Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer

Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer

Requirements

• Enterprise strategic planning and performance management.
• Large-scale innovation and transformation leadership.
• Electoral systems, legislation, and public sector governance.
• Stakeholder engagement, public communication, and media relations.
• Cross-functional leadership and executive advisory capability.
• Change management, risk mitigation, and crisis communication.
• Public education and accessibility compliance.
• Budgeting, program oversight, and vendor management.

Responsibilities

• Integrate complex functions into a cohesive strategy that advances corporate and electoral objectives.
• Lead the development and execution of multi-year strategic and operational plans, ensuring alignment with legislative mandates, modernization priorities, and organizational goals.
• Oversee corporate planning, performance measurement, risk management, and policy development to inform executive decision-making and drive accountability.
• Provide executive advisory services to the CEO and Board on strategic opportunities, policy impacts, and emerging risks.
• Align divisional work with broader organizational and election priorities.
• Transform data and insight into actionable strategic direction.
• Lead innovation and embed a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.
• Drive modernization initiatives while balancing operational realities and legislative requirements.
• Champion organization-wide innovation by driving the research, design, and implementation of next-generation electoral processes and technologies.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of innovation programs (e.g., Ready Next), ensuring legislative reform, inter-jurisdictional collaboration, and change management frameworks are integrated and effective.
• Promote a future-focused culture through strategic foresight and adoption of best practices from across jurisdictions and industries.
• Provide executive oversight of corporate communications, public education, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Act as the senior executive sponsor for media relations and crisis communication strategies during electoral events.
• Ensure that all communications align with strategic objectives, legislative requirements (e.g., AODA, French Language Services Act), and public transparency standards.
• Communicates complex narratives clearly and manages public messaging under scrutiny.
• Operates with sensitivity to reputational risk in a government context and exercises sound political judgment.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing leadership team across strategy, innovation, and communications functions.
• Integrate divisional priorities and foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistency, efficiency, and strategic alignment across portfolios.
• Manage budgets, performance standards, and organizational change in collaboration with divisional directors.
• Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including political entities and the public service.
• Serve as the principal liaison with senior government officials, political entities, and peer electoral organizations to promote collaborative policy and operational outcomes.
• Build and sustain inter-jurisdictional partnerships and working groups that support modernization, policy harmonization, and information exchange.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Business, or related field preferred.