Director, Provincially Operated Schools

Fonction publique de l'Ontario; Milton; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Ministry of Education is seeking a Director of Provincially Operated Schools to provide strategic and operational leadership for Deaf, hard of hearing, blind/vision-impaired and learning-disabled students across Milton, London, Brantford and Belleville.

The role oversees seven ministry-operated schools, policy implementation, and a leadership team delivering lodging, education and supports, while engaging with diverse stakeholders and ensuring safety and high-quality services.

Responsibilities

• Provide stewardship and oversee 7 Ministry operated schools in Milton, London, Brantford and Belleville that educate and lodge Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Visually Impaired and Special Education students.
• Oversee policy and operations of provincially operated schools and drive policy coherence across schools.
• Lead a leadership team delivering education, curriculum, programs, lodging, operations and support services.
• Develop and implement high-quality student-focused services and report results to the Assistant Deputy Minister.
• Represent the ministry and build relationships with bargaining units, parents, advocacy groups, boards and agencies.

Job description

Stewarding Excellence in Specialized Education Programs

Are you a strategic and operational leader with strong stakeholder relationship skills? If so, consider this unique opportunity to serve as Director of Provincially Operated Schools in the Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch of Ontario's Ministry of Education.

The Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch (PDSB) is a leader in delivering elementary and secondary education and specialized integrated programming for students who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, have low vision, are Deafblind, or have learning disabilities. PDSB operates three American Sign Language (ASL)/English provincial schools for the Deaf and three English-language demonstration schools for students with learning disabilities, co-located in Belleville, London and Milton, as well as one English-language provincial school for students who are blind, visually impaired or Deafblind, located in Brantford. The branch supports more than 500 students in reaching their full potential through a total experience that includes learning, lodging, sports, music, recreation, leadership opportunities and life beyond school.

The Ministry is seeking a collaborative leader with experience overseeing multi-site operations and a strong understanding of service delivery, facility management, operations, health and safety obligations, and related best practices. The Director will understand students with disabilities and/or special education needs, as well as Deaf education and culture, and will build trust with stakeholders who may have competing interests and priorities. This is a uniquely rewarding opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership in support of Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, Deafblind and learning-disabled students.

This position requires a Criminal Record and a Vulnerable Sector Check

About the job

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Student Support and Field Services Division, you will:

• provide stewardship and oversee 7 Ministry operated schools in Milton, London, Brantford and Belleville that provide education and lodging to Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Visually Impaired and Special Education students;
• be responsible for policy and operations of provincially operated schools and work to enhance policy coherence to ensure key priorities are clearly articulated, shared, understood and implemented in provincially operated schools;
• provide oversight and strategic leadership to a leadership team including superintendents and managers that deliver education, curriculum, programs, lodging, operations and support services (including outreach services, pre-school home-visiting programs and consultative services);
• lead the development and implementation of high-quality student focused services and supports, while apprising the Assistant Deputy Minister on operations and results;
• represent the ministry in the education system and develop strong relationships with bargaining unit leaders, parents, advocacy associations, district school boards and government agencies.

What you bring to the team

Executive Leadership

• leading and influencing people in a sizable multi-site operational and unionized environment, managing contentious human resource and labour relations issues to achieve outstanding results;
• leading through transformational change and championing the adoption of innovative methods and technologies while taking measured and appropriate risks related to innovation;
• leading and motivating high-performing and multi-functional teams in a fast-paced, highly visible, and demanding environment, subject to close public, media, and political scrutiny;
• creating a culture of equity, inclusion, accessibility in the workplace while promoting employee wellbeing and engagement.

Relationship Management and Political Acuity

• fostering collaborative internal and external relationships to promote a seamless integration of student learning and related supports;
• demonstrating political acuity while delivering strategic and confidential advice to senior leaders and other various stakeholders;
• managing complex, politically sensitive issues within the context of multiple interests, high public profile and scrutiny;
• communicating, negotiating and consensus building with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to advance shared priorities.

Job Knowledge

• knowledge and understanding of government and school board organizational structures and economic, social, cultural, political, and educational issues facing Ontario as well as the risks and opportunities they present to the schools;
• knowledge and experience leading complex operations, facilities management, health and safety, with demonstrated abilities in leading and influencing people, while promoting improved program delivery;
• ability to determine long-term issues, problems and opportunities and develop sound strategies and plans to address challenges;
• experience in engagement, consultation, and negotiation methods, techniques, and best practices to support operational delivery of student learning and related programming;
• knowledge of second language acquisition and development as well as fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) would be an asset.

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 us.

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

• About security checks: A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities. If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in. Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• The OPS uses multiple methods to assess candidates for executive positions; these may include resume screening, interviews, assignments, psychometric assessments, simulations and reference checks.
• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements forthis job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

Applicants to this competition may also be considered for other executive opportunities within the OPS.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.