SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER PF&R

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Park Design, in the Park Planning & Strategic Initiatives branch (PPSI), and working closely with the Strategic Projects Unit, the Senior Project Manager will manage a diverse portfolio of park planning and design projects and initiatives for the Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) Division. The Senior Project Manager will lead, develop, and execute work delivering new and revitalized parks and recreation assets as part of implementing the City’s Parkland Strategy, the Facilities Master Plan, and other guiding strategies. They will manage a team of professional staff in the Landscape Architecture Unit to ensure excellence in park planning and design, project management, stakeholder engagement, and the delivery of new and improved parkland through the development process, working with partners, and as part of infrastructure review.
 

Major Responsibilities

• Participates and advises on the provision of new or improved parks and recreation assets delivered through the development process.
• Manages and advises on the design, budget, legal agreements and final technical review and approval of parks and recreation assets prior to handover.
• Prepares the operating impacts of capital for new or improved parks and recreation assets for submission as part of the annual operating budget process.
• Negotiates innovative solutions to complex park planning, design, and infrastructure challenges involving multiple stakeholders.
• Develops detailed work plans, design processes, project charters, schedules, budget and staff resource plans to support the successful implementation of projects.
• Creates and manages interdivisional, interdisciplinary, and interagency teams and consultation processes to expedite project delivery while addressing political, community, business, and other stakeholder interests.
• Acts as the division lead, including but not limited to legislated compliance, documentation and systems updates and reporting as it relates to developer-delivered parks and/or infrastructure projects.
• Coordinates with developers, contractors, external stakeholders, and staff, and conducts on-site inspections to ensure standards and legislative requirements are met in the delivery and/or protection of parks and recreation assets.
• Researches industry standards to ensure use of best practices and guidelines as it relates to park planning and design in order to support divisional and corporate objectives.
• Assesses current practices and improves procedures, protocols, and design guidelines in collaboration with City divisions through comprehensive knowledge of the Municipal Code, Provincial Policies and Legislation.
• Provides leadership and direction to projects related to implementation and options, project risks and issues, resolves conflicts and mediates disagreements.
• Communicates any potential situations of media attention to senior management and recommends a course of action.
• Represents the division/branch by providing leadership and technical expertise at a range of meetings, including community consultations, Committee meetings, various levels of government, outside agencies and other stakeholders.
• Investigates, reviews, approves, and implements appropriate actions for satisfactory resolution related to issues that arise from deputations at Standing Committee(s) or Community Council(s), or through the delivery and implementation, including issues, complaints and/or general inquiries,

• Develops briefing notes and reports for presentation relating to project delivery, and associated issues to senior management, standing committees, partners, and Council for strategic decision making.
• Manages project scope to ensure it remains within approved budget and timeframes. Monitors progress to reduce risks and initiates timely corrective action when required.
• Oversees the review of business processes regarding transformation, coordinates between Technology Services, Finance & Treasury Services and other division-wide performance initiatives regarding process design and process improvement.
• Develops and implements approaches to measure and report performance for services provided, including the development of key performance indicators.
• Responds to emergency and priority situations by anticipating problems, making decisions, deploying appropriate financial and human resources; provides senior level operational support to the Manager, Director and General Manager and coordinates branch operations support issues including labour disruption, weather related emergency response, the smog and heat alert protocols and other divisional operational issues.
• Ensures that asset management, financial planning, control, performance measurement and reporting comply with Corporate and legislative requirements and support the Division's goals and objectives.
• Facilitates city-wide contract management for various services and products including but not limited to RFQ/RFP, valuations of bids, recommend of vendor, contract monitoring, communication with vendor, renewals, and problem solving.
• Develops, prepares, and negotiates agreements with suppliers, contractors, other divisions, partner organizations, and user groups.
• Provides support for on-going strategic planning and development of city-wide service direction, functional standards, policies, and procedures, in consultation with other City divisions, government agencies and community stakeholders. 

• Represents the City and the division as an expert witness on behalf of Council before administrative tribunals such as at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
• Manages, hires, motivates, and trains staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning, and innovation.
• Monitors scheduling, assigning, and reviewing of work and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary.
• Provides guidance and advice regarding Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures and legislative regulations to all levels of staff and ensures consistent and timely implementation and adherence throughout the division.
• Liaises with WSIB Consultants to manage workplace injuries, costs and return to work, and ensures regular meetings of Ministry approved health and safety committees.
• Ensures compliance with and a thorough understanding of the Collective Agreements; Provincial Collective Agreements; and corporate and divisional policies, procedures and guidelines, and City by-laws.
• Ensure work is undertaken in a manner that supports City compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Ontario Building Code, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), etc.
   

Key Qualifications

1. Post-secondary education in Landscape Architecture , or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Extensive experience with the procedures, practices and legislative requirement associated with the development applications, site plans, parkland dedications, parkland procurement, park related environmental issues and related matters.
3. Extensive experience with public consultation, stakeholder management and negotiations related to development applications and park planning and design.
4. Extensive project management experience in delivering complex park planning and design projects with multiple stakeholders with minimal direction while balancing political, community and stakeholder interests and meeting project deadlines.
5. Extensive experience using appropriate computer applications i.e. GIS, Microsoft, PowerPoint and databases.
6. Considerable Experience in leading, developing, supervising, and mentoring teams and establishing partnerships with stakeholders, decision-makers and community members related to matters relevant to Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
7. Membership or eligibility for membership of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, will be considered an asset.
8. Understanding of the Planning Act, policy requirements and other related legislations.
9.  Ability to understand, convey and use technical information in Parks, Forestry and Recreation planning and design processes and initiatives.
10. Ability to manage conflict and resolve issues in complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Familiarity with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and all relevant regulations that apply to the job duties.

Hybrid Work Program

The City of Toronto's Workplace Modernization Program is re-imagining how we work in our workplace. Its vision is to provide flexibility to our employees around how we work and where we work. It will also support a better work-life balance, improved job satisfaction and employee engagement. Improving the work experience is at the core of this program and everyone plays a significant role in its realization. We have introduced the Hybrid Work Program which supports amore modern and flexible way of working. The hybrid approach will allow us to keep the best of remote work while integrating the important aspects of in-person collaboration and team-work.