Vice President, Finance & Operations

Ontario Centre of Innovation; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Centre of Innovation is seeking a Vice President, Finance & Operations to join its executive leadership team. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President will ensure OCI's financial strength, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability while supporting growth and the organization’s evolving programs.

The successful candidate will oversee finance, grants, investments, information technology, facilities, risk management, and governance across multiple funding

Qualifications

• Senior finance executive with experience leading finance, grants, investments, and operations.
• Experience coordinating with Boards and Finance & Audit Committees.

Responsibilities

• Oversee finance, grants, investments, and information technology.
• Manage facilities, risk management, and governance across multiple funding streams.
• Partner with Board, funders, and executive leadership to advance OCI’s impact.

Job description

The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) is a leading not-for-profit organization that drives economic growth, job creation, and innovation across Ontario. Through strategic investments, funding programs, and collaborative partnerships, OCI brings together industry, academia, entrepreneurs, and government to accelerate the development, commercialization, and adoption of emerging technologies. By supporting businesses, researchers, and innovators, OCI helps transform promising ideas into economic opportunities that strengthen Ontario's competitiveness and future prosperity.

As OCI continues to expand its impact through new programs, partnerships, and funding initiatives, the organization is seeking a Vice President, Finance & Operations to join its executive leadership team. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Vice President will play a critical role in ensuring OCI's financial strength, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability while supporting the organization's continued growth and evolution.

As a trusted advisor to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors, the Vice President will provide strategic leadership across finance and accounting, grant management, investments, information technology, facilities, risk management, and operational performance. The successful candidate will oversee a complex funding environment that includes government funding agreements, investment funds, and multiple funding sources, ensuring strong stewardship, governance, accountability, and organizational performance. The role also provides executive oversight of OneEleven, Canada's premier community of venture-backed technology scale-ups. They will work closely with the Board and Finance & Audit Committee while serving as a key partner to government funders, external stakeholders, and ecosystem partners.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished senior finance executive with a track record of providing strategic leadership within complex and multi-stakeholder organizations. They bring strong financial and business acumen, experience working with Boards and Finance & Audit Committees, and a demonstrated ability to lead through growth, change, and complexity. Experience managing grants, investments, multiple funding streams, and sophisticated governance environments will be highly valued. Exposure to innovation, technology, economic development, research commercialization, venture-backed organizations, or similarly dynamic sectors will be considered an asset.

Beyond their financial expertise, the successful candidate will bring sound business judgment, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a demonstrated commitment to integrity, public-sector accountability, and OCI's values. A collaborative and trusted leader, they will excel in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and help advance OCI's continued growth and impact.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ontario Centre of Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers and Ontario Centre of Innovation throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Odgers is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our DEI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.