President And Chief Executive Officer

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.

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.

As the President/CEO, you will have the vision to develop and implement operational plans and ensure the coordination of services, which align to and support the Agency’s vision of being “Your Trusted Water Partner for Life”. 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.

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.

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, merit-based, 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 invited to complete the voluntary survey and contribute to building a more diverse, inclusive and accessible OPS. If you have completed the survey since September 28th, 2020, you do not need to complete it again unless you would like to change your responses or consent. The OPS is an accessible employer and offers accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process.

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.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Reporting to the Deputy Minister of Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks and the OCWA Board of Directors you will provide executive leadership and strategic direction to the OCWA, and position and champion Ontario as a leader in the development and provision of sustainable clean water technologies, services, and innovative water solutions.

In this role, you will:

Executive Leadership Skills

• 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.
• You are an inclusive leader who values and creates a culture of diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity in the workplace
• You will drive OCWA’s vision, mission and values, 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.
• You are an agent of change who successfully establishes consensus and inspires a commitment towards achieving a long-term strategic vision and are passionate about the water and wastewater industry.

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.
• Deliver on OCWA’s strategic plan, which builds on growth strategies that have been the Agency’s focus for several years.
• 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.
• 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 OCWA’s business plan.
• You will recommend policies, plans, and programs that benefit our clients by being innovative, accountable, and fiscally sound.

Stakeholder Relationship Management and Political Acuity

• 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.
• 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 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 engage constructively with senior officials, members of the board and stakeholders to resolve highly contentious issues.
• You have proven ability to connect and foster complex, collaborative business relationships with partners and stakeholders, including municipalities, Indigenous and First Nations communities, the broader public sector and industry.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity please apply online with a covering letter and your resume in word or PDF format via email by July 14th, 2023, or sooner to [email protected] quoting project OCWA-CEO.

Should you wish to speak to our Executive Recruiter or to receive a detailed position description please contact Amy Oliveira at 416-214-9299 extension 4, [email protected] or Jon Stungevicius at 416-214-9299 extension 1, [email protected].

Apply By: Wednesday, July 5, 2023 11:59 pm EDT

Location: Mississauga, Ontario