Director, Corporate Strategy and Sector Policy

Date: October 7, 2026

Location: Toronto, ON

Requisition ID: 21283

Status: Regular

Business Unit: Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy

Grade/Band: Band 3B

Shift Work: No

Annual Pay Range: For standard 35-hour work week
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The successful placement within the range will depend on qualifications, relevant work experience, and other applicable considerations.

Why join us?

The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario’s electricity system meets the province’s needs today and into the future. We are charged with purpose, delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for homes, businesses, and communities across the province. We are energized to grow, embracing opportunities to shape the future of a dynamic and evolving energy sector while advancing our careers. We are powered by teamwork, supported by diverse and passionate colleagues who foster respect, celebrate successes, and thrive on shared achievements. At the IESO, it’s not just what we do—it’s who we are!

Who we are

Our central role includes managing the provincial power grid in real-time, overseeing and evolving Ontario’s electricity market, engaging with government, municipalities and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario’s future electricity needs. Our employees play a key role in driving grid innovation, protecting the system from threats, advancing the province’s energy conservation programs, and forecasting and procuring the electricity resources we’ll need in the decades to come. 

This is a non-unionized position that falls within the Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy business unit.

What makes this role exciting

The energy sector is rapidly evolving, offering exciting new opportunities for those who want to make a difference.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the organization's strategic direction and drive initiatives that have enterprise-wide impact. Working closely with senior leaders, the role influences corporate strategy, oversees its implementation, and leads high-profile CEO and organizational priorities. The position offers a rare combination of strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and people leadership, allowing you to see ideas progress from concept to measurable results.

For someone who enjoys solving complex challenges and creating organizational alignment, this role sits at the center of the organization's most important priorities.

What you’ll do

In this role, you’ll make a meaningful impact by contributing to the IESO team and supporting the electricity needs of the province through:

1. Leading the development and socialization of the Corporate Strategy, working in close partnership with Directors and senior leaders. Coordinate strategic planning activities, stakeholder engagement, and supporting research, and develop recommendations for Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board consideration and approval.
2. Leading the development of the Strategy Implementation Plan, including prioritization of strategic initiatives, milestones, performance measures, and implementation approaches. Facilitate engagement with business areas and provide recommendations to support ELT decision-making and approval.
3. Overseeing enterprise-wide monitoring, measurement, and reporting of progress against strategic objectives. Establish and implement reporting approaches, assess organizational performance against strategic commitments, identify emerging risks and issues, and provide insights and recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
4. Coordinating and aligning corporate strategy activities with other enterprise planning functions, including business planning, enterprise risk management, enterprise change, procurement, workforce planning, etc. Identify opportunities to strengthen the Enterprise Planning Framework and recommend improvements that enhance organizational alignment and execution.
5. Leading the delivery of CEO-sponsored and strategic initiatives, such as ESG framework, organizational alignment reviews, and other corporate priorities. Direct supporting research, analysis, and project activities; oversee external consultants and contractors where required; and develop recommendations arising from initiative outcomes for consideration by the CEO and Executive Leadership Team.
6. Provide leadership, direction, and coaching to team members, ensuring the effective delivery of corporate strategy, strategy implementation planning, enterprise reporting, and strategic initiatives through clear priorities, performance expectations, and professional development support.

Decision-Making Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing the approach, methodology, and stakeholder engagement process for the development of the Corporate Strategy and Strategy Implementation Plan.
• Approve research, analysis, and other work products supporting strategy development, implementation planning, and strategic initiatives.
• Determine the approach for strategy performance oversight and enterprise reporting.
• Lead the selection and management of consultants and contractors supporting strategy or strategic initiative work, in accordance with organizational policies and procurement requirements.
• Make decisions related to the coordination, prioritization, and execution of strategic and CEO-sponsored initiatives.

Recommendations

• Recommend the Corporate Strategy, developed in collaboration with Directors and key stakeholders, for consideration and approval by the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Recommend the Strategy Implementation Plan, including strategic priorities, sequencing of work, performance measures, and resource considerations, for Executive Leadership Team approval.
• Recommend enhancements to the Enterprise Planning Framework to strengthen alignment across corporate strategy, business planning, enterprise risk management, enterprise change, workforce planning, procurement, and other enterprise functions.
• Develop and present recommendations arising from CEO-sponsored and strategic initiatives, including opportunities, risks, implementation approaches, and organizational impacts, for consideration and approval by the CEO and Executive Leadership Team.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on organizational performance, emerging issues, risks, trends, and opportunities identified through strategy oversight, reporting, and environmental scanning activities.

Role Requirements 

Our team consists of experts from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique perspectives and skills. 

To succeed in this role, you’ll need: 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 12-15+ years of progressively senior experience in government relations, public affairs, strategy, policy, or a related function, preferably within the electricity or broader energy sector.
• Strong knowledge of the electricity sector, government and regulatory environments, strategic planning and execution, business operations, and financial and budget management.
• Proven ability to influence and build relationships with senior leaders, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to convey complex issues effectively and drive alignment.
• Demonstrated success leading, developing, and motivating professional teams while fostering collaboration and delivering strategic outcomes.

How We Support You

From a comprehensive total rewards program to dynamic learning and development opportunities—including job rotations to broaden your expertise—we empower you to define and shape your own success. When you join the IESO, here’s what you can expect:

• Best-in-class benefits and long-term support in the form of a defined benefit pension plan. 
• Work in a dynamic and evolving sector that offers exciting opportunities and the chance to explore new career paths.
• Leadership that values meaningful discussions, welcomes feedback, and prioritizes career development. 
• A strong, inclusive culture and a collaborative team environment with a shared passion for impactful work.
• Compensation packages that are regularly reviewed to remain competitive and to best accommodate the diverse needs of our employees. 

Deadline

October 29, 2026. For future reference, please save a copy of the job posting as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

Thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that the successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to applicable background checks. 

IESO will not conduct interviews or offer positions via online, text, chat or social media platforms. We will not gather personal information directly from candidates or potential candidates. Selected candidates will work with our Talent Acquisition team to ensure their application is processed.

The IESO currently has a 3-day in-office work week for applicable roles. Over the course of 2026, the IESO will advance plans to acquire additional office space to accommodate more in-office time. While the timeline for moving to a full 5-day in-office model has not yet been established, we are committed to keeping employees and candidates informed as plans progress and give them as much advance notice as possible to prepare for any changes. 

We believe in opportunities for everyone. 

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing, and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment—one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. We’re proud to say we’ve been recognized as a supportive, inclusive employer. 

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