Career Opportunities

The City of Kingston is seeking an experienced Chief Administrative Officer to lead Kingston’s endeavor to become a smart and livable 21st century city.

History and innovation thrive in this dynamic city, located at the gateway of the 1,000 Islands and the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal, it is an easy drive from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, in the heart of eastern Ontario.

Founded in 1673 as a military post, the city of Kingston was the first capital of a United Canada.

Being one of Canada’s oldest cities, it is dotted with many historical treasures such as Fort Henry, the Kingston Fortifications, even City Hall, is a National Historic Site and one of the over 26 museums that can be found in the city.

You’ll never run out of things to do in Kingston!

The city is a potpourri of festivals, events, attractions, with 200 public parks, and over 300 restaurants and many hidden gems, such as coffee shops that double as art galleries!

Three centuries of history and stunning architecture have inspired award-winning novels, hit songs, delicious menus and loads of Instagram photos! Surrounded by lakes, hiking trails and bike paths, the city offers an amazing variety of activities for people of all ages. Many world championship regattas including the 1976 Olympic sailing events have been hosted in Kingston, as It provides the best freshwater sailing harbour in all of North America.

Kingston is fast earning a reputation as a city that combines natural beauty with housing affordability and a historic, well-preserved downtown. The city is committed to expanding the tax base through intensification for greater economic resiliency and job growth. Contributing to the stable and diversified economy are global corporations, innovative start-ups, all levels of government, world-class education, research institutions, vibrant entertainment and tourism activities. The highest number of PhD graduates per capita and the "smartest" workforce in Canada can be found in Kingston. Every year upwards of 20,000 bright young minds move to the city to attend Queen’s University, the Royal Military College of Canada and St. Lawrence College. The city is filled with the ambitious spirit of students, artists, researchers, professors all who want to develop ideas that can make a difference in the world.

The citizens of Kingston are proud of their cultural heritage and are committed to leaving a legacy that will take the next generations of Kingstonians to a level that could only be imagined. Kingston’s Climate Action Plan was rated Canada’s best municipal plan in 2018.

It was also the first Canadian city to adopt a protocol for sustainable energy procurement and continues to lead by establishing an electric vehicle charging network.

Kingston was honoured by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for demonstrating creativity and innovation to increase public transit ridership. As a result of these efforts the city has the fastest growing transit ridership in Canada and the highest proportion of commuters using active transportation.

You can have the best of both worlds, endless possibilities and many reasons to smile if you live, work, study or visit Kingston. Kingston, was recognized in a recent survey that analyzed smiles on social media, with a smile score of 40.2 broad “straight from the heart” smiles , the happiest city in Canada!

Reporting to the Mayor and City Council, as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) you will to lead and direct all municipal operations and services for the City and its over 124,000 residents.

As our City’s most senior administrative official, you will lead by example and operate with a shared sense of passion and commitment to securely enable efficient operations that simplify the day-to-day lives of the people of the community you serve.

You are a dynamic and collaborative leader who creates a compelling vision and oversees the administration of the Corporation to ensure a high performing, service-oriented work environment consistent with sound management principles.

You are a positive example of how to drive change and an active champion of innovative ideas and individual changemakers. You are guided by the values of teamwork, respect, integrity and pride as you seek to fulfill the city’s mission and vision.

As a successful senior executive, you are personable and a proven consensus-builder with the ability to influence a diverse group of stakeholders. You have implemented strategic plans, large complex initiatives and created opportunities for sustainable economic development.

The City of Kingston's vision of being a smart, livable and leading city is fast becoming reality. Our ideal candidate for Chief Administrative Officer is a visionary leader that has the experience to balance grand strategy with an understanding of what needs to get done today, to move toward tomorrow and beyond.

Feeling inspired? Ready for the challenge?

If you possess a rare combination of political acumen and exceptional leadership with a desire to have a meaningful impact in one of the most exciting communities in North America, please contact Tony Woolgar at tony.woolgar@lesp.ca for more details and a comprehensive position profile. We thank all of those who apply; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

The City of Kingston is an equal opportunity employer. Information collected will be handled in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarions with Disabilities Act (2005), upon request, accommodation with be provided by both Legacy Executive Search Partners and the City of Kingston throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

Full Position Profile (PDF Download)

The Application Deadline is October 6th, 2019