In the heart of beautiful Muskoka, Ontario lies the Muskoka Airport – the transportation gateway to and from the Muskoka experience for people and businesses.

 

The Muskoka Airport operates year-round, significantly contributing to the regional economy through both business and personal travel. It handles around 15,000 aircraft movements annually, with over 70% occurring during the summer. The airport caters to charter companies, corporate aviation, recreational flyers, and essential community services including Air Ambulances and government agencies like the OPP, Corrections Canada, Ministry of Natural Resources for wildfire fighting, and the Department of National Defence.

 

As the airport transitions to a Municipal Services Corporation (MSC), which will be complete by June 30, 2025, the new Chief Executive Officer will play a key leadership role in shaping its future. This transition marks an exciting period of change and opportunity for the organization. The new MSC structure will enhance operational flexibility for development, which will in turn support long-term sustainability, and open doors to innovative partnerships and funding models. The CEO will guide this transformation while ensuring continuity in the high level of service and expertise on which users, tenants, airport staff and the wider community have come to rely. You will manage a budget of approximately $5M.

 

We are seeking a dynamic and impact-driven individual to lead Muskoka Airport through this pivotal phase. Reporting to the Board of Directors the CEO will be responsible for maintaining and elevating operational excellence while advancing growth, including expanding the airport's core aviation capacity and services through increased and regular traffic, as well as providing a robust non-aeronautical revenue strategy. You will need to bring a blend of commercial acumen, innovative thinking, and aviation expertise to successfully lead airport development projects and nurture stakeholder relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Overseeing safe and efficient airport operations in compliance with Transport Canada and federal regulations.
• Development of a business model that balances core aviation service delivery with strategic development to ensure financial resilience and the ability to scale effectively over time.
• Increasing the quality and number of flights through a sound aeronautical strategy aligned with the MSC strategic plan.
• Developing and executing a non-aeronautical strategy to generate new revenue from complementary commercial, industrial, and community uses.
• Continuing to expand aviation capacity while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and service.
• Maintaining strong relationships with tenants and aviation partners.
• Acting as the airport’s public ambassador.
• Leading strategic planning and overseeing the development and successful execution of the strategic plan
• Developing and managing the operational budget and capital programs.
• Serving as the Accountable Executive under the Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring certification and compliance at all times.
• Leading and empowering a dedicated airport team.

Qualifications and Experience

• Post-secondary education in a related field (aviation, business, public administration, planning or civil engineering) is required.
• Airport Executive Accreditation is preferred.
• Minimum five to seven years of related experience within the airport or aviation industry.
• Significant knowledge of, and experience, with business development and airport master or strategic planning.
• Demonstrated ability to lead growth initiatives, scale operations, and diversify revenue streams, including developing non-aeronautical commercial opportunities.
• Financial literacy, including oversight of complex budgets, capital planning, and cost-recovery models to ensure sustainability.
• A minimum of four (4) years of directly related team management experience, preferably in a unionized environment.
• Advanced skills in airport operations, aviation safety, financial management, and strategic planning.
• Exceptional leadership abilities to empower teams to achieve ambitious goals.
• Adeptness at fostering relationships to ensure stakeholder alignment and support.

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Ontario’s most scenic and strategically positioned regional airports into its next chapter of growth and innovation.

 

To fill this position, District of Muskoka has partnered with leadership advisory firm Odgers Berndtson. Applications are encouraged immediately and should be submitted online ideally by May 30, 2025.

 

For more information, please contact Margaret Vanwyck of Odgers Berndtson.

 

We would like to thank all applicants but regret that we are only able to personally contact those individuals whose backgrounds best match the requirements for the role.

 

In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers Berndtson and The District Municipality of Muskoka throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

 

Odgers Berndtson is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our EDI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.