Chief Executive Officer `& President, Destination Ontario

Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Destination Ontario is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer & President to lead its vision in promoting Ontario as a premier destination. This role is pivotal in driving strategic marketing initiatives, enhancing collaboration with stakeholders, and ensuring effective operational management. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in tourism and proven leadership skills in navigating complex organizational challenges.

Benefits

Defined-benefit pension plan

100% employer-paid health, dental, and life benefits

$750 health and wellness spending account

25 days' vacation, increased after 15 years

Parental leave top-up benefits

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Proven ability to inspire teams and drive performance.
• Strong management skills in a government setting.
• Experience in the tourism industry with marketing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide strategic marketing and brand development for Destination Ontario.
• Oversee business operations, organization transformation and initiatives.
• Build and maintain industry stakeholder partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Marketing

Relationship Management

Negotiation

Critical Thinking

Education

Background in Business Development

Job description

Apply By: Friday, June 27, 2025 11:59 pm EDT

Ontario, so much more than a destination

From vibrant cities and world-class festivals to breathtaking natural wonders, the province offers something for every traveller. Tourism plays a vital role in Ontario's economy, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and connecting communities through shared stories and experiences. Destination Ontario brings this to life by showcasing the province to the world, turning travel into opportunities for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Destination Ontario's mission is to generate demand and inspire travel to and within Ontario for the benefit of residents, communities, and the provincial economy. Through strategic marketing, industry collaboration, and data-driven insights, they promote Ontario as a leading four-season destination for leisure and business travel in domestic and key international markets. Destination Ontario is seeking an inspiring Chief Executive Office (CEO) & President to lead the promotion of Ontario as a top destination both domestically and internationally. The CEO & President reports to the Board of Directors and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming, with a mandate to drive economic growth through strategic marketing and leading the development and execution of key initiatives aimed at strengthening accountability to the public. A champion of safe, effective, and evidence-based practices, the CEO works to reduce avoidable costs while improving service delivery within the sector. This role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, partners, and counterparts in other jurisdictions.

About the job

The CEO & President, Destination Ontario has the following primary responsibilities:

• providing leadership in strategic marketing and brand development consistent with the decisions of the Board of Directors
• building and maintaining industry stakeholder partnerships within the tourism, destination marketing fields and public sector
• overseeing broad business operations, organizational transformation, and large-scale initiatives
• building and leading high-performing teams through periods of change
• leading the strategic planning, priority setting, and overall direction of the organization
• providing leadership in the day-to-day operational management including financial, human and material resources
• advising and briefing the Board of Directors and Deputy Minister on the strategic, operational and financial plans and issues of major importance

What you bring to the team

Executive Leadership

You are a strategic executive leader who:

• defines a vision and strategic direction to inspire teams and optimize the performance of Destination Ontario
• has well developed executive management and operational skills and can lead others to achieve service and performance excellence in a government agency setting
• models ethical behaviour, is honest and capable of making difficult choices
• confronts bias and systemic barriers in the workplace, and promotes inclusion, diversity, equity, antiracism, and accessibility through committed action
• leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset

Stakeholder Relationships

You are an experienced leader with:

• experience connecting to other agencies/divisions, ministries, and jurisdictions to gather information and make strategic decisions
• proven ability to manage complex relationships and build strong partnerships, as well as maintain key contacts at all levels of government and organizations
• an ability to engage internal and external stakeholders to build support for key initiatives
• well developed skills in negotiation and consultation

Critical Thinking and Political Acuity

You are a relationship builder and connector who:

• initiates and champions working across organizational boundaries, hierarchies, and mandates to achieve results
• displays impeccable judgement, diplomacy, and tact as you navigate complex, contentious, and sensitive situations
• leverages data as an enterprise asset and uses it effectively for evidence-based decision making
• identifies and manages complex and contentious program and stakeholder issues while determining cause and effect relationships

Job Specific

You are a tourism industry leader that:

• has a background in business development or a similar sector that includes marketing
• has a demonstrated understanding of the principles of design thinking and modern approaches to effectively reach target audiences
• has knowledge of economic development as it relates to tourism principles and practices to direct effective provincial, national and international marketing initiatives
• understands current trends and stakeholder interests in the tourism industry and other related sectors

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!

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 [e-mail]. All information discussed related to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package includes:

• a defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
• 100% employer-paid group health, dental, life and disability benefits
• a $750-per-year health and wellness spending account
• 25 days' vacation, increased after 15 years
• parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents
• an Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling services

To fill this position, Destination Ontario has partnered with leadership advisory firm Odgers Berndtson. Applications are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online ideally by June 27, 2025 at https://careers.odgersberndtson.com/en-ca/30365