MANAGER STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Job ID: 62056

Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research

Division & Section: Deputy City Manager Infrastucture Services, Strategic Captial Coordination Office

Work Location: City Hall, 100 Queen St West, Toronto 

Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent Vacancy

Salary Range: $126,000-$176,140

Hiring Zone: $139,659-$151,419

Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Affiliation: Non-Union

Number of Positions Open: 1 

Posting Period: 01-May-2026 to 18-May-2026

Recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2026, the City of Toronto promotes professional development and is committed to providing opportunities to lead, learn and grow. We value integrity, reliability and fairness, and we embrace the diversity of the people we work with and serve.

Office of the Chief Congestion Officer (CCO)
The Chief Congestion Officer is a function within Infrastructure Services that serves as the City of Toronto’s central authority on congestion management.  The Chief Congestion Officer and Executive Director, Strategic Capital Coordination Office (CCO) has a mandate to provide strategy and advice to senior leadership, the Mayor and City Council on the management of traffic congestion and plays a lead role in engaging with partners and interest groups on congestion-related issues. Reporting to the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, the CCO leads city‑wide coordination to proactively identify, mitigate, and manage congestion by aligning policies, actions, capital programming, construction sequencing, and communications across City divisions, agencies, utilities, private developers, and external government partners. Through oversight of the Strategic Capital Coordination Office (SCCO), the CCO strengthens accountability for capital coordination, improves predictability and efficiency in project programming, and reduces disruption to residents, businesses, and visitors, while providing advice to City leadership and Council and clearly communicating the City’s approach to keeping Toronto moving amid sustained growth and development.

Position Summary
The Chief Congestion Officer is seeking a strategic, politically astute, analytical and solutions-oriented policy leader for the role of Manager, Strategic Initiatives. Reporting to the CCO, this position offers a unique opportunity for a self-starter and problem-solver with a strategic mindset and exceptional judgement to drive initiatives and results on a fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative team.

Equally important, you are an inclusive leader who enjoys working with internal and external partners and interest groups, and are committed to contributing to a supportive, productive and collaborative work environment.

This role is responsible for developing strategic policy and advice, overseeing and advancing priority projects, driving alignment across the City with respect to congestion, and ensuring that congestion mitigation strategies are coordinated, operationalized, and aligned across divisions. The Manager will lead cross-divisional initiatives, provide guidance and leadership to project teams, and champion a cohesive, city-wide approach to effective program delivery and innovation.

What can you expect to do?
Policy and program development and strategic issues management will be at the heart of your role as Manager, Strategic Initiatives including an emphasis on City Council and Committee activities. You will also provide high-level advice on the planning, coordination, and delivery of complex, cross-divisional strategies that align with the City’s congestion management goals.

As a policy professional with a hands-on approach, you will work with and on behalf of the CCO to lead, coordinate and advise on the development of key reports to City Council and its Committees. As part of this work, you will strategically monitor Council and Committee meetings for opportunities and impacts for the office.

Working closely with the CCO, you will provide strategic advice, issues management, and recommendations to address complex policy problems, develop and review strategic briefing materials and presentations for executive, political and public audiences, conduct research and analysis on key matters of interest to inform decision-making.

Informed by your partnerships with staff in various divisions, the CCO will rely on your knowledge and insight to manage the preparation, briefing and strategic alignment on staff reports and strategic briefing materials, and to proactively identify key connections to the work of congestion management.

In particular as a Manager, Strategic Initiatives you will be expected to:

• Lead projects to research, develop and recommend strategic policy options on complex program, policy and operational issues to manage congestion, considering key political, social and economic issues.
• Provide research and analysis on matters such as previous Council direction and progress, initiatives by other orders of government, jurisdictions and public and private sector organizations, and emerging policy areas.
• Anticipate high-profile issues in the media or political domain and liaise with a variety of internal divisional and agency partners to facilitate resolution, ensure implementation of high-priority initiatives and formulate appropriate responses, including media and other external/internal inquiries.
• Review and provide advice on all reports to City Council and Committees from the CCO, and key reports from the divisions in Infrastructure Services and other service areas.
• Develop performance monitoring frameworks, dashboards, and reports for review by the senior management team.
• Lead interdivisional collaboration to advance Council direction and address recommendations from the City’s Accountability Officers, including the Auditor General and Ombudsman Toronto.
• Prepare and present reports, briefing notes, presentations and issues analysis for executive, political and public audiences.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of current corporate and CCO issues and initiatives, and draft briefing notes and responses on issues, projects, escalated complaints and related matters.
• Manage assigned projects, ensuring effective teamwork and communication, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, and continuous learning.
• Represent the CCO and divisional interests at key meetings and participate on City-wide or corporate Committees and Task Forces.
• Provide liaison between the Deputy City Manager’s Office and Members of Council and their staff as required.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary education that supports broad and strategic thinking, policy development and analysis, communications, issues resolution, relationship building and partnership management (e.g., Public Policy/Administration, Urban/Transportation Planning, Public Policy, Business Administration, etc.) or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
2. Considerable experience in a large public sector organization, combined with in-depth knowledge of government decision-making processes. Knowledge of Council and Committee proceedings is an asset.
3. Considerable knowledge of transportation policy, traffic congestion management, planning, infrastructure and related economic policies, programs, issues and initiatives.
4. Considerable experience in policy research, analysis and development to evaluate implications of potential policy changes, anticipate feedback, and make recommendations to mitigate potential risks.
5. People leadership experience is considered an asset, as a foundation for mentoring staff and working across divisions to lead meetings, working groups and collaborate on plans and solutions.
6. Proven political acumen and exceptional judgement and insight.
7. Demonstrated ability to operate as a fully accountable program leader, including effective decision-making skills and a track record of innovation and result-oriented leadership.
8. Ability to handle confidential and/or sensitive matters and use discretion to navigate and address complex matters.
9. Considerable experience preparing reports, strategic briefing materials and presentations on various topics.
10. Considerable experience managing issues and leading projects or initiatives involving multiple interest groups and partners, including the ability to negotiate and achieve consensus among parties with different objectives.
11. Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to build effective and strong working relationships and trust with a broad range of internal and external partners, including other divisions and agencies, politicians and their staff, and other orders of government and external organizations.
12. Excellent presentation skills to conduct briefings for senior executives, partners, and interest groups.
13. Ability to identify, coordinate and manage competing priorities, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.

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.