Overview
Director, Strategic Planning, Coordination and Intergovernmental Relations Jobs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario
Title: Director, Strategic Planning, Coordination and Intergovernmental Relations
Company: Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Apply By: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 11:59 pm EDT
Lead Ontario's Intergovernmental Education and Strategic Planning Priorities.
The Ministry of Education is seeking a strategic and collaborative executive to lead the Strategic Planning, Coordination and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch (SPCIAB). This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Ontario's education system through strategic leadership, evidence-informed insight, and cross-government collaboration.
As the Director, you will guide a branch at the centre of the ministry's strategic direction—driving forward emerging education priorities, shaping evidence-informed policy, and strengthening Ontario's influence across jurisdictions. This role provides a unique opportunity to work in a dynamic, evolving landscape where your leadership will connect research and analytical insights, fiscal considerations and policy agendas to support high-impact decision-making. You will champion innovation, build organizational capacity, and lead high-performing teams whose work helps modernize public education and deliver meaningful outcomes for students, families and communities across the province.
Position Address: 315 Front St W, Toronto
A career in the Ontario Public Service is driven by a passion for creating a stronger Ontario.
We foster a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees have the resources and opportunities they need to be fulfilled and inspired to move Ontario forward.
About the job
Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, you will:
- lead and direct strategic planning processes aligned with ministry and Cabinet priorities, ensuring cohesive direction across the ministry
- oversee rapid analysis and mobilization of research insights — academic, community, jurisdictional — to guide evidence-based policymaking
- provide senior-level guidance to teams delivering policy research, cross-ministry strategic planning, and intergovernmental relations
- build strategic partnerships across divisions, ministries and governments to inform solutions aligned to education and early learning priorities
- champion collaboration, engagement, equity, inclusion, accessibility, excellence and employee well-being within the branch
What you bring to the team
Executive Leadership
You are seasoned people leader with expertise in:
- strategic and team leadership influencing people, promoting improved program delivery and development
- supporting learning, capacity building and innovation around common purpose, while fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, equity and excellence
- demonstrating and building resiliency and flexibility while leading and motivating high-performing teams in a fast-paced, highly visible demanding environment
- guiding teams through change, complexity and evolving strategic priorities while promoting employee wellbeing and engagement
Relationship Management and Political Acuity
You are an effective communicator, and consensus builder with proven abilities in:
- fostering collaborative internal and external relationships to promote a seamless integration of program design and service delivery
- demonstrating executive presence, influence and political acuity while delivering strategic and confidential advice to senior leaders, and when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders
- working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to advance shared priorities and manage complex issues
- managing complex, politically sensitive issues within the context of multiple interests, with high public profile and scrutiny
Job Knowledge
You are an influential policy and program leader with proven abilities in:
- strategic planning development and program performance assessment and delivery
- delivering influence and results through organizational decision-making structures and processes
- navigating fiscal and budgeting processes, as well as project management, business planning and reporting
- understanding of fiscal frameworks and strategic frameworks to plan and deliver projects/programs
- insight generation and mobilization through research, analytics and evidence based decision making
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
