President & Chief Executive Officer

About the Ottawa Network for Education
The Ottawa Network for Education respectfully acknowledges that the land on which we gather is the traditional, unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin People. ONFE take this time to show our gratitude and respect to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples for their past and present contributions to this land and recognize our collective responsibilities to the land and the water. This acknowledgement should not function as closure, resignation, or acceptance of the past or present but should inspire and support learning about the true history of this country and provoke thought, reflection and positive change.
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. As the only community organization with the reach and capacity to deliver programs directly within schools on a broad scale, 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. By bringing together partners across the education, business, community, and public sectors, ONFE helps remove barriers and create opportunities for brighter futures for Ottawa’s youth.
The mandate
The President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 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.
Ideal profile
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.
While the Committee acknowledges that no single individual will embody all the desired qualifications equally, it has established a set of criteria that clearly outlines the ideal candidate’s background, experience, and personal attributes. Equivalent combination of education, skills and experiences, including lived experience, will be considered.
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.
TO APPLY
Interested persons should forward their CV and all other relevant documents to Marie-Hélène Gaudreault and Paul Marshall, Partners, Boyden Ontario at mgaudreault@boyden.com by October 16, 2026 taking care to indicate the position title in the subject line of their message.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
AI-assisted tools may be used to support the review of applications.
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À propos du Réseau d’Ottawa pour l’éducation
C’est avec respect que le Réseau d’Ottawa pour l’éducation reconnaît que la terre sur laquelle ils se réunissent est le territoire traditionnel et non cédé du peuple algonquin Anishinaabe. Le Réseau d’Ottawa pour l’éducation profite de l’occasion pour exprimer notre gratitude et son respect à l’égard de tous les peuples des Premières Nations, des Métis et des Inuits pour leurs contributions passées et présentes à ce territoire et nous reconnaissons que, collectivement, nous avons des responsabilités envers la terre et l’eau. Cette reconnaissance ne doit pas être considérée comme une conclusion, une résignation ou une acceptation du passé ou du présent, mais doit inspirer et soutenir l’apprentissage de la véritable histoire de ce pays et susciter la réflexion, la méditation et un changement positif.
Le Réseau d’Ottawa pour l’éducation (ROPE) est un organisme de bienfaisance voué à l’amélioration de la réussite et du bien-être des élèves à Ottawa. À titre de connecteur de confiance et de catalyseur de la réussite des élèves, ROPE travaille en partenariat avec tous les conseils scolaires publics d’Ottawa afin d’offrir des programmes équitables et novateurs qui soutiennent les élèves à chaque étape de leur parcours éducatif. À titre de seul organisme communautaire ayant la portée et la capacité d’offrir directement dans les écoles des programmes à grande échelle, ROPE soutient des milliers d’élèves grâce à des initiatives telles que le Programme de petits déjeuners dans les écoles, des services de tutorat et de mentorat par des bénévoles, ainsi que des programmes de préparation à la carrière et aux études postsecondaires. Ces initiatives contribuent à éliminer les obstacles à l’apprentissage, à renforcer le bien-être des élèves et à doter les jeunes des compétences et de la confiance nécessaires à leur réussite future. En réunissant des partenaires issus des secteurs de l’éducation, des affaires, du milieu communautaire et du secteur public, ROPE contribue à éliminer les obstacles et à créer des possibilités favorisant un avenir meilleur pour les jeunes d’Ottawa.
Le mandat
La Présidence et direction générale travaille en étroite collaboration avec le conseil d’administration et l’équipe de la haute direction afin de faire progresser la mission, la vision et les valeurs de ROPE par l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des priorités stratégiques de l’organisme. Relevant du conseil d’administration par l’entremise de sa présidence, la présidence et direction générale assure la direction globale des activités de ROPE, notamment en matière d’exploitation, de finances, de collecte de fonds, d

Employment type
Class 1 FT Perm (37.5 hr/wk and 12 mth/yr)

Work arrangement
No