President & Chief Executive Officer
About the role
Position Summary
Conestoga College is one of Ontario's largest colleges, recognized for its commitment to career-focused education, applied learning, workforce development, and strong partnerships with industry and community. Serving more than 20,000 students across multiple campuses, Conestoga delivers diploma, degree, apprenticeship, continuing education, micro-credential, and applied research programs that prepare graduates to thrive in Ontario's evolving economy while supporting the prosperity of the communities and employers it serves.
As Conestoga enters an important period of institutional renewal, the Board of Governors is seeking an exceptional and principled leader to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer.
Responsibilities
Reporting directly to the Board of Governors, the President & CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, stewardship, performance, and strategic direction of the College. Working collaboratively with the Board, senior leadership team, employees, students, government, industry, municipalities, Indigenous communities, donors, alumni, and community partners, the President will guide Conestoga through a period of continued stabilization, renewal, and long-term success while strengthening confidence in the institution and advancing its contribution to Ontario's post-secondary system and workforce.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of the College, including institutional planning, governance, academic quality, student success, financial sustainability, workforce development, employer engagement, government relations, applied research, and organizational culture. The President will champion evidence-informed decision-making, operational excellence, public accountability, and responsible stewardship while ensuring Conestoga remains responsive to the evolving needs of students, employers, and communities across Ontario.
An accomplished executive, the successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a complex public, post-secondary, government, healthcare, not-for-profit, or similarly accountable organization. They will possess demonstrated experience leading organizations through strategic change, financial complexity, operational transformation, and periods of heightened public visibility while fostering trust, transparency, and collaboration. Experience working with governing boards, government, regulated environments, and diverse stakeholder groups will be essential.
The ideal candidate will be recognized as a thoughtful, values-driven leader with exceptional judgment, political acuity, financial literacy, and communication skills. They will demonstrate a deep commitment to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, and community impact, while possessing the ability to unite diverse constituencies around a shared vision for the future of the College.
To learn more about this exceptional leadership opportunity, please contact Paul Marshall and Collin Ritch (critch@boyden.com) of Boyden Executive Search. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume directly at: https://boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3331.
Conestoga College is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where diverse perspectives strengthen the community. The College welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership.
Apply Now
Apply to this requisition Print this requisition
Not the right fit? Search for President & Chief Executive Officer jobs in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
About Conestoga College
Conestoga is a leader in polytechnic education and one of Ontario's fastest-growing colleges, delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity throughout our region and across Ontario.
Conestoga delivers more than 200 career-focused programs and has more degree offerings than any other college outside of the GTA, including Ontario’s only college-based, accredited engineering degrees.
Our comprehensive range of programming meets the needs of a variety of learners, providing multiple entry points and established pathways to ensure that individuals across our community can access the education they need for their chosen careers. Articulation agreements with colleges and universities around the world provide our students with ready access to additional post-secondary opportunities.
Labs equipped with the latest technology, project-based courses, field and clinical experiences, international exchange, applied research and co-op opportunities engage our students as they learn to connect theory, research and practice. Our focus on technology-enhanced learning through online and mobile technologies ensures that students are prepared to excel in our increasingly digital world. Conestoga’s commitment to student success includes a full range of support and career advising services available to students throughout their learning journey.
Conestoga does not permit posts that contain offensive, hostile or abusive language or posts that contain commercial solicitations. Conestoga reserves the right to remove posts at any time without warning.
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President & Chief Executive Officer
About the role
Position Summary
Conestoga College is one of Ontario's largest colleges, recognized for its commitment to career-focused education, applied learning, workforce development, and strong partnerships with industry and community. Serving more than 20,000 students across multiple campuses, Conestoga delivers diploma, degree, apprenticeship, continuing education, micro-credential, and applied research programs that prepare graduates to thrive in Ontario's evolving economy while supporting the prosperity of the communities and employers it serves.
As Conestoga enters an important period of institutional renewal, the Board of Governors is seeking an exceptional and principled leader to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer.
Responsibilities
Reporting directly to the Board of Governors, the President & CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, stewardship, performance, and strategic direction of the College. Working collaboratively with the Board, senior leadership team, employees, students, government, industry, municipalities, Indigenous communities, donors, alumni, and community partners, the President will guide Conestoga through a period of continued stabilization, renewal, and long-term success while strengthening confidence in the institution and advancing its contribution to Ontario's post-secondary system and workforce.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of the College, including institutional planning, governance, academic quality, student success, financial sustainability, workforce development, employer engagement, government relations, applied research, and organizational culture. The President will champion evidence-informed decision-making, operational excellence, public accountability, and responsible stewardship while ensuring Conestoga remains responsive to the evolving needs of students, employers, and communities across Ontario.
An accomplished executive, the successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a complex public, post-secondary, government, healthcare, not-for-profit, or similarly accountable organization. They will possess demonstrated experience leading organizations through strategic change, financial complexity, operational transformation, and periods of heightened public visibility while fostering trust, transparency, and collaboration. Experience working with governing boards, government, regulated environments, and diverse stakeholder groups will be essential.
The ideal candidate will be recognized as a thoughtful, values-driven leader with exceptional judgment, political acuity, financial literacy, and communication skills. They will demonstrate a deep commitment to student success, academic excellence, workforce development, and community impact, while possessing the ability to unite diverse constituencies around a shared vision for the future of the College.
To learn more about this exceptional leadership opportunity, please contact Paul Marshall and Collin Ritch (critch@boyden.com) of Boyden Executive Search. To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume directly at: https://boyden.thriveapp.ly/job/3331.
Conestoga College is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where diverse perspectives strengthen the community. The College welcomes applications from individuals who will contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership.
Apply Now
Apply to this requisition Print this requisition
Not the right fit? Search for President & Chief Executive Officer jobs in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
About Conestoga College
Conestoga is a leader in polytechnic education and one of Ontario's fastest-growing colleges, delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity throughout our region and across Ontario.
Conestoga delivers more than 200 career-focused programs and has more degree offerings than any other college outside of the GTA, including Ontario’s only college-based, accredited engineering degrees.
Our comprehensive range of programming meets the needs of a variety of learners, providing multiple entry points and established pathways to ensure that individuals across our community can access the education they need for their chosen careers. Articulation agreements with colleges and universities around the world provide our students with ready access to additional post-secondary opportunities.
Labs equipped with the latest technology, project-based courses, field and clinical experiences, international exchange, applied research and co-op opportunities engage our students as they learn to connect theory, research and practice. Our focus on technology-enhanced learning through online and mobile technologies ensures that students are prepared to excel in our increasingly digital world. Conestoga’s commitment to student success includes a full range of support and career advising services available to students throughout their learning journey.
Conestoga does not permit posts that contain offensive, hostile or abusive language or posts that contain commercial solicitations. Conestoga reserves the right to remove posts at any time without warning.