Executive Director, Education Finance Office

Explore an exciting and challenging opportunity in the Education Labour and Finance Division (ELFD), Ministry of Education, where you will provide executive leadership in education funding and reform.

As the Executive Director, Education Finance, you will have a significant impact in advancing and supporting the government's priorities for education and finance reform by leading the costing, forecasting, and financial implications of collective bargaining in the elementary/secondary education sectors.

What can I expect to do in this role?

This senior executive role will:

• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister, Education Labour & Finance and the ministry senior management team related to financial reform, economic trends, opportunities and issues management.

• Partner with the Executive Director, Labour Relations and report to the ADM Education Labour & Finance to develop integrated multi-year funding strategies, including the development of modelling capacity to project operating funding requirements, a structure for stakeholder consultation and engagements, new reporting and accountability measures and communications measures that promote public confidence in publicly funded education.

• Establish linkages and collaborate with other divisions to ensure effective coordination and alignment of divisional or regional programs and services with other ministry initiatives to support government/ministry policy direction and program objectives.

• Provide oversight and accountability to develop and ensure the implementation of the strategic, business and operational plans (e.g., Grants for Student Needs funding) necessary to ensure sound strategies and plans for the development of the government's objectives for education funding and management.

• Lead the development of costing and forecasting of financial impacts in support of establishing collective bargaining financial mandates in the publicly funded elementary and secondary education sector.

• Oversee timely and accurate reporting of education finance information for provincial reporting purposes through oversight of all aspects of school board funding and financial reporting, including compliance with all applicable accounting standards.

• Act as a key ministry contact with senior officials in other ministries/jurisdictions and with representatives of a broad range of external stakeholders to build and sustain effective stakeholder relationships, resolve problems, and keep abreast of strategic issues and business/operations matters of significance to the division/ministry.

• As a member of the divisional/ministry senior management team, leads/participates in divisional/ministry corporate strategic planning initiatives, operational/business plans and results review, and issues resolution.

How do I qualify?

Executive Leadership

• You have a record of delivering excellent results for your organization and have a reputation of being open, transparent and effective at managing competing interests.
• You are a seasoned executive who possesses the leadership skills and abilities to lead and influence a broad range of stakeholders including internal and external partners, the public, and the education sector.
• You have the ability to anticipate and recognize politically sensitive situations and their potential implications.
• You are an inclusive leader who leads by example, promotes a positive team environment and fosters a culture of excellence, diversity, inclusion and equity.

Technical Knowledge

• Financial theories, principles and practices, financial protocols and business/financial cycle components, financial and accounting systems and controls to direct and coordinate business planning processes.
• Relevant acts, regulations and policies which form the framework for collective bargaining in the education sector, such as the Education Act and Regulations, Labour Relations Act, Employment Standards Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Pay Equity Act, etc. to understand the legal framework under which school boards operate.
• Knowledge and understanding of publicly funded education systems to direct the development of policy frameworks, guiding principles, funding agreements and resources to meet the educational needs of Indigenous learners. To apply knowledge of economic, social, cultural, political and educational issues facing Ontario and the inherent challenges and opportunities they present to deal with Indigenous education funding and resource issues.

Relationship Management

• You are recognized for your ability to build collaborative relationships, engage, cultivate and sustain effective horizontal working relationships, and influence decisions that impact a large internal and external stakeholder base.
• You are skilled at providing strategic advice and influencing senior level decision makers.
• You possess superior negotiations, communications and issues management skills.
• You foster a collaborative work environment that promotes and facilitates transparency and accountability.

Judgment, Tact and Political Acuity

• You have a high degree of integrity and political acuity to manage complex issues within an organization with high public profile and scrutiny.
• You are open to new ideas and are able to adapt to a changing environment.
• You understand political issues and organizational impacts.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, September 22, 2017 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.