Job Posting: Chief Executive Officer

Canadian Light Source Inc.; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Light Source (CLS) seeks a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic leadership for Canada’s national synchrotron research facility. The CEO will guide scientific excellence, stakeholder engagement, and the organization’s growth in a complex, multidisciplinary environment.

The successful candidate will advance CLS’s mission by securing sustainable funding, guiding modernization initiatives, and building strong relationships with government partners, researchers, industry, and

Job description

The Canadian Light Source (CLS) invites applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

As Canada’s national synchrotron research facility, the CLS is a world-class scientific institution that enables groundbreaking discovery and innovation across disciplines, including health, agriculture, energy, the environment, mining, advanced materials, and emerging technologies. As one of Canada’s six Major Research Facilities (MRFs), the CLS is hosted by the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. The CLS serves thousands of researchers from academia, government, and industry, supporting research that advances research impact and scientific knowledge – and contributes to Canada’s innovation capacity, economic competitiveness, and societal well-being.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, performance and impact of the organization. The successful candidate will ensure the continued delivery of scientific excellence while strengthening the CLS’s position as a globally competitive research organization and a vital component of Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem.

The CEO will provide visionary leadership during a period of significant opportunity, maximizing the impact of CLS’s existing capabilities while guiding future investments, modernization initiatives, and long-term facility planning. Working closely with governments, funding partners, researchers, industry collaborators, and international stakeholders, the CEO will advance CLS’s scientific mission, secure sustainable funding, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and position CLS as an essential component of Canada’s national research infrastructure. Through this work, the CEO will strengthen CLS’s contribution to Canada’s long‑term competitiveness, resilience, and prosperity.

The successful candidate will be a highly respected leader with the scientific credibility to engage deeply with leading researchers while effectively leading a complex, multidisciplinary organization. The successful candidate will bring experience in science‑based, technology‑driven, or research‑intensive environments, along with a demonstrated ability to build strong teams, lead complex scientific operations, steward significant resources, and develop productive relationships with governments, industry, and other key stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will combine scientific insight, strategic vision, and exceptional leadership skills with a strong understanding of how advanced research infrastructure drives discovery, innovation, commercialization, and public value. They will be a visible and influential ambassador, capable of representing the CLS nationally and internationally while inspiring confidence among researchers, partners, governments, and staff.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead one of Canada’s most important scientific facilities and to shape the future of research and innovation for the benefit of Canadians and the global scientific community.

Canadian Light Source (CLS) is an equal opportunities employer and encourages members of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities and visible minorities) to self‑identify on their applications. One of our values is Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and we strive to create a workforce that reflects our users and the community in which we live. We welcome all qualified candidates to apply, and we hope you will choose CLS as your employer of choice. If you have any questions or concerns about accessible employment at CLS, or to begin a confidential conversation about your individual accessibility or accommodation needs through our recruitment process, please contact us [e-mail] .