Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Science Centre

Are you looking to make an impactful and unique contribution to one of Canada's most visited cultural attractions? Are you a commercially oriented senior executive with a passion for innovative business development approaches? Are you a visionary leader who embraces and drives modernization and service excellence? Do you want to make a big impact on communities, the science and technology sectors, 21st century skill development and the innovation pipeline in Ontario and Canada?

If so, consider this unique leadership role to advance the vision of the Ontario Science Centre (OSC). It is an opportunity that will allow you to champion initiatives and inspire “more curious, creative and resilient” communities. In this role you will also have the opportunity to focus on growth and development, as you lead an important icon of Ontario into its next 50 years.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an authentic and courageous senior executive, who brings extensive strategic planning and business experience, to lead a transformation agenda, and enhance financial sustainability, visitor experience, and science and technology engagement of Ontarians and visitors.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial executive who will provide creative and operational leadership to ensure that the OSC delivers on its vision, purpose and strategic plan.

What can I expect to do in this role?

The OSC is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. It receives operating and capital funding from the provincial government and is responsible for generating revenues through its own operations and fundraising. Accountable to the OSC Board of Directors, and reporting to the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Chief Executive Officer's role is to position the OSC as a strong agent of change in Ontario's science and technology education ecosystem, delivering a compelling visitor experience, and harnessing the active support of private and public sector partners.

In this critical leadership role, and as an executive within the Ontario Public Service (OPS), you will:

• Be a visionary: by leading the OSC on its transformational journey of new exhibit selection and development, marketing, outreach and business initiatives to ensure revenue and market share growth, financial sustainability and strong value for money.
• Champion service excellence: by driving modernization, digital transformation and customer experience excellence.
• Be forward focused: by providing leadership in the development of an organization that encourages and promotes diverse ideas and is nimble, innovative and user-focused.
• Model leadership: by leading through example and building a positive organizational environment, that promotes a culture of and demonstrates a commitment to excellence, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and equity, all while creating a work environment that enables all employees to contribute fully to the goals of the organization.
• Establish partnerships: by marketing and promoting the OSC's vision and strategic plan to engage donors, sponsors and volunteers and by cultivating joint ventures with partners to enhance OSC mindshare and deepen the Centre's contribution to science and technology engagement and education.
• Be responsive: by formulating and executing a business plan to thrive in a rapidly changing environment and to advance the Province's objectives and priorities, while providing timely and high-quality support to the OSC Board and Deputy Minister and meeting the accountability requirements of a senior public servant.

How do I qualify?

Executive and Transformational Leadership

• You are a senior leader who has developed, implemented and communicated new directions and mandates.
• You are a proven change agent versed in organizational transformation with the demonstrated ability to deliver results in a complex and changing environment.
• You have executive experience establishing and leading senior management teams delivering outstanding results in a customer-facing organizational environment.
• You have successfully developed and fostered organizational cultures that are diverse, inclusive, accessible, nimble and innovative.

Strategic Planning and Entrepreneurial Expertise

• You have defined and built audiences through programming and marketing, and led business operations in new directions with due risk management and mitigation plans.
• You anticipate new directions, issues and trends and can make recommendations regarding science and technology engagement and science literacy to the Board of Directors and the Deputy Minister.
• You have business experience generating revenues using multiple tactics and avenues.
• You have experience raising funds from private donors and policy support from the public sector.
• You have experience in digital transformation.
• You have created and implemented a developmental plan for the sustainable funding of a similar type of organization.

Relationship Management and Communication

• You have proven ability to foster collaborative relationships with partners, in the corporate, government and institutional arenas.
• You are a sophisticated communicator with superior public relations skills to represent the government, and to position the OSC as an expert voice around science and technology education and engagement.
• You have excellent diplomacy skills and can deal fairly, frankly, assertively and constructively with senior officials and stakeholders to resolve highly contentious issues.
• You have highly developed relationship building skills to build and sustain effective partnerships with the Board of Directors, government officials, the public, donors, corporate sponsors and volunteers.

The Ontario Public Service has been chosen as one of:

• Canada's Top 100 Employers
• Canada's Top Employers for Young People
• Greater Toronto Area's Top Employers
• Canada's Best Diversity Employers
• Canada's Greenest Employers
• Best Employers for New Canadians

We offer:

• A defined benefit pension plan
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits which includes adoptive parents
• Comprehensive Health Plan
• Life and Disability insurance
• A progressive work environment that promotes a work/life balance
• Flexible learning and development opportunities including online, training and mentorship programs
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization through a wide range of career fields

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 Sunday, September 15, 2019 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.