MANAGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Technology and Innovation Sectors (OTIS))

• Job ID: 62319
• Job Category: Economic Development, Arts & Culture
• Division & Section: Economic Development & Culture, Economic Development (Office of Technology & Innovation Sector)
• Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, ON, M5V 3C6.
• Job Type & Duration: Permanent, Full-time Vacancy

• Salary Range: $123,833.00 - $170,184.00, TM2152, Wage Grade 8.0

  Ideal Hiring Zone: $138,040.00 - $149,664.00

• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 19-Feb-2026 to 05-Mar-2026
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Job Summary:

Toronto is a global leader in technology and innovation, home to one of the fastest-growing tech ecosystems in North America. From AI and fintech to health tech and advanced manufacturing, our city thrives on collaboration, creativity, and cutting-edge research. The Office of Tech and Innovation Sectors play a critical role in positioning Toronto as a premier destination for talent, investment, and emerging technologies.

The Manager, (OTIS) will lead strategies that strengthen Toronto’s innovation economy, accelerate growth in key technology and priority traded sectors, and foster partnerships that drive competitiveness and inclusive prosperity. This role focuses on enabling sector development, supporting scale-up companies, and advancing initiatives that attract investment, talent, and global recognition for Toronto’s tech ecosystem.

A key component of this role is understanding the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across multiple sectors and leveraging this knowledge to shape policies, programs, and partnerships that ensure Toronto remains at the forefront of technological advancement.

The successful candidate will champion Toronto’s innovation strengths, working closely with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government partners to deliver measurable outcomes that create jobs, stimulate growth, and ensure Toronto remains a global hub for technology and innovation sectors.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements. Develops unit's goals and objectives that align with the overall strategic planning of the Section and Division.
• Manages, motivates and trains the unit's staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, and continuous learning; and encourages innovation in others.
• Manages the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff
• performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary. Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the unit, and ensures that the unit's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the Unit, evaluating program delivery on an ongoing basis in consultation with staff, senior management, service users and partners, and implementing and managing change to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Improves the operating performance of contracted and other service partners by providing professional advice, conflict resolution, administrative support, issue management, and leadership.
• Ensures excellent customer service is provided to both internal and external customers. Ensures that programs and services offered to clients are current and relevant, by conducting periodic reviews of program goals and objectives, operating procedures and annual budgets.
• Develops and manages requests for proposals in accordance with the City's policies and procedures and manages evaluation and selection processes and contracts with suppliers.
• Supports revenue-generating programs (e.g. grants, sponsorship, fees), where applicable, to achieve budget goals within City guidelines.
• Participates collaboratively with management in the division and other divisions in advancing relevant Divisional and Corporate strategies. Provides leadership and advice to senior management on economic development issues, equity and inclusion, and operations.
• Manages client services to the Toronto business community, such as provision of information and advice, site selection and related business retention and expansion support and sector development assistance. Represents the Division and builds positive relationships with Councillors and senior staff from the City and external organizations to facilitate the development of partnerships, leverage resources, and build support for the unit's mandate and programs.
• Acts as an advocate on business competitiveness issues, opportunities and challenges with other City divisions and City Council.
• Engages and consults with City divisions, programs, agencies, and boards on priorities, policies and service delivery impacting business development, retention, expansion and competitiveness.
• Manages the development and administration of programs, services, and grants designed to enhance the vibrancy and economic well-being of commercial areas and sectors.
• Develops and implements detailed project plans and links with appropriate external partners and management regarding program specific requirements, ensuring program support for the project. Defines resources required for project implementation and service delivery and works with senior management and partners to source and secure requirements.
• Develops programs and supports initiatives to meet Council objectives for economic opportunity and social inclusion. Works collaboratively with various partnerships. .
• Manages the facilitation of new business improvement areas, incubators or business association development by providing advice and guidance, facilitating information meetings, ensuring proper notification, reporting on feasibility, and (where applicable) coordinating statutory polling and by-law preparation.
• Negotiates and enters into funding partnerships with the private sector and other orders of government. Provides leadership to the Economic Development Division by providing advice to Senior Management on economic development issues, inclusivity and equity, and operations.
• Represents the division at Community Councils, Standing Committees, and City Council, and at adjudicative bodies, on specific projects, policy issues and administrative issues relating to business growth services.
• Manages, supports, and represents the division on inter-divisional and inter-agency working groups, committees and projects. Works with various stakeholders to develop City policy on matters related to the economic competitiveness of the City and provides an economic development perspective and comments to other City divisions on their policy and program development activities.
• Builds effective relationships with other orders of governments to encourage support for the competitiveness and inclusiveness of local businesses and represents the division on intergovernmental teams. Serves on the Boards of Directors of non-profit agencies and non-governmental organizations as the City's representative.
• Represents the City on major trade and investment projects, proposals and negotiations involving senior management of private sector corporations and other levels of government.
• Monitors and reports on program results, the economic state of areas and sectors, and the regional / national / international positioning of Toronto businesses and clusters.
• Identifies economic trends through the gathering of field intelligence and provides input to new policies and programs supporting the economic growth of the City and builds consensus and partnerships to ensure implementation.
• Works closely with external partners on the attraction of foreign direct investment at a local level.
• Develops and implements industry specific economic development strategies in partnership with industry stakeholders.
• Monitors policy, program and regulatory changes at all levels of government for impact on business clients and sector and initiates appropriate municipal response.
• Ensures compliance, including by partners and associations, with applicable City and Provincial policies related to unit programs and services
• Monitors Standing Committee agendas to identify items which might impact on the business community and determine appropriate staff actions.
• Prepare reports for City Council and Committees.
• Represents the City/Division by participating in local, national and international conferences, trade shows and business missions.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary education in technology management, innovation policy, economics, or a related discipline, combined with significant experience in economic development, technology and other traded sector strategies, or innovation ecosystems (incubators/accelerators) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Demonstrated expertise in managing initiatives that support technology / traded sector growth, including partnerships with industry, academia, and government.
3. Strong understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their transformative impact on key sectors such as Life Sciences, Food and Beverage, Green, advanced manufacturing, and tech industries, with the ability to integrate this knowledge into strategic planning and policy development.
4. Strong understanding of emerging technologies, innovation trends, and the dynamics of local and international tech ecosystems, with experience engaging senior executives and political stakeholders on high-profile projects.
5. Knowledge of municipal government operations, economic development frameworks, and public policy related to technology and innovation sectors.
6. Proven ability to lead and inspire teams to deliver impactful results in complex, fast-paced environments.
7. Experience developing and implementing sector-specific strategies, programs, and policies that drive competitiveness and attract investment.
8. Advanced stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with a track record of building strong relationships across diverse sectors.
9. Exceptional communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership, elected officials, and industry audiences.
10. Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to leverage data and insights to inform strategic decisions.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.