Interim Senior Vice President, Applied Research & Innovation

The client is a prominent Canadian youth mental health organisation seeking an interim executive to build an Applied Research Division from the ground up. Over a 6-12 month engagement, the role spans strategy design, governance, operating model development, funding frameworks, and an implementation roadmap. The executive will work closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.

The division is intended to convert existing clinical, operational, and population health data into actionable insights, attract research grants and external funding, forge academic and government partnerships, and position the organisation as a recognised leader in youth mental health research. The successful candidate will also lead succession planning to recruit and transition a permanent divisional leader.

• Design and implement a comprehensive Applied Research Strategy aligned with organisational priorities and youth mental health outcomes.
• Develop a framework for converting clinical, operational, and population data into actionable insights and identify emerging service gaps.
• Build a diversified funding strategy, including government grants, academic collaborations, philanthropic funding, and industry-sponsored initiatives.
• Establish governance frameworks covering ethics, privacy, data stewardship, and research oversight committees.
• Create the organisational design, staffing model, policies, and performance metrics for the Applied Research Division.
• Recruit and onboard the permanent divisional leader, providing a structured knowledge transfer and transition plan.

• Demonstrated experience building or scaling applied research functions, ideally within health, mental health, or social services sectors.
• Strong knowledge of research governance, ethics, and data stewardship practices.
• Proven track record securing and managing research grants from government, academic, and philanthropic sources.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships with universities, hospitals, government agencies, and community organisations.
• Ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on execution across a 6-12 month mandate.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally safe engagement practices, including with Indigenous and equity-deserving communities.

LHH Knightsbridge is a Canadian leadership and talent advisory firm that places interim executives and supports organisations through leadership transitions. In this engagement, the client is a leading Canadian youth mental health organisation with a broad commitment to evidence-informed care, advocacy, prevention, and community-based services.