Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada Agency

Parks Canada (Parks Canada Agency) is one of Canada’s premier institutions responsible, on behalf of the people of Canada, for protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s environmental and cultural heritage, and fostering public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.

The Agency ensures the effective management of one of the world’s premier national parks systems, Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas and many of the country’s most iconic National Historic Sites. As well, Parks Canada Agency ensures that the historical narratives that the Agency uses in all of its places are reflective of the full range of contributors, participants and perspectives, and that they create the appropriate space for those communities tell their stories.

The Parks Canada Agency plays a lead role in ensuring that Canada protects and preserves its heritage places and cultural resources by working with other federal departments, province s, territories, Indigenous governments, communities, and stakeholders. The Agency ensures support for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, particularly in shaping an effective, inclusive and widely supported approach to address cases where the previous recognition of historic events and persons raises questions from a modern perspective. The Agency is committed to providing a focal point in the federal government to advance policies and initiatives that enhance pride in Canada, protect Canada’s heritage, contribute to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity, ensure access to Canadian voices and Canadian spaces, encourage participation and contribution to Canadian society in general.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is accountable to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change for providing corporate leadership in defining, articulating and advancing the Agency’s mandate and for providing strategic leadership, direction and oversight for the effective stewardship, renewal and growth of Parks Canada Agency within the context of a statutory human resources and financial management regime.

The CEO leads a multidisciplinary team of some 4,500 full-time equivalent staff translating into over 7,000 employees who have one of the broadest ranges of skill sets in the federal public service, including: scientists, archeologists, historians, engineers, conservators, avalanche control experts, commercial real estate specialists, forest fire and emergency response teams, an armed law enforcement service, indigenous partnership specialists and visitor experience professionals.

The CEO ensures that Parks Canada’s work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in the operation of all of Parks Canada’s places achieves practical and meaningful reconciliation, both in areas where land claims are in place and in areas where these issues have yet to be resolved.
The Parks Canada Agency is a national leader in ecosystem protection, management and restoration and commits to improving the ecological quality of our protected natural and cultural heritage areas by putting a special emphasis on actively restoring or stabilizing key ecosystems.

The CEO ensures the development of recovery strategies for species at risk in compliance with the Species at Risk Act and will demonstrate federal leadership for land use management and species recovery through an active program of implementation and restoration.

The CEO promotes an increased public awareness of the work of Parks Canada in conservation and in the appreciation of protected places through public engagement campaigns, outreach to Canadians, and promotional activities. Additionally the CEO plays an important role within the Environment portfolio in ensuring that Canada achieves its international biodiversity goals under Canada Target 1 for protecting its terrestrial and marine resources by working with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments and communities, and with a broad new range of partnerships.

The CEO maintains effective working relationships with other federal departments and agencies critical to Parks Canada’s success, with relevant provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and with a broad range of key stakeholders and interested groups.

The CEO provides oversight for Parks Canada’s role in a number of international conventions, agencies and agreements, including the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The CEO manages an annual operating and capital budget in excess of $1.5B and ensures the effective delivery of one of the Government’s largest infrastructure programs of work. Additionally, the CEO manages over $25B in built assets located in every province and territory in Canada, including iconic national landmarks in major urban centers, essential national transportation corridors, and municipal-type infrastructure, among others.

The Agency fosters a greater connection to, and appreciation of, nature and history for over 25 million visitors per year and reach new audiences who may have never been exposed to Canada's natural and cultural heritage. In turn, the CEO promotes an understanding and builds on the key role that Parks Canada plays in Canada’s multi-billion-dollar tourism industry.

The CEO seeks to modernize Parks Canada’s approach to ensuring that Canadians receive a fair return when Parks Canada’s places are used for commercial or private interests, while assuring that viable businesses operate in Parks Canada places.

Diversity and Official Languages

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing applicants. You are therefore encouraged to include in your online profile your ability to speak and understand your second official language. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of a visible minority group.

Education and Experience

• A degree from a recognized university in a relevant field of study or an acceptable combination of equivalent education, job-related training and/or experience;


• Corporate leadership experience at the Chief Executive Officer or senior executive level, including the management of human and financial resources;


• Experience in strategic management, organizational change and implementing modern corporate governance principles and best practices;


• Experience in dealing with all levels of government, and with senior officials of these organizations;


• Experience in managing the needs and sensitivities of diverse stakeholder groups in a multi-stakeholder environment including government authorities, media, public and private sector partners; and


• Experience in engagement and consultations with Indigenous communities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the mandate, programs, legislative framework of Parks Canada Agency;


• Knowledge of Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites;


• Knowledge of heritage preservation and environmental sustainability;


• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with federal agencies with relevant provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments and with a broad range of key stakeholders and interested groups;


• Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team of employees including scientists, archaeologists, historians, engineers, conservators, avalanche control experts, commercial real estate specialists, forest fire and emergency response teams, an armed law enforcement service, indigenous partnership specialists and visitor experience professionals;


• Ability to identify, analyze and define priorities and strategies; and


• Ability to manage and provide corporate vision and leadership as well as to execute the strategic direction needed to ensure that the Agency is able to fulfill its mandate and achieve its objectives.

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

• Create Vision and Strategy


• Mobilize people


• Uphold Integrity and Respect


• Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders


• Promote Innovation and Guide Change


• Achieve Results

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

• Appointees must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders throughout their appointment as a term and condition of employment. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments website under the Forms and reference material.


• All appointees are subject to the Conflicts of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must also submit to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics within 60 days of appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities and outside activities. For more information, please visit the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner's website.

• Appointees must uphold the highest standards of probity and are expected to demonstrate behaviours in the workplace that afford respect, equality and dignity, to everyone they interact with at work at all times. The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector outlines the values and expected behaviours for public servants, including valuing diversity and creating workplaces free from harassment and discrimination. Governor in Council appointees are expected to uphold and respect these values and principles in a positive and active manner.


• For the purposes of Part 7 of the Public Service Employment Act, the Chief Executive Officer is deemed to be a deputy head. (statutory)


• If you are appointed to this position, you must reside in or be willing to relocate to the National Capital Region, or to a location within a reasonable commuting distance.


• If you are appointed to this position, you must be willing to travel across Canada and internationally.

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this positions. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment. A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.

How to Apply

Review of applications will begin on February 8, 2019. Candidates must apply online via the Governor in Council Appointments website. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by this date. After this date, your application will be retained and may be considered up until an appointment to the position is made. Your cover letter should be addressed to the Deputy Director of Selection Processes, Senior Personnel Secretariat, Privy Council Office, and should be sent only through the online application.

Instructions on how to apply for an appointment opportunity can be found on the Governor in Council Appointments website.