President & Chief Executive Officer

The Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) is a charitable organization dedicated to improving student success and well-being across Ottawa. As a trusted connector and catalyst for student success, ONFE works in partnership with all publicly funded school boards in Ottawa to deliver equitable and innovative programs that support students at every stage of their educational journey. ONFE supports thousands of students through initiatives such as the School Breakfast Program, volunteer tutoring and mentoring services, and career and post-secondary readiness programs. These initiatives help address barriers to learning, strengthen student well-being, and equip young people with the skills and confidence needed for future success.

The President & Chief Executive Officer works closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team to advance ONFE’s mission, vision, and values through the development and execution of the organization’s strategic priorities. Reporting to the Board through the Board Chair, the President & CEO provides overall leadership for ONFE’s operations, finances, fundraising, programs, partnerships, communications, human resources, government relations, and organizational performance. The President & CEO fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring the organization remains responsive to the evolving needs of students and the community.

As ONFE’s chief ambassador, the President & CEO builds and maintains strong relationships with education, government, community, philanthropic, and business leaders to strengthen partnerships, expand the organization’s impact, and support long-term sustainability. The President & CEO works with the Board to ensure effective governance and responsible stewardship of resources, leads fundraising and revenue development efforts, supports a high-performing and inclusive organizational culture, and ensures compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory, charitable, health and safety requirements. Through strategic leadership and community engagement, the President & CEO advances ONFE’s vision of helping all students thrive and succeed.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and purpose-driven leader with a passion for student success and community impact. They bring significant leadership experience gained in complex environments and a proven ability to build partnerships, mobilize resources, and guide organizational growth. Experience in fundraising, stakeholder engagement, governance, and strategic planning will be important, as will an understanding of Ontario’s education and community ecosystems. A graduate degree in a relevant field is preferred, although an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. Fluency in both English and French is required.

The successful candidate will lead with integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and accountability. They will be a strategic thinker and relationship builder who can bring people together around a common purpose, work effectively with a Board of Directors and diverse stakeholders, and serve as a credible ambassador for ONFE. Strong communication skills, business acumen, fundraising experience, and the ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams are essential. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a genuine commitment to advancing equitable opportunities and positive outcomes for students and communities.

Equal Opportunities: The Ottawa Network for Education and Boyden are committed to creating an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Please let us know if you require accommodation due to a Human Rights Code protected ground during any aspect of the recruitment and selection process and we will work with you to address your needs. This document is available in alternate format(s) upon request. We actively encourage applications from First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, all other Indigenous peoples, and members of groups that are underrepresented, under recruited and/or discriminated against because of ancestry, race, colour, ethnic origin, place of origin, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, disability, neurodiversity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and all other Human Rights Code protected grounds.