SENIOR PROJECT LEAD

• Job ID: 52011
• Job Category: Project Management
• Division & Section: Environment & Climate, Policy Planning & Outreach
• Work Location: Union Station, 61 Front Street West
• Job Type & Duration: Full - time, Temporary Vacancy (12 month) 
• Salary: $93,734.00 - $123,449.00, TM2475, wage grade 6.5
• Shift Information: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Affiliation: Non - union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 20-DEC-2024 to 13-JAN-2025 

Job Summary:

The City of Toronto has embarked on an ambitious transformation into a zero waste, circular economy city. Transitioning to a circular economy is essential in the fight against climate change and to build a resilient, inclusive, green, and prosperous future for residents and businesses.

The City of Toronto's Circular Economy and Innovation unit (CEI) in the Environment & Climate Division is one of the first dedicated circular economy teams in a North American municipality. CEI is a dynamic team of sustainability-oriented professionals working to help the City of Toronto achieve its desired circular economy outcomes, including waste reduction and diversion; economic prosperity; local emissions reductions; and enhanced social well-being and equity.

CEI is looking for a Senior Project Lead to join the unit on a temporary basis. Reporting to the Manager, Circular Economy and Innovation and working closely with the CEI team, the Senior Project Lead will play a critical role supporting an ambitious project to develop Toronto’s first Circular Economy Road Map. Working closely with the Senior Project Manager, the Senior Project Lead will play a key role enabling cross-divisional input and decision making on the strategy and implementation plan, including by stewarding the project’s two governance tables –the Interdivisional Planning Table and Corporate Leadership Table – which represent the 15 Co-Creating Divisions that provide oversight and decision-making on the project. The Senior Project Lead will also play a core role on large scale, strategic projects including ongoing development and refinement of the City’s circular procurement program, with a particular focus on staff engagement and capacity building, and helping to create networks within the municipal government that support circularity.

The Senior Project Lead will have the opportunity to represent CEI and the City of Toronto in a range of functions, including presentations, working groups, industry initiatives, and will help manage CEI’s research agenda by engaging with industry and community organizations helping to advance the City’s circular economy goals. The Senior Project Lead will also work closely with the Manager of CEI to support continuous improvement in the unit’s policies, procedures, business processes, and reporting strategies and enable this small but mighty team continue to pursue excellence in public service delivery.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Implements detailed plans and recommends policies/procedures regarding program specific requirements.
• Conducts research into assigned area ensuring that such research considers developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
• Provides input into and administers assigned budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Prepares and review reports for management that may include project schedules, financial and operational plans and business processes.
• Creates, analyzes and prepares key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness and efficiencies of programs and projects, both internally and externally, and provides analysis to senior management and members of Council.
• Reviews the work of staff with a keen attention to detail to ensure consistency and quality from the Division Head's office.
• Makes recommendations to senior Divisional management with regards to project set-up, selection of teams and working groups, develops work plans, provides contract management, and manages funding arrangements to ensure a high standard of work quality to advance the City’s circular economy goals.
• Coordinates activities to ensure adherence to common goals, minimize duplication, and maximize efficient use of resources to advance project deliverables on time and on budget.
• Liaises with various senior and executive level staff, both internally and externally, as required.
• Coordinates the implementation of new Divisional priorities and initiatives.
• Collects, analyzes, evaluates and interprets information/findings to develop recommendations for improvement to existing Divisional projects, operating procedures, policies and services.
• Represents the Division Head's Office on various Committees and Working Groups.
• Ensures project benchmarks, deliverables and standards are controlled, and projects stay on track within a deadline driven environment.
• Prepares staff reports to Committees and purchasing call documents such as Request for Quotations and Request for Proposals related to various Divisional requirements.
• Participates in the process of planning and developing long range objectives for the Division.
• Prepares responses, reports, briefing notes, minutes, and other correspondence on behalf of Senior Management Team.
• Assists with the supervision of staff and functions as a team player to help ensure excellent working relationships between all sections and units within the Division.
• Solicits input from internal and external stakeholders on a variety of issues to achieve project goals and objectives.
• Provides strategic advice and prepares various reports, briefing notes and other correspondence to the Senior Management Team.
• Conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis on various Divisional issues and evaluates and synthesizes complex material in a format that is convenient for the Senior Management Team.

Key Qualifications:  

1. Post-secondary education in Public Administration/Policy, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, Circular Economy, or a relevant discipline; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
2. Considerable experience in designing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating projects, policies, and/or programs in a multi-stakeholder environment. Experience related to circular economy, waste, environment, and/or local economic development is preferred.
3. Considerable experience engaging and collaborating with internal and external stakeholder groups, including stakeholders of multiple levels of seniority (staff, management, and senior management) to build capacity and enable effective project implementation.
4. Considerable experience as a fully accountable project leader, coordinating multiple and diverse project plans, monitoring project timelines and expenditures, and providing contract management oversight where required, with demonstrated success.
5. Considerable experience conducting research and analysis using quantitative and qualitative methods, and summarizing findings and recommendations into reports and presentations for a wide range of audiences, such as senior management, technical experts, elected officials, other orders of government, and the public.
6. Proficiency with a variety of computerized office systems including MS Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), database software packages, and digital meeting and collaboration tools.
7. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and subject matter experts.
8. Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment and political acumen.
9. Knowledge of government structure, policies and decision-making processes
10. Ability to support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity and respectful workplaces.
11. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders/subject matter experts.
12. Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
13. Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Proven track record of solid internal and external relationship management and leadership capacity.
14. Available for occasional meetings or events in evening and on weekends.

Note To Current City of Toronto Employees 

City of Toronto employees are eligible to apply for the posted job opportunity, but cannot hold two different jobs. To be considered for this job posting, you must indicate that you are a "Current City of Toronto employee" on the on-line application form, and provide your "Employee Number".

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.