome their challenges and live full, healthy lives.  

Executive physician leadership is central to driving high-performing, patient-centred health systems. This role blends expertise with strategic oversight, ensuring that medical decisions, operational priorities, and organizational goals are aligned. An effective executive physician leader shapes culture, fosters accountability, advances quality and safety, and supports teams through evidence-informed decision-making. They build strong relationships across clinical, operational, administrative, and community partners; champion innovation; and guide systems through complexity and change.  

Working directly with operational counterparts, the ASMD requires exceptional communication, sound judgment, and the ability to translate clinical insight into sustainable policy, operational planning, and workforce strategies that improve outcomes and strengthen organizational performance.

This 0.4 FTE position is Provincial; physical work location is negotiable within Alberta.  

Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

The ASMD will:

Provide strategic and operational leadership for integrated recovery-oriented addiction services across Recovery Alberta’s facilities and programs including leading the design, development, and implementation of effective and efficient addiction services across the province.

Provide strategic direction, prioritization and lead implementation of quality and safety initiatives in the portfolio focusing on achieving measurable improvement.  

Oversee and direct the design, development and implementation of policies, tools, and standards of practice.

Work in partnership with operational leadership to develop and maintain a strategic framework for addiction services and programs that supports operational goals, aligned with patient- and family-centred care and the Alberta Recovery Oriented System of Care Model.

Develop and maintain a provincial framework for addiction services and program delivery.

Engage in physician workforce planning, recruitment and retention activities.

Provide leadership in compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and standards, including the Mental Health Services Protection Act Regulations and Compassionate Intervention legislation.

Provide meaningful opportunities for internal and external stakeholder engagement and consultation in respect of Addiction Treatment and Compassionate Intervention programs and services.

Qualifications and Required Attributes:  

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and an understanding of addiction and mental health to effectively manage the complexities of the addiction services system. They will be an inclusive and visionary leader with experience in medical leadership and be considered a strong clinician by peers.  

The successful applicant must hold an MD or its equivalency.

The successful applicant will preferably be recognized as a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Area of Focused Competence in Addiction Medicine and/or a Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine by College of Family Physicians of Canada and/or Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine certification or equivalent and/or other areas of experience needed for the role.

In addition, the successful applicant shall:

Have experience in provision of treatment of addiction and mental health.

Have evidence of formal administrative education and training.

Obtain and maintain an AHS Medical Staff Appointment.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Reporting Relationship:  

The practitioner will report to the Senior Medical Director, Addiction Services. 

Additional Information:

0.4 FTE

Remuneration is based on CMO Policy 01-01.  

If you have any questions, please forward to:  

Dr. Robert Tanguay, Senior Medical Director, Addiction Services, Recovery Alberta

Email: ***@recoveryalberta.ca (🔒 Premium)