PROJECT DIRECTOR

Reporting to the General Manager, the Project Director, Issues Management & General Manager’s Office will provide senior leadership for issues management and executive coordination and oversee the effective operation of the General Manager’s Office (GMO).  

This is a high-trust, high-judgment role for a seasoned public-sector leader who understands political environments, media dynamics, and executive decision-making, and who can bring structure, foresight, and calm to complex and time-sensitive situations.  

As the Project Director you will: 

• Develop, implement and monitor effective risk and issues management strategies, policies and procedures, and provide direction and training to staff on appropriate responses and procedures. You will also be expected to anticipate, identify and manage emerging issues and challenges. 

• Lead the identification, assessment, and management of emerging issues with political, reputational, operational, or public impact 

• Provide senior oversight of stakeholder relations and issue-based engagement with Councillors, the Mayor’s Office, and community stakeholders 

• Design, implement and evaluate divisional strategic improvements as directed by City Council and/or the Division Head.
• Support preparation of executive briefings, speaking notes, and issue summaries as required
• Build effective and collaborative working relationships with the Division's senior management team, managers and project managers, staff from other City divisions and external stakeholders, sector partners, and others to promote a commitment to continuously evolving and improving our approaches and practices.
• Participate and contribute to the Division's strategic planning, develop strategic business plans and organizational performance indicators, monitors and identify risk mitigation in a collaborative way with input from key stakeholders, and establish reporting requirements to provide strategic oversight.
• Leads and motivates a diverse workforce, ensures effective teamwork, provides resolution to controversial labour relations issues, ensures high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Provides leadership to promote excellence in customer service, effective and efficient service delivery models and accountability at all levels of the service experience.
  

   

  KEY QUALIFICATIONS: 

  Among the other strengths you bring to the role of Project Director, you have the following key qualifications: 

  1. Extensive senior level experience in issues management, Council relations and in a customer service focused capacity. 

  2. Extensive experience leading complex services, policies and programs with an emphasis on public policy and/or development, customer service and risk management, including development and implementation of improvements to existing policies, programs and processes.

  3. Considerable experience managing, leading and motivating a team of professionals, while supporting divisional objectives.

  4. Considerable experience establishing and maintaining partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including diverse community and divisional partners.

  5. Considerable experience preparing executive briefings, presentations and reports.  

  6. Strong political acumen, judgment and insight, including the ability to negotiate and achieve consensus among parties having different objectives Familiarity with Toronto Public Service values and ability to support an ethical, supportive and respectful workplace culture that champions equity, diversity and inclusion.  
  7. Familiarity with Toronto Public Service values and ability to support an ethical, supportive and respectful workplace culture that champions equity, diversity and inclusion.