Chief of Staff and Private Secretary
Top Benefits
About the role
Where diplomacy, protocol, and purpose meet
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is seeking a seasoned executive to become the Chief of Staff and Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. You thrive in a high-visibility, fast paced and demanding environment and demonstrate strong people leadership skills, responsible fiscal oversight, and experience working with senior officials across all orders of government. You are insightful with exceptional relationship management abilities and have a proven track record for sound governance and compliance at an executive level. You have a vast and established network with stakeholders in Toronto, Ontario and at a national level as well.
The Chief of Staff will support the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in three key areas of responsibility: constitutional, institutional, and as private secretary. In her constitutional role, the Lieutenant Governor represents The King, appoints the Government (Premier and Cabinet Ministers), swears in the Executive Council, outlines the Government's plans in the Speech from the Throne, provides the Royal Assent needed for bills to become law, approves orders-in-council and appointments recommended by Cabinet, and summons, defers, or dissolves each session of Parliament.
In her representational and community role, the Lieutenant Governor represents the people of Ontario and acts as the Province's official host, welcoming The King and members of Canada's Royal Family, foreign government officials, diplomatic representatives, and visiting dignitaries. The Lieutenant Governor supports many important initiatives, most notably those that integrate youth and women leadership, the Francophonie, educational, cultural and diversity concerns. The Chief of Staff will play a critical role in supporting the Lieutenant Governor in these engagements. Consistency and rigour in the ongoing sharing of strategic information with Lieutenant Governor and Lieutenant Governor Office (LGO) team members are essential qualities. This role requires a high degree of flexibility.
The successful candidate must be available to accompany the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and attend events and engagements outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, and be willing to travel as part of a dynamic and fast-paced schedule.
Leadership
An effective leader is responsible, innovative, and collaborative. A responsible leader is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability, and openness to diverse perspectives in how they interact with others. It's someone who is agile and flexible. An individual who models ethical behaviour, and who is caring in making decisions, difficult choices. An innovative leader is someone who leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset. An individual who inspires others, values continuous learning, and encourages development and integration. A collaborative leader focuses on helping others to grow, drives people-centered outcomes and promotes an environment of inclusivity. A leader who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more diverse and accessible workplace. An innovative leader is someone who can measure the impact of any decision. It's someone who is capable of building strong interpersonal and public relationships.
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
The Chief of Staff and Private Secretary, Lieutenant Governor's Office (LGO) will be responsible to:
- lead and contribute to the development of programs and initiatives that ensure the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario remains present, engaged and of service to the public as the King's representative in Ontario
- lead strategic planning, communications and preparation of all stakeholder and partner engagements
- develop and foster meaningful, positive and productive relationships and partnerships between the Crown and Indigenous Leaders/Groups
- provide leadership and oversight of LGO staff, as well as financial, human resource and other administrative policies and programs for the Lieutenant Governor
- effectively prioritize and manage all diplomatic functions and represent the office of the Lieutenant Governor in a dignified, ethical manner
- ensure appropriate governance of the office, regularly examining internal policies, guidelines and processes to ensure compliance
- proactively engage with all relevant stakeholders and partners, which may include but is not limited to; Premier's Office, Speakers Office, Office of the Governor General, Office of the Secretary of Cabinet, Ontario Ministries, Global Affairs Canada, all members of Legislative Assembly, Ontario Provincial Police, Members of Royal Families
What you bring to the team
Executive Leadership
You are a seasoned leader with proven knowledge and abilities in:
- government operations and decision-making structures
- navigating legislative and policy environments within Ontario and multiple levels of government across Canada
- communicating effectively, lead teams towards achieving a set mandate
- accurately providing strategically focused and practical advice to various partners and stakeholders
People Leadership
You are an experienced people leader who:
- successfully manages through collaboration and influence
- cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and transferability of skills, empowering your team to grow and develop
- fosters a culture of diversity, equity, anti-racism, inclusion, and excellence
Political Acuity
You are politically and diplomatically skilled leader with:
- superior communication and executive briefing skills to effectively provide information and guidance to various senior level officials
- a proven ability to collaborate effectively with various partners and stakeholders
- strong diplomacy skills and work collaboratively, fairly, openly, assertively, and constructively with senior intergovernmental officials, staff, and several other partners and stakeholders to resolve issues and generate consensus
- analytical, political acuity and negotiation skills
- sophisticated communication and public relations skills to represent the Lieutenant Governor and lead partner, stakeholder, team, and public engagements as required
Stakeholder Relationship
You are a relationship builder and connector who:
- has superior interpersonal abilities and have the political acuity required to represent the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
- looks for synergies across various key external partners and stakeholders to drive initiatives
- communicates and negotiates with a wide range of partners and stakeholders with varying priorities
- has strategic agility in managing relationships with multiple partners and stakeholders
- proven ability to manage external partner and stakeholder relationships, focusing on building consensus
- experience fostering positive horizontal relationships
- demonstrated negotiation and problem-solving skills
Note: The position will serve the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in all day-to-day operations of the LGO and will report to the Deputy Minister, Treasury Board Secretariat.
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
Apply by: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 11:59 pm EDT
About Government of Ontario
Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l'Ontario
The Ontario Government works to serve the public interest and uphold the public trust by providing Ministers with objective advice and expert guidance. The Ontario Public Service carries out the decisions and policies of the elected government with integrity and accountability and administers public services to the highest professional standards.
Le gouvernement de l'Ontario sert l'intérêt public et conserve la confiance du public en fournissant aux ministres des conseils objectifs et spécialisés. La fonction publique de l'Ontario applique les décisions et les politiques du gouvernement élu. En respectant le principe de reddition des comptes et avec intégrité, elle administre les services à la population selon les normes professionnelles les plus rigoureuses.
Chief of Staff and Private Secretary
Top Benefits
About the role
Where diplomacy, protocol, and purpose meet
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is seeking a seasoned executive to become the Chief of Staff and Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. You thrive in a high-visibility, fast paced and demanding environment and demonstrate strong people leadership skills, responsible fiscal oversight, and experience working with senior officials across all orders of government. You are insightful with exceptional relationship management abilities and have a proven track record for sound governance and compliance at an executive level. You have a vast and established network with stakeholders in Toronto, Ontario and at a national level as well.
The Chief of Staff will support the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in three key areas of responsibility: constitutional, institutional, and as private secretary. In her constitutional role, the Lieutenant Governor represents The King, appoints the Government (Premier and Cabinet Ministers), swears in the Executive Council, outlines the Government's plans in the Speech from the Throne, provides the Royal Assent needed for bills to become law, approves orders-in-council and appointments recommended by Cabinet, and summons, defers, or dissolves each session of Parliament.
In her representational and community role, the Lieutenant Governor represents the people of Ontario and acts as the Province's official host, welcoming The King and members of Canada's Royal Family, foreign government officials, diplomatic representatives, and visiting dignitaries. The Lieutenant Governor supports many important initiatives, most notably those that integrate youth and women leadership, the Francophonie, educational, cultural and diversity concerns. The Chief of Staff will play a critical role in supporting the Lieutenant Governor in these engagements. Consistency and rigour in the ongoing sharing of strategic information with Lieutenant Governor and Lieutenant Governor Office (LGO) team members are essential qualities. This role requires a high degree of flexibility.
The successful candidate must be available to accompany the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and attend events and engagements outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, and be willing to travel as part of a dynamic and fast-paced schedule.
Leadership
An effective leader is responsible, innovative, and collaborative. A responsible leader is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability, and openness to diverse perspectives in how they interact with others. It's someone who is agile and flexible. An individual who models ethical behaviour, and who is caring in making decisions, difficult choices. An innovative leader is someone who leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset. An individual who inspires others, values continuous learning, and encourages development and integration. A collaborative leader focuses on helping others to grow, drives people-centered outcomes and promotes an environment of inclusivity. A leader who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more diverse and accessible workplace. An innovative leader is someone who can measure the impact of any decision. It's someone who is capable of building strong interpersonal and public relationships.
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
The Chief of Staff and Private Secretary, Lieutenant Governor's Office (LGO) will be responsible to:
- lead and contribute to the development of programs and initiatives that ensure the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario remains present, engaged and of service to the public as the King's representative in Ontario
- lead strategic planning, communications and preparation of all stakeholder and partner engagements
- develop and foster meaningful, positive and productive relationships and partnerships between the Crown and Indigenous Leaders/Groups
- provide leadership and oversight of LGO staff, as well as financial, human resource and other administrative policies and programs for the Lieutenant Governor
- effectively prioritize and manage all diplomatic functions and represent the office of the Lieutenant Governor in a dignified, ethical manner
- ensure appropriate governance of the office, regularly examining internal policies, guidelines and processes to ensure compliance
- proactively engage with all relevant stakeholders and partners, which may include but is not limited to; Premier's Office, Speakers Office, Office of the Governor General, Office of the Secretary of Cabinet, Ontario Ministries, Global Affairs Canada, all members of Legislative Assembly, Ontario Provincial Police, Members of Royal Families
What you bring to the team
Executive Leadership
You are a seasoned leader with proven knowledge and abilities in:
- government operations and decision-making structures
- navigating legislative and policy environments within Ontario and multiple levels of government across Canada
- communicating effectively, lead teams towards achieving a set mandate
- accurately providing strategically focused and practical advice to various partners and stakeholders
People Leadership
You are an experienced people leader who:
- successfully manages through collaboration and influence
- cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and transferability of skills, empowering your team to grow and develop
- fosters a culture of diversity, equity, anti-racism, inclusion, and excellence
Political Acuity
You are politically and diplomatically skilled leader with:
- superior communication and executive briefing skills to effectively provide information and guidance to various senior level officials
- a proven ability to collaborate effectively with various partners and stakeholders
- strong diplomacy skills and work collaboratively, fairly, openly, assertively, and constructively with senior intergovernmental officials, staff, and several other partners and stakeholders to resolve issues and generate consensus
- analytical, political acuity and negotiation skills
- sophisticated communication and public relations skills to represent the Lieutenant Governor and lead partner, stakeholder, team, and public engagements as required
Stakeholder Relationship
You are a relationship builder and connector who:
- has superior interpersonal abilities and have the political acuity required to represent the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
- looks for synergies across various key external partners and stakeholders to drive initiatives
- communicates and negotiates with a wide range of partners and stakeholders with varying priorities
- has strategic agility in managing relationships with multiple partners and stakeholders
- proven ability to manage external partner and stakeholder relationships, focusing on building consensus
- experience fostering positive horizontal relationships
- demonstrated negotiation and problem-solving skills
Note: The position will serve the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in all day-to-day operations of the LGO and will report to the Deputy Minister, Treasury Board Secretariat.
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
Apply by: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 11:59 pm EDT
About Government of Ontario
Ontario Government | Gouvernement de l'Ontario
The Ontario Government works to serve the public interest and uphold the public trust by providing Ministers with objective advice and expert guidance. The Ontario Public Service carries out the decisions and policies of the elected government with integrity and accountability and administers public services to the highest professional standards.
Le gouvernement de l'Ontario sert l'intérêt public et conserve la confiance du public en fournissant aux ministres des conseils objectifs et spécialisés. La fonction publique de l'Ontario applique les décisions et les politiques du gouvernement élu. En respectant le principe de reddition des comptes et avec intégrité, elle administre les services à la population selon les normes professionnelles les plus rigoureuses.