Chief Executive Officer

Hughes Recruitment & Strategy Collective; Regina; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable energy research organization in Saskatchewan is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead its transition towards sustainable financial practices while maintaining its technical credibility. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in the energy sector, demonstrating proven leadership and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders. This role offers competitive compensation and the chance to influence Saskatchewan's energy innovation landscape.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits and pension program

Performance-based incentives

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years in energy industry, government, or academia.
• Experience liaising with high level elected officials.
• Proven leadership in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction aligning research with sustainability.
• Strengthen funding through diversified revenue streams.
• Act as chief ambassador across various communities.
• Lead technical team fostering collaboration and performance.

Skills

Strong business and financial acumen

Ability to translate complex concepts

Experience in stakeholder engagement

Job description

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) is a Saskatchewan-based, not-for-profit research and innovation organization with a global reputation in subsurface energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and applied research that connects industry, government, and academia.

PTRC has spent more than two decades operating at the intersection of science, policy, and industry need. Headquartered in Regina, PTRC plays a critical role in advancing technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of energy production while supporting the responsible development of Saskatchewan’s natural resources.

PTRC is widely respected for its technical credibility, collaborative approach, and ability to convene diverse stakeholders around complex challenges. Its work spans enhanced oil recovery, CO₂ storage and monitoring, applied research, and field demonstration projects that have relevance not only provincially, but nationally and internationally. Through initiatives such as Aquistore and its broader applied research portfolio, PTRC has helped position Saskatchewan as a leader in energy innovation and carbon management.

Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Regina, SK

Reporting to: Board of Directors

The Opportunity

You will serve as the face and voice of PTRC. You will shape relationships, influence direction, and help define how applied energy research contributes to Saskatchewan’s economy, environmental priorities, and role in the global energy transition. You will be expected to lead with credibility, confidence, and curiosity, and to bring an entrepreneurial mindset to an organization ready to take its next step forward.

For the right leader, this is a rare opportunity to steward a respected institution, strengthen its funding and business model, and leave a lasting imprint on the future of energy research and innovation in Saskatchewan and beyond.

PTRC is entering an important new chapter, one defined by both opportunity and responsibility. The organization is at a strategic inflection point, moving from a historically research-driven, grant-dependent model toward a more financially sustainable, applied, and industry-engaged future. While government funding remains an important pillar, there is a clear opportunity to expand fee-for-service work, strengthen industry partnerships, and deepen relationships with the end users of PTRC’s expertise, infrastructure, and data.

This evolution is about ensuring its long-term relevance, resilience, and impact in a rapidly shifting energy and innovation landscape.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will be entrusted with leading this transition. You will be asked to balance credibility and continuity with momentum and change. You will build on PTRC’s strong technical foundation while sharpening its commercial mindset, external presence, and value proposition to industry, governments, and partners. This role calls for a leader who can translate complex science into compelling strategy, and research excellence into sustainable business outcomes.

PTRC is supported by a highly capable, and deeply technical team based in Regina, known for its stability, institutional knowledge, and commitment to excellence. The organization has benefited from consistent leadership and a strong internal culture, and there is genuine pride in the work being done. The opportunity ahead is about unlocking what is possible.

The Board of Directors is engaged, thoughtful, and aligned around the need for strong leadership at this stage of PTRC’s journey. They are seeking a CEO who can bridge technical depth with business acumen, strategic clarity, and executive presence. Someone who is equally comfortable in the details of implementation as they are in high-level conversations with industry leaders, funders, regulators, and government partners.

Key Responsibilities

As Chief Executive Officer, you will be responsible for leading PTRC through a period of transition and growth, while preserving the organization’s technical credibility, culture, and purpose. Success in this role will be defined by your ability to deliver impact across the following core areas:

1. Strategic Leadership and Organizational Direction

Set a clear, compelling direction for PTRC that aligns research excellence with long-term sustainability and relevance.

• Translate the Board’s strategic priorities into a focused, actionable roadmap for the organization
• Lead PTRC through its next phase of evolution, balancing continuity with thoughtful change
• Bring clarity and momentum to decision-making during a critical period of opportunity and transformation
• Ensure PTRC remains aligned with provincial, national, and global energy and innovation priorities

2. Financial Sustainability and Business Development

Strengthen PTRC’s funding model by expanding revenue streams and deepening industry engagement.

• Reduce reliance on grant-based funding by growing fee-for-service, applied research, and industry-driven work
• Build and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, end users, and funders
• Position PTRC’s infrastructure, expertise, and data as high-value assets to clients and collaborators
• Oversee financial performance with discipline and transparency, ensuring long-term sustainability

3. External Leadership, Influence, and Advocacy

Act as PTRC’s chief ambassador and trusted voice across industry, government, and research communities.

• Represent PTRC at provincial, national, and international levels with credibility and confidence
• Strengthen relationships with government ministries, agencies, regulators, and funding bodies
• Influence policy, funding priorities, and public discourse related to applied energy research and innovation
• Elevate PTRC’s profile as a leader in subsurface energy, carbon management, and applied research

4. Team Leadership, Culture, and Operational Excellence

Lead and support a highly technical team while fostering clarity, accountability, and engagement.

• Create an environment where technical expertise is valued, supported, and translated into impact
• Provide clear leadership, direction, and support to senior leaders and staff
• Maintain and strengthen a culture of trust, collaboration, and performance
• Ensure operational systems, governance, and reporting support both current needs and future growth

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of leadership maturity, business acumen, and intellectual curiosity.

The Essentials

These are the foundational elements required to lead PTRC effectively at this moment in its evolution.

• Senior leadership experience in a complex, stakeholder-driven environment such as industry, applied research, government, academia, or a combination thereof
• A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in a combination of the energy industry, academia and government sectors
• A track record of working with research and researchers, liaising with high level elected and unelected government personnel and senior energy industry and business representatives
• Proven experience working with and reporting to a Board of Directors
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, transition, or organizational evolution
• Comfort operating in environments where public interest, industry needs, and innovation intersect
• Willingness to be based in Regina, with regular travel nationally and internationally as required

The Hard Skills

These are the capabilities that enable execution, sustainability, and credibility.

• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience overseeing budgets, revenue models, and financial performance
• Experience developing, diversifying, or strengthening funding and revenue streams, including fee-for-service or industry-funded work
• Ability to translate complex technical or scientific concepts into clear, compelling value propositions
• Proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with industry leaders, government partners, regulators, and funders
• Experience representing an organization publicly, including presenting to senior stakeholders, speaking at industry forums, or engaging in policy discussions

The Intangibles

These are the qualities that will make the difference in this role.

• An entrepreneurial mindset paired with sound judgment and respect for PTRC’s mandate and culture
• Credibility and gravitas balanced with approachability and humility
• Curiosity and openness, with a willingness to ask questions, listen deeply, and learn
• The ability to lead and support a highly technical team while fostering clarity, accountability, and engagement
• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust, encourages initiative, and aligns people around shared outcomes

What Our Client Offers

• The opportunity to lead a highly respected, mission-driven organization with provincial, national, and international impact
• A rare CEO mandate that blends applied research, industry engagement, public policy influence, and organizational leadership
• The chance to shape and strengthen PTRC’s long-term funding and business model during a pivotal moment in its evolution
• A collaborative, engaged Board of Directors that is aligned, thoughtful, and supportive of strong leadership
• A stable, and deeply technical team with a strong culture, institutional knowledge, and commitment to excellence
• Meaningful influence across Saskatchewan’s energy, innovation, and economic landscape
• Competitive compensation reflective of the role’s scope, experience, and accountability
• Performance-based incentive opportunity aligned to organizational outcomes
• Comprehensive benefits and pension program consistent with senior leadership roles in the public and not-for-profit sector
• Flexibility and autonomy appropriate to an executive leadership role, balanced with accountability and visibility