Chief Operating Officer
Office of the Auditor General of Ontario

Ideal Candidate Profile for the COO

Chief Operating Officer

This profile represents the "ideal" characteristics for the Chief Operating Officer and will act as a benchmark throughout the recruitment process. This profile is meant to highlight the characteristics, style, and experience the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) will ideally have. It is not, in itself, a job description. The COO will ideally have the following experience, characteristics, or aptitudes:

Leadership: The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a senior leadership role, with a strong focus on processes, systems, governance, and compliance. A comprehensive understanding of public accountability and transparency is essential.

Operational Efficiency: The ideal candidate should have a solid track record of improving operational systems, streamlining workflows, and optimizing processes and resource allocation. They should be a strategic leader capable of implementing long-term process improvements while effectively managing day-to-day operations.

Change Management: The ideal candidate will have experience in leading transformative change that modernizes organizations. They should have a successful history as a change agent.

Technology and Innovation: The ability to drive digital transformation and leverage new technologies to enhance the office's efficiency and effectiveness is key. Familiarity with data analytics, digital tools, and innovation is an advantage.

Integrity and Independence: Given the role of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario (OAGO), the COO must possess high ethical standards and a commitment to transparency, accountability, and independence from political influence.

People Leadership and Talent Development: The ability to lead, inspire, and develop teams is crucial. The COO will cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance, ensuring that corporate services align with organizational objectives.

Job Description

Reporting to the Auditor General of Ontario and as part of the Executive Team, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides strategic vision and leadership across the organization. The COO is an inspiring and collaborative leader who demonstrates a commitment to a positive and inclusive workspace, supports staff learning, growth and development, thrives in a transformational environment, exhibits expertise in developing and sustaining effective partnerships with key stakeholders, provides advice and briefings to senior executives on complex issues, and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion across the OAGO.

The COO guides and manages daily operations and risk management activities in accordance with strategic direction, goals, and objectives, and ensures consistent application of policies established by the Auditor General of Ontario and the Executive Team. The COO identifies long-term trends and issues in order to develop risk mitigation strategies.

The COO provides executive leadership and oversight for the Corporate Service Division's functions for the departments and responsibilities that fall under the division, including Information Management and Information Technology (IM & IT), Risk Control, Facilities, Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Organizational Effectiveness, and Communications. The COO demonstrates flexibility and resilience to adapt in a changing environment and leads innovation and transformation of processes and procedures across the organization, implementing change and creative and innovative thinking to encourage collaboration, optimize operational efficiency, and dismantle silos, while adhering to the OAGO's values.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads transformational change initiatives required to increase efficiency and effectiveness of corporate services while supporting the vision of the organization.
• Collaborates with the Executive Team to prioritize and conduct strategic business planning for the OAGO, including risk assessment and management. Fosters a culture of innovation and creativity by promoting and implementing diverse ideas and industry leading practices.
• Accountable for meeting objectives by evaluating the results of performance measures and benchmarks to ensure their effectiveness.
• Provides clarity of vision by articulating strategies and aligning their own behaviour with the OAGO’s vision, values, and expectations, and galvanizes staff participation by championing and communicating a change vision and holding others accountable for demonstrating appropriate behaviour.
• Guides the OAGO in sharing knowledge, works collaboratively, and promotes understanding of diverse views and opinions. Encourages others to assess their strengths and areas of opportunity relative to future roles, and discusses career aspirations and development strategies. Actively engages in building organizational capacity and succession planning.
• Builds a high-performance culture by providing leadership and coaching to develop, mature, and retain teams that are capable of meeting and/or exceeding expectations.
• Delivers efficient, risk-informed management and review of comprehensive corporate services ensuring a strong evidence-based approach to aspects of planning, management, and advice provision. Participates in the organization's enterprise risk assessment and acts to mitigate residual risk. Ensures organizational compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements and objectives.
• Oversees OAGO Human Resources and is responsible for the implementation of the organizational People Plan. Ensures resources align to meet organization and divisional goals and objectives. Actively plans for the future of the OAGO through succession management best practices.
• Provides executive oversight of the OAGO lM & IT services, infrastructure, and applications by ensuring its integrity, quality, efficiency, and security. Anticipates and identifies IM & IT issues and stakeholder needs and develops strategies to address concerns and opportunities. Sets performance measures for the OAGO's Business Continuity Plan in support of IM & IT systems, and monitors progress to ensure performance service levels are met.
• Provides executive oversight of the OAGO’s Communications department, providing a liaison with Executive Leadership and direction to the OAGO’s report-production team of editors, writers, designers, and communications specialists.
• Responsible for finance and operational risks. Oversees the transformation and modernization of OAGO’s finance processes/procedures.
• Responsible for facilities processes/procedures.
• Directs the management of third-party service providers, vendors, and contract staff delivering corporate services, including the ongoing management of tendering, contracts, and service level agreements. Oversees the transformation and modernization of procurement policies and procedures. Provides guidance to senior leaders to comply with OAGO policies and procedures regarding procurement and contracts.

KNOWLEDGE

• Expert knowledge of contemporary management theories and best practices related to business operations, innovation, organizational, and service excellence used in leading and managing business planning and corporate services. Fosters new and innovative approaches to strengthening and optimizing the Division's corporate services relationships with all stakeholders within the organization and partners.
• Ability to implement effective measures to plan, control, and account for the identification, assessment, measurement, and control of financial risks including market, credit, and operational risks.
• Ability to modernize and implement new policies and procedures to ensure proper fiscal management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the OAGO's programs, functions, services, inter-relationships, and role in order to understand the organizational goals, priorities, and strategic directions, and advance the Divisional agenda with respect to delivering its programs.
• Solid leadership theories, principles, and practices to motivate the Executive Team to respond positively to policy and business direction from the Division's subject matter experts in strategic business (human resources) management, procurement, audit services, facilities planning, accommodation services, emergency management, and planning.
• Human resources theories, principles, and practices used to manage and lead fair, inclusive, and equitable treatment of employees and facilitate an environment, which practices sound management relations and best practices related to organizational development, human capital planning, performance management, staff relations, accessibility, inclusiveness, etc.
• Understands that effective human resource planning achieves business results through people and fosters openness to accomplishing tasks and realize objectives.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of corporate management, administration, and resource policies, directives and processes used in leading/directing business and operational planning, IM & IT, contract management/ procurement, accommodation planning, etc.
• Bachelor degree is a bonus.