Deputy CAOs
The number of Deputy CAOs (DCAOs) continues to grow across the province.
In many cases, a DCAO is brought on board to relieve operational and oversight pressures on the CAO while increasing executive capacity for strategic leadership and coordination across service areas in pursuit of organizational effectiveness. Like the CAO, the DCAO is often expected to look beyond individual departmental interests and help advance the priorities of the organization as a whole.
As is often the case in the Ontario municipal sector, the DCAO is not a one-size-fits-all position. Its scope and influence are shaped by local context, including a municipality’s size and organizational needs, community and Council priorities, and the working relationship between Council and administration.
Civic Ontario encourages the development and growth of Deputy CAOs across Ontario municipalities. Intentionally advancing DCAOs strengthens municipal suc-cession pipelines, supports continuity through leadership transitions, and broadens the bench of qualified executives.
The Pathway to Becoming a DCAO
The role of the DCAO is as varied as the communities it serves and the people who fill it. This is a fundamental difference from roles such as the CAO or clerk, where there is a more consistent and shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities; in limited cases, these duties are enshrined in the Municipal Act, 2001. The DCAO role is inherently more flexible but also requires a good degree of clarity about the objectives, scope, and responsibilities of the position in order for it to be successful.
There is no single pathway to becoming a DCAO. While having municipal experience certainly helps, some Councils look to hire individuals with private sector leadership experience. Others look for a balance.
A successful DCAO is a dynamic leader with a unique blend of skills and attributes. Our CAO Profile equally applies to the role of DCAO, It provides 20 key competencies arranged into 5 leadership capabilities: (1) Achieves Excellence, (2) Adapts to change, (3) Adjusts to Ambiguity, (4) Aligns Interests, and (5) Anticipates Situations. Each of key competencies is further broken down into career stages: beginning, mid-career, and experienced/ mentoring others. This CAO Leader Profile may be used for Leadership Alignment, Self-Assessment, or as a Coaching Aid. We hope you use it as a workbook as you progress through the various stages of your municipal career.
Civic Ontario's DCAO Implementation Guide focuses on the key considerations and decisions along the path to establishing or refining a DCAO model. It is intended to provide useful guidance rather than a prescriptive template. It explores those key decision-points, including how roles and responsibilities are defined, how authority is delegated, and how the position fits within the municipality’s organizational structure. Consideration is also given to how the DCAO role is introduced, including building the case to Council and navigating the change within the administration and with staff. Throughout the guide, practical tools, leading practices, and implementation tips are included to help support municipalities as they assess and refine their approach.
Members can also access the DCAO Implementation Guide, evaluation toolkits, a range of policy documents, workshop proceedings, and many other resources in the DCAO page of the Member Library.
Educational Opportunities
Our CAO Leadership Program, offered through the Schulich School of Business at York University each spring, is an ideal offering for DCAOs as well.
This five-day program offers sought-after leadership skills in areas like political acuity, digital transformation, problem solving, and data analysis to thrive in your role or move up the career ladder. The program is hosted in a convenient choice model of virtual or in-person and featuring top-rated Schulich instructors with guest appearances from practising CAOs.
The Queen's University Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a one-year, multi-disciplinary program for full-time students. The program prepares students at the entry and mid-career levels for leadership roles in public service and policy making. Graduates hold positions as senior officials in all three orders of government.
Western University's Master of Public Administration program integrates general knowledge of management techniques with the broader understanding of politics and the public sector which is essential for local government executives. The alumni of Western's Local Government Program include many of Canada's senior municipal officials.
York University's Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) program provides students with a comprehensive, cutting edge education focused on social justice issues, public and administrative law, public sector ethics and human rights. The MPPAL is offered primarily as a part-time, executive program.
Find a Mentor
Our Mentorship Program puts DCAOs in position to gain career-enhancing knowledge and insights on their roles. Mentees greatly value this opportunity to choose mentors and match themselves with the industry leaders they want to meet. It can also help a DCAO decide if the CAO role is right for them. This program is free to all members and associates.
Municipal Recruiter List
A very helpful step in continuing your municipal career is to develop relationships with recruiters knowledgeable about the market. While not necessarily exhaustive, the following list includes the more active recruiters in the Ontario CAO space:
Feldman Daxon Partners, Patrick Rowan, prowan@feldmandaxon.com
Legacy Executive Search Partners, Kartik Kumar, Kartik.kumar@lesp.ca
Logic Executive Search and Workplace Solutions Jennifer Charron, jennifer@logicexecutivesearch.com
Odgers Berndtson, Margaret Campbell, Margaret.Campbell@odgersberndtson.com
Phelps Group, Heather Phelps, phelpsgroup@phelpsgroup.ca
Strategy Corp, Tony Haddad,thaddad@strategycorp.com
Waterhouse Executive Search, Jon Stungevicius, jon@waterhousesearch.net
Note: OMAA members can access the good practise contract and the CAO Profile in the Member Library.
Tips for when you (are about to) become a DCAO
Get legal advice on your contract.
Become active in Civic Ontario and local networking groups.
Engage with your municipal peers.
Continue to do all of things that got you here to be ready for the next opportunity.
Continually engage with your CAO.
Develop a personal development plan.
Have your CAO agree to a performance review process and stick to it.
Never stop learning and growing.
Know your worth.