Chief Executive Officer

VenorTalent; Town of Mulgrave; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Strait of Canso Superport Corporation Limited (SCSCL) seeks a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization from Port Hawkesbury and Mulgrave, Nova Scotia.

The CEO will drive growth, infrastructure development, and investment attraction in marine transportation and offshore energy while stewarding relationships with customers, investors, government agencies, First Nations, and regional stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven executive leadership experience in ports, transportation, or energy sectors.
• Experience building partnerships with government, industry, and First Nations.
• Strong financial management and governance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversee facilities, assets, and operations.
• Identify and pursue commercial opportunities in marine transportation, offshore wind, and energy markets.
• Act as spokesperson and ambassador with media, partners, and government bodies.
• Lead capital planning, governance, and risk management to ensure compliance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Public representation

Education

MBA or related advanced degree

Job description

Venor is proud to partner with Strait of Canso Superport Corporation Limited (SCSCL) in the search for its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). About SCSCL Incorporated in 1997, SCSCL owns and operates the marine terminals located in Port Hawkesbury and Mulgrave, Nova Scotia. Since acquiring the facilities from Transport Canada in 2000, SCSCL has played a critical role in supporting marine transportation, industrial development, and economic growth throughout the Strait of Canso region. The organization's mandate includes developing and upgrading port infrastructure, attracting cargo and marine traffic, operating strategic marine assets, and advocating on behalf of stakeholders who rely on the Strait as a gateway to domestic and international markets. Over the past two decades, SCSCL has transformed its facilities through strategic investment, growing its asset base significantly while positioning the region as a destination for marine commerce and industrial activity. Today, the organization is focused on capitalizing on emerging opportunities in offshore wind, green energy, hydrogen production, offshore energy development, and global supply chain growth. With abundant industrial land, an ice-free deep-water harbour, and proximity to major energy and transportation corridors, the Strait of Canso is uniquely positioned to become a leading hub for future energy and marine development in Atlantic Canada. The Opportunity Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for SCSCL.

What You’ll Be Doing

The CEO will provide strategic leadership to the organization, leading the development and execution of short and long-term plans focused on growth, infrastructure development, investment attraction, and operational excellence. This includes overseeing the management of all facilities, assets, financial resources, and operational activities under the Corporation’s control, and identifying and pursuing new commercial opportunities in marine transportation, global trade, offshore wind, renewable energy, hydrogen, and industrial development. A significant part of the role is external, with a focus on fostering strong relationships with customers, investors, industry partners, government agencies, and regional stakeholders, including municipal partners across the Strait. The CEO will also build and maintain strong working relationships with First Nations communities to ensure their interests are reflected in the Corporation’s growth plans. The CEO will act as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the organization with the media, business community, governments, and industry associations, and will lead discussions and partnerships that support investment attraction and economic development throughout the region. On the operational and governance side, the CEO will oversee capital planning initiatives and infrastructure projects that enhance the competitiveness and capacity of Superport facilities, while ensuring compliance with governance standards, environmental regulations, financial controls, and all applicable legislation. This includes building and leading a high‑performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and providing regular reporting and strategic recommendations to the Board of Directors on organizational performance, emerging opportunities, and key risks.

What You’ll Bring

You hold a university degree in business administration, commerce, engineering, or a related discipline, with an MBA or other advanced degree considered an asset. Equivalent combinations of education and senior leadership experience will also be considered. You bring proven executive leadership experience within ports, transportation, logistics, energy, infrastructure, industrial operations, or a related sector. You are a visionary, entrepreneurial leader with a track record of identifying and acting on emerging commercial opportunities. Experience in global trade, marine transportation, port operations, and emerging energy markets - including offshore wind and green energy development - would be considered a strong asset. You have demonstrated success in business development, investment attraction, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnership development, as well as experience leading or overseeing complex infrastructure assets and major capital projects, backed by strong financial management, operational leadership, and governance expertise. You’re comfortable with modern business tools and data-driven decision-making, including an understanding of how emerging technologies such as AI are shaping business and operations. You bring strong commercial acumen and the ability to position organizations for sustainable growth and competitive advantage. You have a strong track record of successful engagement and negotiations with First Nations. You also bring the political astuteness and sound judgment needed to navigate municipal, provincial, and federal relationships, paired with a genuinely community-minded approach. You’re a resourceful leader with strong instincts for where to find the right information or expertise rather than relying solely on in‑house knowledge, and you’re comfortable working with Boards of Directors, government agencies, regulators, First Nations communities, and diverse stakeholder groups. You bring exceptional communication, relationship‑building, negotiation, and public representation skills, along with a demonstrated ability to lead high‑performing teams through growth, transformation, and change.

At Venor, we embrace a culture of belonging in the workplace. No matter who you are, where you’re from, how you think, what you believe in, or who you love, we welcome your application. We all come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, bringing unique perspectives and experiences. We encourage applications from 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), women, newcomers to Canada, and people with disabilities.

To learn more about this opportunity, reach out to Shardeigh McGillivray at [e-mail] and Anna Bryant at [e-mail].