Lead Technology Innovation in Ontario K-12 Education

The Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its next Executive Director. This role offers a unique opportunity within Ontario’s K-12 education sector, driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the cost-effective stewardship of vital digital resources for 76 district school board members. If you are a seasoned IT executive with a passion for education and a proven track record of strategic leadership, we invite you to explore this impactful opportunity.

About the Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO)

The Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) stands as a not-for-profit technology organization, uniquely incorporated to champion best practices and deliver cost-effective IT solutions to its extensive network of 76 district school board members across the Province of Ontario. Our fundamental mission is to empower Ontario’s K-12 education community through strategic technology adoption, consistently ensuring that student achievement remains at the forefront of every initiative we undertake. For a deeper understanding of ECNO’s significant impact and collaborative endeavors, we encourage you to visit our website at www.ecno.org.

ECNO’s identity as a not-for-profit entity, dedicated to providing cost-effective IT solutions for school board members, inherently defines the nature of this leadership position. The leader in this role must navigate the complexities of the K-12 sector, balancing the pursuit of innovative technological advancements with the fiscal realities and shared governance models inherent in the public education system. This environment necessitates a leader who prioritizes collaboration over competition, deeply understands the unique dynamics of a member-driven organization, able to lead an organization of 21 staff and 4 direct reports in a remote work environment, and is committed to advancing the common good for Ontario’s K-12 education community. 

The Opportunity: Your Role as Executive Director

ECNO invites applications for the position of Executive Director, a full-time, three-year term appointment that is renewable for subsequent terms, with an effective start date of November 1, 2025. As Executive Director, you will provide comprehensive leadership for ECNO, holding overall accountability to the Board of Directors for the general management of the organization. This encompasses both leading and managing ECNO’s day-to-day operations while simultaneously providing executive leadership and strategic direction in the planning, design, development, and implementation of innovative strategies, approaches, projects, and initiatives.

Your primary mandate will be to promote and advance the cost-effective stewardship of school boards’ information technology, information management,  and cybersecurity resources. You will serve as the principal representative of the ECNO community, actively promoting, advocating for, leading, implementing, and achieving the objectives outlined in the Board’s strategic plan. The renewable three-year term for this appointment signifies ECNO’s expectation for sustained leadership and the cultivation of long-term strategic impact, extending beyond a singular short-term engagement. The ideal Executive Director is a visionary, capable of building and nurturing sustainable initiatives that will yield benefits over an extended period. Success in this role will demand both strategic foresight and the practical ability to deliver tangible, cost-effective solutions.

Key Responsibilities and Strategic Priorities

The Executive Director’s role is multifaceted, demanding a leader capable of overseeing diverse functions and driving strategic outcomes across the organization.

Strategic Plan Leadership

You will play an instrumental role in supporting the development and implementation of ECNO’s new three-year strategic plan, in the final stages of adoption by the ECNO Board of Directors for implementation beginning January 1, 2026. This critical responsibility includes setting clear short-term and long-term objectives and ensuring the demonstrated achievement of these goals through robust data-based evidence and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), always maintaining precise alignment with the evolving needs of member school boards.

Financial Stewardship

You will exercise comprehensive responsibility for all financial matters of the organization. This includes establishing and managing the annual operating budget, maintaining financial records according to accepted accounting standards, designing and implementing robust financial controls to safeguard all corporate assets, and consistently ensuring the maintenance of a balanced budget.

Relationship Management and Engagement

A critical aspect of your role will be to cultivate and maintain positive relationships, building upon the confidence of the Board of Directors, ECNO staff, its advisory committees, the broader Ontario school board community, the Provincial Government, key vendors, and the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). You will be responsible for ensuring ECNO has a prominent and visible presence across the province of Ontario and for continually enhancing the reputational image of the organization, with a strong focus on member engagement and demonstrating clear value.

Service Delivery Excellence and Management

You will oversee the efficient and responsive delivery of ECNO’s critical services, including the Vetting of Applications for Security and Privacy (VASP), Information Security Services, and other services required by school boards as approved by the ECNO Board of Directors. You will ensure and promote customer service excellence throughout the organization by effectively leading the recruitment, management, and professional development of ECNO staff.

Provincial Alignment

You will ensure that ECNO services and initiatives are strategically aligned with key Province of Ontario priorities, particularly in critical areas such as cybersecurity, data privacy, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation within the education sector.

Who We’re Looking For: Your Profile and Qualifications

ECNO is seeking a highly accomplished and experienced professional who combines deep technical expertise with exceptional leadership and interpersonal capabilities.

Education and Experience

You hold a university degree in information technology, computer science, business administration, or another relevant field, complemented by a minimum of fifteen years of progressive IT management experience.

A thorough knowledge in most areas of Information Technology within the Ontario school board landscape is required. You possess proven knowledge and experience in service delivery methodologies, policy and procedure documentation, and performance standards benchmarking and monitoring. You can demonstrate your experience leading change in the Information Technology K-12 education community with student achievement as a central focus. The ideal candidate will be someone who can immediately contribute, leveraging pre-existing knowledge and navigate inter-organizational relationships associated with a highly specialized public sector environment.

Leadership and Communication Skills

You bring strong supervisory experience, coupled with robust leadership, mentoring, and team-building skills. You are a committed and collaborative leader who can provide clear and strategic direction to the Board of Directors. You possess strong oral, written, interpersonal, presentation, and organizational skills. You are a highly effective communicator who actively seeks input, builds consensus, and is engaging and inspiring, demonstrating a high level of commitment to the success of ECNO. You have a proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with staff and various external partners, including school boards, vendors, and government and community agencies.

Analytical Capabilities and Professional Acumen

You exhibit strong analytical, reasoning, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills, including the proven ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex problems, driving solutions through to successful completion. You have demonstrated ability to handle matters requiring advocacy, diplomacy, sensitivity, and confidentiality. You are proven in your ability to work effectively under pressure and consistently meet deadlines.

Project and Financial Management

You possess demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring their timely and successful completion. You have strong knowledge of financial accounting principles and practices, with hands-on experience in budgeting, procurement, financial reporting, billing, and financial analysis.

Preferred Assets for Enhanced Impact

• Certifications in project management (e.g., PMP), cybersecurity (e.g., CISSP, CISM), or technology industry standards (e.g., ITIL) would be a significant asset.
• Proficiency in the French language would be an asset, reflecting Ontario’s bilingual context and enhancing engagement capabilities.
• Experience within the ECNO community is strongly preferred, indicating a desire for candidates who can seamlessly integrate and leverage existing relationships.

Work Environment and Compensation

The Executive Director will thrive in a collaborative and dynamic environment that values innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement. This role necessitates a high level of interaction with a diverse range of partners, including school boards, various government agencies, key vendors, and other educational organizations. The work environment is fast-paced and demands the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and meet stringent deadlines.

This is a remote position, requiring you to maintain a suitable work-from-home environment. Additionally, the role requires the provision of your own vehicle for ECNO business to attend essential in-person meetings, conferences, and other work events. Significant travel to various school boards and other locations across the province of Ontario will be required, along with some national travel. The ideal candidate must be a self-starter with exceptional organizational skills, capable of maintaining high productivity in a distributed work environment. Simultaneously, they must be comfortable with frequent travel and extensive in-person engagements across a large geographical area.  Travel, meals, and accommodation expenses associated with ECNO business will be reimbursed as outlined in Board policy. The Executive Director will receive a competitive salary and benefits package.

How to Apply

We extend our sincere thanks to all applicants for their interest in this significant position. Please note that only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Resumes accompanied by references are to be submitted no later than August 30, 2025. Applications for this position are only accepted by submitting the form below.