Champion Contingency Planning for Service Continuity Across OntarioAre you a collaborative, people-focused leader with deep expertise in labour relations and operational planning?
The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) has established a new branch to lead labour dispute and contingency planning for the Ontario Public Service (OPS), and we're looking for a manager to advance this work. As
Manager, Strategy and Contingency Planning, you will play a central role in preparing the OPS for potential labour disruptions through strategic planning and coordination.
This is a unique opportunity to build and shape a new team, support government-wide service continuity, and lead cross-ministry efforts during critical times. You will be the OPS-wide lead for labour contingency planning, working with bargaining agents and ministry partners to ensure alignment, readiness, and clear communication. You'll work directly with senior leaders across government, influencing decisions that shape Ontario's readiness and response during critical times.
This leadership role requires balancing strategic labour relations expertise with practical operational planning to maintain essential public services when they're needed most.
If you're motivated by complex challenges and ready to support Ontario through labour disruptions, we'd love to hear from you.
The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, Together. A career in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is driven by purpose. We're building a stronger Ontario by delivering programs and services that make a real difference in people's lives. If you share this ambition, you'll find a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people we serve and empowers you to lead with confidence.
Why Your Leadership Belongs Here:
- Purpose that drives you: Lead work that matters. Your leadership will shape policies, programs, and services that improve lives across the province—every day.
- A culture that supports you: Thrive in a flexible, inclusive, and respectful workplace that values your well-being and empowers you to bring your whole self to work.
- A career that grows with you: Explore leadership opportunities across ministries and sectors. With access to mentorship, learning, and mobility, your career can evolve here.
- Recognition that reflects your impact: We value the difference you make. You'll receive competitive pay, a defined-benefit pension, and benefits that support your well-being—plus meaningful recognition for your contributions.
About the job
We believe great leadership starts with high standards and strong support. In the OPS, that means showing up with authenticity, acting with integrity, and having the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard.
As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible, where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.
You won't be doing it alone. We invest in our leaders through mentorship, learning opportunities, and cross-ministry networks that help you grow your impact and connect with peers across the organization.
Leadership is about impact, and in this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful one.
In this critical role, you will:
- Lead the strategy, coordination and development of labour contingency plans supporting the continuity of government services during labour disruptions.
- Build, maintain and develop relationships with internal partners across all ministries and agencies.
- Provide expert advice and guidance on labour dispute protocols, strike readiness, and operational response.
- Support recruitment and coaching, develop work plans, and set operational directions and goals.
- Collaborate with key labour relations experts and operational partners to align contingency planning with government-wide labour relations frameworks.
- Develop communication strategies and planning tools to support readiness across the OPS.
- Champion a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment.
Meet Your New Team You will be joining the leadership team in the
Contingency Planning and Operations Division within the
OPS Strategic Labour Relations and Compensation Practices Group (OSLRC). This newly established division leads cross-ministry coordination and operational planning for labour dispute contingency efforts, strengthening strategy development and collaboration to maintain public service continuity.
This team works closely with the
Employee Relations and Negotiations Division (ERND) and
Pay and Benefits Services Division (PBSD) to support and build a responsive and resilient OPS.
What you bring to the team
Leadership and People Management
- Demonstrate the leadership behaviours, attributes and mindsets for leaders across the organization to lead the OPS into the future and deliver our vision.
- Ability to support the growth of others by providing timely feedback, encouraging learning, and creating opportunities for development.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute.
Strategic Labour Relations Expertise
- Extensive knowledge of OPS collective agreements, dispute resolution frameworks, and union-management dynamics.
- Proven ability to provide strategic advice on complex labour relations issues and support effective decision-making in high-stakes environments.
- Skilled in navigating sensitive labour matters while balancing organizational priorities and maintaining constructive union-management relationships.
Contingency Planning and Operational Oversight
- Experience leading complex operational planning, particularly in the context of service disruptions or critical scenarios.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate operational processes, interpret directives and case law, and leading partner engagements.
- Solid understanding of government structures and administrative processes, including operations and policy frameworks.
Relationship Management and Communication
- Ability to foster collaboration, influence partners, and build trust across ministries and leadership levels.
- Exceptional communication skills to convey complex information clearly, develop practical guidance for diverse audiences and anticipate where questions may arise and how to provide appropriate support.
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
Think this role could be right for you? We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:
- Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
- Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage.
Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace: