ABOUT OEB

Mandate

As an economic and marketplace regulator, the OEB protects the interests of millions of natural gas and electricity consumers by regulating entities that generate, transmit and distribute energy across the province. The OEB has a mandate to inform consumers, protect their interests and ensure an economically efficient and financially viable energy industry. By doing so, the OEB supports the delivery of reliable and affordable energy for Ontario and provides value to the public. This requires us to be responsive to the changing needs of consumers, the entities we regulate and Ontario’s energy sector. Our overarching goal is to support a sustainable, reliable and high-quality energy sector that provides natural gas and electricity services at a reasonable cost.

Objectives & Outcomes

The OEB regulates Ontario’s energy sector as required under provincial legislation. Our mandate and authority come from the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, the Electricity Act, 1998, and other related statutes. The OEB Act establishes the objectives that guide the OEB in carrying out its responsibilities. These objectives drive the regulatory outcomes we seek to achieve. Synthesizing these objectives, the desired outcomes we seek from our regulation of electricity and natural gas markets and participants include the following four key outcomes:

• Protecting consumers by ensuring fair prices and access to adequate, reliable and quality utility services.
• Enabling financially viable utilities that can attract capital due to the availability of fair returns from a transparent and reliable regulatory process without undue burden.
• Efficient energy infrastructure by facilitating the rational expansion of transmission and distribution systems, including the appropriate use of Distributed Energy Resources and other Non-Wires Solutions.
• Energy conservation and efficiency by providing regulatory and policy guidance, in alignment with government policies, for initiatives such as electricity demand-side management, electricity conservation and natural gas Demand-Side Management (DSM).

Achieving these outcomes and balancing the potential tension between them is a filter for every issue we consider, every action that management proposes and guides our day-to-day operations and decision-making.

Culture

Values

• Accountable: We hold ourselves accountable to the public we serve through integrity of governance, clarity of process and independence of decision-making.
• Transparent: We are transparent in setting objectives, measuring outcomes and reporting on our performance to our stakeholders and the public.
• Driven: We are driven to do the right things, work hard and deliver value for the people of Ontario and the evolving energy sector which we regulate.
• Thoughtful: We approach each day thoughtfully and ensure prudent stewardship of one of the most complex and productive energy sectors in the world.
• At the Ontario Energy Board, we believe diversity and inclusion strengthens our organization.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY (FULL-TIME APPOINTMENT)

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides executive leadership to the organization, working closely with government and energy sector stakeholders. The CEO is accountable for the efficient and effective management of the operations of the OEB and for ensuring the effective supervision of Ontario’s regulated energy sector. The CEO plays a key role in shaping the future of the province’s energy landscape.

The CEO leads the OEB management team and is accountable to the Board of Directors for the delivery of the OEB’s mandate. The CEO oversees the day-to-day operations of the OEB and leads the development of the OEB’s strategy. The CEO is responsible for OEB staff that:

• develops and implements regulatory policy, codes and rules,
• supervises (e.g. inspects, investigates and enforces against non-compliance) licensed utilities and energy market participants,
• advocates to further the public interest in rate setting, infrastructure approval and other adjudicative processes and
• supports the OEB’s impartial adjudication activities.
• Given the ongoing energy transition in Ontario and the competing demands on the OEB’s resources, the CEO is called on to lead the organization through a period of change as it regulates a sector which is rapidly transforming.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUCCESS FACTORS

• Leading the efficient and effective management of the operations of the OEB to advance the OEB’s mandate, strategy and priorities
• Supporting the Board of Directors in establishing, and leading management in the execution of, the OEB’s strategy and priorities
• Reporting to (both directly and through the Chair), and executing on responsibilities delegated by, the OEB’s Board of Directors; accepting direction from the Board Chair on policy and operational matters; and advising Directors on good governance, controls and processes to assist them in fulfilling their duties
• Providing leadership to, and empowering, the executive and management teams in their achievement of the OEB’s mandate, completion of the Minister’s directives and fulfillment of OEB’s business plan priorities and deliverables.
• Creating an environment that promotes excellence, trust, innovation, fairness and positive morale throughout the organization
• Fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, diversity, equity, inclusion and continuous improvement within the organization
• Overseeing the OEB’s fiscal activity and ensuring fulfillment of all legal, compliance and other government requirements, including obligations set forth in the OEB’s Memorandum of Understanding
• Ensuring the OEB has the resources and processes necessary to deliver on its mandate in the context of broader energy policy objectives determined by the Government of Ontario
• Providing strategic and operational leadership of the OEB’s regulatory policy development and implementation, including stakeholder engagement
• Making/amending rules and codes that govern natural gas and electricity industry participants
• Ensuring that that the Ministry is well-informed when setting energy policy objectives; developing and implementing frameworks, and using policy and supervisory tools, to further such objectives
• Providing, and ensuring staff provides, support to the independent adjudication function while ensuring the independence and impartiality, and the efficiency, timeliness and dependability, of the OEB’s adjudicative processes
• Representing the OEB with the Ministry and the sector and in public and intra-governmental forums; serving as lead spokesperson for the OEB on regulatory matters
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with government and industry stakeholders, as appropriate given the context of a proactive supervisor with enforcement powers, an adjudicative tribunal and the CEO’s rule, code and policy-making responsibilities
• Maintaining a deep knowledge of the energy sector and emerging trends, including issues affecting energy consumers

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Knowledge of the mandate and activities of the OEB and the adjudicative, regulatory and business environments and legislative framework within which it operates
• Proven experience in a senior executive leadership role, ideally within a board-governed and adjudicative regulatory agency
• Knowledge of Ontario’s energy sector participants, issues/challenges and regulatory norms
• Knowledge and understanding of sound corporate governance and business practices in a government agency, including human resources and financial management, strategic corporate planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of corporate performance
• Experience with the interpretation and application of legislation and regulations, the development of government policy to achieve diverse objectives and the development, implementation and use of frameworks, supervision and other regulatory tools to further such policy
• Experience in building relationships, consulting and working with government, industry, consumer representatives and other non-governmental stakeholders, including regulatory peers and Indigenous groups
• Experience in one or more of the following would be an asset:
  
  • Experience in the electricity and/or natural gas industries in Ontario
  • Experience in an adjudicative and non-adjudicative regulator, either directly or as an ongoing participant in their processes
  • Knowledge of economic/rate-of-return regulation and other regulatory tools to improve market functioning
• Proven ability to attract, retain and motivate high performing talent in a culture of continuous improvement, while transforming structure, processes and approaches to meet evolving challenges, ideally in a unionized government agency
• Qualifications/educational background in some combination of economics, law, business, finance, accounting, public administration and engineering, ideally at a post-graduate level

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to provide senior leadership, vision, strategic direction, and operational oversight to manage and motivate an organization with technical, regulatory and adjudicative responsibilities
• Leadership experience in charting a course of action and marshalling resources to realize goals
• Ability to lead and manage change in a diverse and highly technical, knowledge-based organization including the ability to foster discussion and debate, facilitate consensus, identify risks and manage conflicts
• Ability to manage talent at the executive level, to create a positive work culture and to work cooperatively with staff
• Strong analytical skills to facilitate the assessment of strategic issues, trends & potential impacts, and a range of possible approaches
• Good understanding of government structures and protocols, and of the impact of governance and public policy on the OEB’s business and strategies
• Ability to objectively balance alternative views, interests and information
• A strong alignment with the public interest and consumer protection
• Knowledge of Indigenous energy policy considerations
• A proven track record of promoting, through example, values such as fairness, transparency, collaboration, integrity, ethical behavior, professionalism and collegiality
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. government; non-government; community officials; Indigenous Peoples; industry; consumer and other public representatives; union representatives; media), within an adjudicative and regulatory context
• A proven track record of building effective working relationships, achieving consensus on complex issues and effective and efficient implementation of solutions

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please forward a confidential expression of interest (cover letter and current resume) to: Ed Perkovic, Vice President, Search Delivery and Operations ed.perkovic@lhhknightsbridge.com.

Should you have any questions regarding this exciting and challenging opportunity, please contact:

Lisa Knight, Managing Partner lisa.knight@lhhknigjtsbridge.com 416-928-4565

Janice Kussner, Partner janice.kussner@lhhknightsbridge.com 416 640 4313

Ed Perkovic, VP, Search Delivery & Ops ed.perkovic@lhhknightsbridge.com 416-640-4311

Lizz Surajdeen, Executive Assistant lizz.surajdeen@lhhknightsbridge.com 416-640-4310