Chief of Staff, Director of Operations

p>Are you seeking a rewarding career working in a people-first culture, alongside an exceptional team supporting a purpose-driven industry leader? p>

Summary

Are you seeking a rewarding career working in a people-first culture, alongside an exceptional team supporting a purpose-driven industry leader? strong>

You are reading this Position Profile because it is entirely possible you could become the Chief of Staff and Director of Operations at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Consideration for the role starts with your own – objective – personal analysis. p>

Are you an experienced and proven project manager with outstanding relationship skills? Would you be described as a great communicator who leads through influence, high emotional intelligence and is highly organized? p>

If this is you, please read on…

The Organization

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. OCC is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization that has been supporting Ontario business for 110 years. p>

A recent recipient of the 2023/2024 Top Co-op Employer Awards from the Ted Rogers School of Management – Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, was selected in the category of Top Employer by Industry – Not-for-profit. This recognition is a testament to their dedication to building a future workforce that thrives on innovation, inclusivity, and well-being.

The OCC’s mission is to convene, align and advance the interests of its members through principled policy work, value-added business services and broad engagement to drive competitiveness and sustainable, inclusive economic growth in Ontario.

Inclusive: We embrace diversity in all forms, ensuring that all voices are heard, respected, and valued, creating an environment of belonging, collaboration, equity, and mutual understanding.

The Position

Organization: Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC)

Title: Chief of Staff and Director of Operations

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: OCC’s office in downtown Toronto – 180 Dundas Street West, with easy access to transit. Three days minimum required in the office per week. p>

Team Oversight: HR Manager, Reception, EA to the CEO (joint)

Key Relationships:

Internal: Senior Leadership Team; VP Policy; VP Business Development & Member Experience; Staff teams overseeing Policy; Public Affairs/Communications and Brand; BD and Member Experience; Finance – Revenue Accountability and CRM Adoption; Corporate (Ontario) – Private/Public companies; local Chambers and Boards of Trade across Ontario; Policy Councils; Government

The Profile

In this newly created position, we are seeking a highly organized and proactive candidate to provide comprehensive strategic and operational support to the CEO of Ontario Chamber of Commerce. This position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth as the selected candidate will have the chance to learn firsthand from the CEO and be actively involved in leadership of business operations, human resource management and board governance support. This position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Our successful candidate will work closely with the senior management team and collaborate on how to improve the company's overall operations. p>

This is an on-site position and may also involve travel alongside the CEO from time to time.

• Seamlessly working with the CEO and the OCC team, helping lead the implementation of strategy and associated processes to achieve the revenue targets
• Thriving in a project management role and excels at coordinating and executing processes
• Inspiring the team and supporting their professional development and career progression
• Supporting the Executive Management team and senior volunteers as needed
• Liaising with Chamber Members on behalf of the CEO to ensure coordination of partnership initiatives
• *Strategic Plan 2020-2025 – nearing the end of the five-year plan and about to launch a new one in early 2025. li>

The Ideal Candidate

Our successful candidate will possess a keen interest in business and business processes and possess at least 7-10 years of managerial and operations experience, strong leadership abilities, an impressive ability to multi-task and experience working with confidential and high-profile projects. They will need to:

• have excellent relationship-building skills
• be able to communicate extremely well orally and in writing
• have a desire to coach, mentor, guide, and advise others
• be keen to help with overall operational process improvement

Project management experience is also crucial to this role since they will need to be comfortable working with different streams of the business to make informed decisions.

The Role

The Chief of Staff and Director of Operations is an executive decision-maker and planner who supports the leaders of the OCC by overseeing business operations and human resources and serving as the CEO’s partner in executing programs and projects that span multiple departments or diverse external stakeholders.

Examples of Projects

• Work alongside the CEO to launch collaborative initiatives with other Canadian provincial and U.li>
• Work with the HR Manager and senior leadership to provide OCC employees with defined career paths at the OCC, standardizing processes for employee evaluation and progression. Where do they fit in short and longer term and how can they continue to grow and develop?
• Develop and oversee annual business planning processes, in collaboration with all leaders and teams.
  • Support day-to-day business operations, collaborating with various teams to support the CEO in strategic decision-making
  • Work with executives to prioritize business strategies and growth opportunities
  • Human Resources oversight, overseeing employee performance evaluations and career planning, acting as a key resource for managers and serving as a point of confidential escalation when required
  • Proactively identify opportunities to improve efficiency to streamline workflow
  • Prepare and review materials, reports, and presentations for meetings and events
  • Research opportunities, gaps, and risks, and presenting to executive teams
  • Determine the best way to track performance and keep teams on track towards their goals
  • Ensure important issues are brought to the CEO's attention promptly for information or action
  • Oversee the work of the CEO’s Executive Assistant, ensuring prioritization where there are conflicting demands and 'acting, declining or redirecting' incoming requests or opportunities as appropriate
  • Work with all OCC teams to ensure the CEO is thoroughly prepared for major engagements
  • Handle and maintain confidential and sensitive information with utmost discretion and professionalism

  Our successful candidate will possess/be:

  • At least 7-10 years’ experience supporting high level executives in a fast paced and demanding work environment
  • A “can-do” attitude – proactive and solution oriented – always looking for ways to add value and assist the CEO and team
  • Excellent judgement
  • Excellent written and verbal communications for collaborating with all levels of the organization
  • Leadership skills needed for creating strategies, leading meetings, and planning new opportunities
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task, respond to needs quickly and efficiently and prioritize work with a strong attention to detail
  • Must be a self-starter and able to work with little or no supervision and be curious.
  • Strong problem-solving skills to work with clients, vendors, staff, and other stakeholders independently
  • Bachelor’s degree or certification in business administration, management, or project management strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated willingness to learn and grow professionally, with a keen interest in business operations and strategy
  • Proven experience in a Chief of Staff role, or similar preferred
  • Tech savvy and comfortable with MS Office suite; CRM experience is not required but would be an asset

  Compensation

  Compensation details will be discussed with interested, qualified candidates

  • Competitive salary and compensation package that includes life and health insurance benefits and a matching RRSP plan.
  • 4 weeks of vacation plus office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
  • Professional development opportunities to develop new skills through courses, training, or membership in specific areas of interest.
  • Opportunities to grow your public profile and develop your professional network in both business and government.

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