At Government Information Technology Ontario (GovTechON), we're more than just computer systems, hardwires and code. At GovTechON, we maintain a large portfolio of complex, enterprise-grade technologies, at a scale reflecting our position as Canada's largest province: serving a population of 14 million and a public service of 60,000+.
Our focus is on driving government transformation by reimagining how technology can deliver better outcomes for the province. With over 4000+ technologists spread throughout Ontario, embedded in all ministries across the OPS, we work with our partners to drive their transformation agendas and deliver simpler, faster, better programs and services to the public and members of the Ontario Public Service (OPS).
Our GovTechON Executive-level Team, led by the Corporate Chief Information Officer, provide the strategic direction needed to accelerate our modernization goals and demonstrate how technology can be used to improve public service delivery, government operations, strategy and policy making. We're driven by our vision of what's possible and we're looking for a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to help us continue to scale and strengthen our impact.
As the GovTechON CTO, you will develop high-impact OPS-wide IT strategies, programs and projects with our Executive Team, clusters and ministry partners, lead enterprise IT architecture governance, develop and maintain common IT standards, policies, and practices, and empower an inclusive culture where everyone feels welcome.
An effective leader in 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 behaviour, 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-racism The 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.
To advance this goal, the OPS is collecting socio-demographic information that will help to address potential barriers and achieve equity in hiring. You are requested 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, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the public service.
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 Corporate Chief Information Officer / Associate Deputy Minister, GovTechON, this key executive role will be responsible for:
• Providing executive leadership and direction for the strategic planning, priority setting and overall direction of GovTechON, with a particular emphasis on the adoption and use of technology. This includes providing expertise around the adoption of leading-edge technology stacks, platforms, infrastructure (e.g., cloud), methodologies and strategies in support of building user-centric online services across the OPS.
• Championing and challenging the organization to adopt new ways of working in support of improved, simplified government processes and services.
• Promoting digital solutions to support the end-to-end redesign of programs, policies, and services.
• Developing and managing critical relationships and partnerships with Chief Information Officer counterparts across government to act as a change agent, share platform-based technology services across the organization.
• Leading discussions and coordinating decision making through various bodies (e.g., Information Technology Executive Leadership Council and OPS governance tables)
• Building strong partnerships, and actively participating in Ontario's technology community, monitoring industry and market trends in government.
• Demonstrating GovTechON values, empowering OPS members/teams, removing obstacles and influences partners.
• Creating and promoting a multi-disciplinary teamwork environment and culture of service excellence which challenges conventions and introduces new approaches to leadership and collaboration which respects diversity and inclusion, encourages all employees to work together to achieve results and contribute to a healthy, rewarding, and productive working environment where personal and team accountability are key.
What you bring to the team
Executive Leadership and Champion of Change
• You posses executive leadership and can act as a credible leader of and advocate for Ontario's digital technology transformation.
• You have a demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and encourage the adoption of innovative methods, organizational structures and technologies that drive true transformative business practices and solutions.
• You can drive a digital way of working across the organization and disciplines, such as championing robust data analytics in policy design, monitoring and evaluation.
• You encourage innovation across the OPS and GovTechON involving development of new insights into situations; questioning conventional approaches; encouraging new ideas and innovations; designing and implementing new or cutting-edge services, processes, and best practices.
Risk Management/Accountability
• You can provide executive leadership and accountability for a complex and high-profile portfolio of risks which have significant cross government impacts.
Political Acuity
• You can provide expertise to both inform and influence government decision making at executive and governance tables.
Strategic Vision and Results Focus
• You have demonstrated technical depth as well as people leadership skills, as evidenced by having led teams through technology systems change, and are known for working effectively across all aspects of the business.
• You are comfortable taking an enterprise view in the development and execution of strategic plans, while at the same time displaying the ability to understand enough detail to work with and guide service providers, staff, and vendors to manage the daily activities of the organization.
• You promote innovation and change, take calculated risks, provide executive direction and oversight of the provision of centralized expertise, support, and services for the successful delivery of major, high-impact digital projects, products, and services across the government.
Relationship Management and Communication
• You develop and manage critical relationships and engage partnerships and collaborative efforts across the OPS.
• You have proven success as an IT leader in a large complex, multi-stakeholder organization, with the business and political acumen as well as the technical expertise and insight this executive position demands.
• You have proven ability to build and manage senior-level business relationships with internal and external stakeholders, partners, vendors, and decision makers at various levels of government.
• You can clearly articulate complex technology concepts to non-technical audiences, and know how to build compelling narratives which focus on business outcomes.
• You have created effective communication strategies necessary for business operations, ensuring compliance with all internal/external partners and within established policies and protocols.
Enterprise Technology Strategy and Transformation
• You can provide executive leadership and direction for the strategic planning, governance, architecture, priority setting and overall direction of Technology in the GovTechON, ensuring services, expertise and frameworks are developed and implemented to drive the province's Digital agenda and accelerate digital technology transformation.
• You act as a credible technology expert to apply an understanding of the technical complexities, capabilities, and challenges of digital technology to champion digital transformation across the government and to promote innovation and change.