Policy, Planning & Project Consultant

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  Job ID: 57091

  Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research

  Division & Section: Toronto Shelter & Support Services, Infrastructure Planning & Development

  Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street

  Job Type & Duration: Temporary vacancy (12 months)

  Salary: $113,683.00 - $155,216.00 annually

  Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week 

  Affiliation: Non-Union

  Number of Positions Open: 1

  Posting Period: 09-JUN-2025 to 23-JUN-2025

   

Job Description:

The City of Toronto is experiencing unprecedented demand and pressure for shelter services. To address this, the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS) plans to increase the total number of new long-term and permanent spaces by approximately 1,600 spaces across up to 20 sites by 2033. This plan focuses on developing purpose-built shelters, increasing permanency across the shelter system, and a gradual transition out of temporary shelter hotels.

As part of HSCIS, the Toronto Shelter & Support Services (TSSS) Division offers a comprehensive community engagement process that invites residents and businesses to take an active role in discussing how to best support and integrate a new shelter service into the neighbourhood. 

With a commitment to see the successful opening of new shelters, the Policy, Planning & Project Consultant will bring strong community engagement, political acuity, project management and relationship management skills, to continue and/or improve the community engagement process to ensure that TSSS engagement needs are reflected within the scope and vision of the HSCIS project.

For additional information on the HSCIS project, please refer to Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy and visit Developing Shelter Sites – City of Toronto.

Major Responsibilities:

• Leads community engagement including but not limited to presenting and facilitating conversations on new shelter locations.
• Manages relationships with local Councillors, stakeholder advisory groups and the general public to support the successful introduction of new shelters.
• Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements.
• Manages assigned projects and issues, ensuring effective teamwork and communication, high standards of work quality, organizational performance and continuous learning.
• Manages stakeholder relations with staff (TSSS and other Divisions), community partners, local community, local Ward Councillor, project committees and working groups.
• Conducts research and analysis into assigned areas taking into account developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other orders of government.
• Develops and maintains project and approval tracking mechanisms to ensure compliance with policies, procedures and deadlines.
• Represents TSSS and the City in the procurement, and engagement planning with Shelter Operators and Councillors.
• Ensures that divisional operational needs are reflected in the design review process.
• Represents the division's interests, and in the development and implementation of community engagement strategies around new shelters.
• Supports, monitors and reports out on the progress of the Community Engagement, ensuring alignment with the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy.
• Drafts/develops reports, briefing notes, and presentations for senior management on project(s) and related matters.
• Deals with confidential and sensitive information affecting engagement, operations, assets and resources.
• Develops options for policies, management practices, performance measures and recommends changes to support management functions and improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
• Effectively gathers relevant information and performs analysis on a wide range of data and issues, often of a high profile and sensitive nature, and in consultation with senior management team members as appropriate.
• Identifies emerging issues and responds to opportunities or unplanned events.
• Ensures TSSS directors and General Manager are fully briefed on project related matters, in a timely, accurate and comprehensive manner.
• Works in consultation with the Divisional senior management team.
• Maintains a continuous and thorough knowledge of current corporate and other divisional and cluster issues and initiatives.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary education in a relevant professional discipline (i.e. Public Administration, Business Administration, Project Management), or an equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.
2. Extensive project management experience, handling high profile multi-layered projects to successful implementation that includes community engagement, conducting research and analysis, planning, coordinating and managing project goals/milestones to achieve established targets within set timelines within a major public, not-for-profit, or private sector organization.
3. Considerable experience in community engagement/consultation processes, including relationship-building, facilitation, consensus-building and conflict resolution, in an effort to gain input and understanding from abroad range of stakeholders.
4. Experience working with social policy and legislation, including policy analysis, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
5. Good judgment in public relations with the ability to effectively manage communications to community and government agencies, committees and coalitions.
6. Knowledge in the areas of homelessness and/or social housing provision.
7. Knowledge of municipal government operations, approval processes and political structure.
8. Ability to produce concise and effective reports, presentations and recommendations often under severe time constraints.
9. Ability to work in a highly demanding work environment with many competing priorities and deadlines.
10. Sound judgment with an ability to work independently on confidential and sensitive matters with minimum supervision.
11. Highly developed political acuity, interpersonal, conflict resolution and problem solving skills with the ability to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
12. Ability to establish effective working relationships with all stakeholders, senior level staff, outside agencies, politicians and other orders of government.
13. An effective relationship builder that promotes and fosters teamwork and is able to influence and mobilize internal and external staff and stakeholders to achieve desired results.
14. Ability to identify needs, initiate, co-ordinate and manage the implementation of solutions in response to issues.

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.