SENIOR MANAGER STRATEGIC PLANNING & INITIATIVES

• Job ID: 57875
• Job Category: Economic Development, Arts & Culture
• Division & Section: Economic Development & Culture, EDC Business Growth Services
• Work Location: City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent
• Salary: $142,104.00-$189,918.00,#TM1777, Wage Grade 9
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 2
• Posting Period: 19-Aug-2025 to 2-Sep-2025
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Recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2024, 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.

Toronto is home to more than 3 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. In a workplace where growth is fostered and diversity is celebrated, a team of approximately 35,000 employees is the driving force behind the City of Toronto’s ability to provide programs and services to residents, businesses and visitors to this community.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager Strategic Planning & Initiatives role is crucial for providing strategic business support services, advice, and guidance. Reporting to the Director Business Growth Services, the senior manager will offer strategic planning expertise, overseeing program administration for high-level projects, cross-functional teams, and multi-divisional initiatives. The focus is on driving tactical efforts, improving service effectiveness, and cultivating a culture dedicated to exceptional service delivery.

As Senior Manager Strategic Planning & Initiatives, you will play a pivotal role on a collaborative team. Your focus will be on solutioning within an ambiguous and politically sensitive environment, driving major changes in overall business performance based on long-term needs. Your responsibilities include developing and implementing detailed plans, recommending policies specific to program requirements, and overseeing day-to-day operations with a keen eye for efficiency.

• Leadership is key in fostering a collaborative environment where all team members actively contribute to the work. Motivating and training staff, maintaining high work standards, and navigating the intricacies of a politically nuanced landscape are integral aspects of the role. While budget administration is important, the emphasis is on development, recommendation, and administration within approved limits.
• Leadership extends to establishing partnerships with clients, external stakeholders, and members of Council to address conflicting demands. The role involves participation in organizational and management change initiatives, solutioning in ambiguous scenarios, and overseeing relationships with external service providers.
• Collaboration with senior management on high-level strategic projects involves guiding the team through cross-functional endeavors and developing strategies aligned with the corporate vision. Active participation in comprehensive collaboration and coordination with internal and external stakeholders is vital.
• Representing Business Growth Services, the Senior Manager Strategic Planning & Initiatives provides strategic support on corporate priorities, city-building initiatives, and enterprise risk management.
• As a seasoned professional with a hands-on approach and the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment, your passion for driving positive change will make you an excellent fit for this impactful role focused on strategic solutions.
   

Key Qualifications:

1. Extensive experience planning, leading, managing and implementing multi-disciplinary programs of various scopes supporting progressive and critical objectives.
2. Extensive experience making critical and strategic decisions, demonstrating innovation and results oriented leadership, fiscal accountability, and strong customer service orientation.
3. Extensive experience in managing complex issues, with a high level of ability to influence and negotiate outcomes and achieve consensus among parties having different objectives with a broad spectrum of diverse stakeholders, while balancing political, community and public interests.
4. Extensive experience in coordinating large scale, multi stakeholder, complex projects; from inception to completion, with considerable knowledge of project management methodologies.
5. Extensive experience planning, developing, coordinating, and writing a broad range of materials including reports, correspondence, briefing notes, decks and strategic documents for senior management that include strategic advice and recommendations.
6. Extensive experience working with executives, senior management teams and key stakeholders including divisional partners, diverse community groups and their representatives to meet service objectives, as well as divisional and organizational objectives.
7. Demonstrated experience in leading, supervising, motivating, coaching, and holding accountable, a team of professionals, while supporting employee engagement and development.
8. Post-secondary education in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function or an equivalent combination of relevant training and/or experience, in particular, in economic development. Familiarity with growth related services for businesses.  Education and/or Certification in economic development is an asset.
9. Ability to interact and communicate effectively (written and oral) using strong political acuity with all organizational levels including elected officials, political representatives and the media.
10. Ability to operate as a fully accountable program leader, deliver complex projects, and thrive in an environment with high expectations and frequent and competing deadlines.
11. Strong ability to be flexible and manage multiple tasks in an environment with shifting priorities, firm deadlines and high-performance expectations.
12. Ability to develop and administer budgets to ensure unit fiscal accountability and effective use of resources.
13. Ability to foster an organizational culture that emphasizes innovation, continuous learning, collaboration, transparency, accountability and trust while promoting a strong code of ethics and integrity to support public service excellence
14. Ability to support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity, and respectful workplaces.
15. Knowledge and understanding of relevant policies and government legislation including Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario Human Rights and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
16. Lived experience as a member of an Indigenous, Black, or other equity-deserving group is an asset.

Why You Will Love Working Here:

• We recognize the need for flexibility and offer a hybrid working environment that will provide you with an appropriate work-life balance required to thrive in today’s fast paced world.
• A strong benefits package which includes competitive salaries, vacation and other unique offerings.
• We offer an excellent defined benefit pension plan bringing added value to our overall compensation package through OMERS.
• We support ongoing learning and development and offer educational opportunities with tuition subsidies.
• Opportunities to join and take an active role with City’s Communities of Inclusions comprised of employees who share a common identity, lived experience and/or set of interest and support each other’s professional development, sense of belonging and promote a culture of inclusion.

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.