We are seeking an inspiring, principled, and collaborative leader to join the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) as our new President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO). You will champion OCWA and Ontario as a leader in the development and provision of sustainable clean water technologies, services, and innovative water solutions. You will lead an incredibly dedicated and skilled workforce who work together to produce over 800 million litres of safe and reliable drinking water and treat more than 1.1 billion litres of wastewater each day for thousands of Ontarians across the province.
As our President/CEO, you will provide strategic leadership and lead organizational transformation. We are seeking an individual who will drive innovation, business partnerships and service excellence in ensuring safe, reliable, environmentally responsible, regulated and cost-effective water and wastewater services to meet the specific needs of Ontario communities, First Nations communities, institutions, industry and organizations province-wide to help build healthy, sustainable communities and organizations.
OCWA is an agency of the Provincial Government of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and our employees are part of the Ontario Public Service (OPS). As the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Canada and trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations, communities, businesses, governments, and institutions, we manage over 800 facilities from small well systems and lagoons to large water and wastewater treatment plants. Our clients across the province vary in size and need, from municipalities serving thousands of people to small water systems serving less than a hundred homes, as well as private systems.
Reporting to our Board of Directors, the CEO will position Ontario as a leader in the development and provision of sustainable clean water technologies, services, and innovative water solutions.
As the key advisor to the Board, you will have the vision to develop and implement operational plans and ensure the coordination of services which align to and support our strategic priorities. You will recommend policies, plans, and programs that benefit our clients by being innovative, accountable, and fiscally sound. You will work to enhance growth and development of our organization while ensuring the effective utilization of resources through the priorities and focus areas in our business plan.
Inspired by our vision of being a trusted world leader and our mission: service excellence through the delivery of safe, reliable and clean water, you will guide and inspire a dedicated workforce while fostering a workplace culture focused on our core values of trust, diversity, transparency, respect, understanding, safety and teamwork while positioning OCWA as an employer of choice.
An effective leader in the OCWA and the OPS is responsible, innovative and collaborative. A responsible leader is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability and courage in how they interact with others. An individual who models ethical behavior, and who is honest and capable of making difficult choices. An innovative leader is someone who leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset. An individual who inspires others, values continuous learning and encourages development and integration. A collaborative leader focuses on helping others to grow, drives people-centered outcomes and promotes an environment of inclusivity. A leader who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more diverse and accessible workplace.
OPS commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racismThe OPS is an innovative, responsive, and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable. Diversifying leadership teams is a top OPS priority with the goal to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most underrepresented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) in leadership positions.
You are invited to complete the
voluntary survey and contribute to building a more diverse, anti-racist, inclusive and accessible OPS.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply and encourages applications from Indigenous and racialized individuals and persons with disabilities.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
The OPS offers employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's
Human Rights Code. Refer to the application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.
About the job
Reporting to the OCWA Board of Directors and the Deputy Minister of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, as the
President and Chief Executive Officer you will provide executive leadership and strategic direction to the OCWA and position, market, and champion Ontario as a leader in the development and provision of sustainable clean water technologies, services, and innovative water solutions.
In this critical role, you will:
• Provide strategic leadership and lead organizational transformation by driving innovation, business partnerships and service excellence in ensuring safe, reliable, environmentally responsible, regulated and cost-effective water and wastewater services to meet the specific needs of Ontario communities, institutions, industry and organizations province-wide to help build healthy sustainable communities and organizations.
• Deliver on OCWA's Business Plan for 2021-23 which builds on growth strategies that have been the Agency's focus for several years. Our forward-thinking strategic initiatives are grouped into four key areas of focus including: Driving Business Growth; Enhancing Efficiency through Process Improvements; Serving Client Communities and Supporting Provincial Priorities; and Ensuring the Health, Safety and Success of our Employees.
• Guide and inspire a dedicated workforce while fostering a workplace culture focused on our core values of trust, diversity, transparency, respect, understanding, safety and teamwork while positioning OCWA as an employer of choice.
• As the key advisor to OCWA's Board of Directors, you will have the vision to develop and implement operational plans and ensure the coordination of services which align to and support our strategic priorities. You will recommend policies, plans, and programs that benefit our clients by being innovative, accountable, and fiscally sound. You will work to enhance growth and development of our organization while ensuring the effective utilization of resources through the priorities and focus areas in our business plan.
What you bring to the team
Executive Leadership Skills
• You are an inclusive and collaborative leader passionate about the water and wastewater industry.
• You have a proven track record of results and accomplishments with a large public or private sector organization.
• You have exceptional communication skills and the political acumen to interact with diverse stakeholders, foster the development of partnerships, engage, and inspire our employees, while ensuring customer service excellence.
Strategic Planning and Organizational Transformation
• You will have an exceptional understanding of forward-thinking strategies as it relates to water and wastewater services and possess the ability to guide our organization into the future.
• You have proven experience in developing and executing business strategies and are skilled in problem solving to identify gaps and deficiencies in policies, programs and services.
• You have led business operations in new directions without compromising service quality and have piloted new innovative approaches/programs/strategies.
• You can anticipate new directions, issues and trends and can recommend strategies to the Board of Directors and the Deputy Minister.
Relationship Management and Communication Skills
• You have proven ability to connect and foster complex, collaborative business relationships with partners and stakeholders, including municipalities, First Nations communities, the broader public sector and industry.
• You are a sophisticated communicator with superior public relations skills to represent OCWA and government and can lead stakeholder/public engagements.
• You have superior diplomacy skills and can deal fairly, assertively and constructively with senior officials, members of the board and stakeholders to resolve highly contentious issues.
• You have demonstrated understanding of the sensitivity of issues and their potential impacts, and are able to anticipate, identify, analyze and evaluate the issues to recommend appropriate and timely resolutions and actions responsive to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.