SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER PF&R

at  City of Toronto

Job ID: 44938
Job Category: Project Management
Division & Section: Parks, Forestry & Recreation, PFR PPSI Parks Planning & Strategic Init
Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: $112,000 - $144,200
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 05-Apr-2024 to 03-May-2024

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.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Post-secondary education in urban and regional planning, urban geography, environmental studies, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 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.
• Extensive experience with public consultation, stakeholder management and negotiations related to development applications and parkland.
• Extensive project management experience in delivering complex projects with multiple stakeholders with minimal direction while balancing political, community and stakeholder interests and meeting project deadlines.
• Extensive experience using appropriate computer applications i.e. GIS, Microsoft, PowerPoint and databases.
• 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.
• Membership or eligibility for membership of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute will be considered an asset.
• Understanding of the Planning Act, policy requirements and other related legislations.
• Ability to understand, convey and use technical information in Parks, Forestry and Recreation planning processes and initiatives.
• 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.

• Participates and advises on development related planning application reviews involving the delivery of new or improved parks or recreation assets including: advising on the negotiation, and acquisition of land for park/recreation purposes through the development approval process or confirming cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication payment arrangements and any additional monetary benefits for the improvement and/or purchase of additional park/recreation assets.
• Manages and advises on the design, budget, legal agreements and final technical review and approval of the park/recreation asset prior to its transfer over to the City, as required.
• Prepares the operating impact on capital of new or improved park and recreation facility assets secured through the development process, for submission as part of the division’s annual Operating Budget.
• Negotiates innovative solutions to complex planning and infrastructure challenges involving multiple stakeholders to achieve the Parks, Forestry and Recreation objectives.
• Develops project statements, detailed work plans, project charters, governance structure, schedules, budget and staff resource plans and training material to support the Project Management Framework for new processes and procedures to ensure a common methodology is applied to all projects.
• Engages and consults with internal and/or external stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle facilitating internal workgroup meetings to ensure opportunities for input.
• Provides ongoing tracking of the development, expansion and infrastructure delivery programs follow up on Council directives and ongoing corporate/divisional initiatives and coordinates strategies, positioning and communications documents and plans as required.
• Meets regularly with developers, contractors, external stakeholders, and staff in other divisions and agencies and conducts on-site inspections to ensure City’s standards and legislative requirements are met in the delivery and/or protection of park and recreation facility assets.
• Develops, reviews, and implements detailed business cases strategies, growth and positioning documents and recommends policies/procedures and guidelines regarding program specific requirements to ensure compliance with Council, corporate and divisional directives.
• Assesses current practices and improves procedures and protocols 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.
• Supports the Manager Director and acts as the divisions contact at various Committee and Council meetings, and in the Manager’s and/or Director’s absence as necessary
• Manages, hires, motivates and trains staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Communicates any potential situations of media attention to the Manager/Director; makes recommendation on course of action and ensures the Manager and Director are apprised of issues impacting projects.
• Anticipates, analyzes, and identifies planning, organizational and program delivery impacts of emerging initiatives, plans, issues and activities; recommends and coordinates innovative solutions addressing and protecting the division’s interests using sound professional judgement, conflict resolution and negotiation skills to successfully manage complex, sensitive and controversial matters.
• Creates and manages interdivisional, interdisciplinary, and interagency teams and consultation processes to expedite project delivery while addressing political, community, business, and other stakeholder interests.
• Represents the division/branch by providing leadership and technical expertise at project, community consultations, partnership and Committee meetings with Members of Council, service providers, various levels of government, outside agencies and community groups, environmental groups and other stakeholders to support strategic divisional and corporate initiatives.
• Investigates, reviews, approves and implements appropriate action(s) 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 received from Members of Council and the public.
• Ensures quality customer service by providing timely, cost effective and optimum delivery of services.
• Develops briefing notes and reports for presentation relating to the delivery of the programme, and associated issues to senior management, standing committees, partners, and Council for strategic decision making;
• Ensures that the Director is prepared with the required briefings and presentation materials relating to the delivery of the projects.
• Manages scope of project 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.
• Establishes program goals and objectives, develops project control procedures and quality assurance measures and mechanisms for the project. Develops and implements approaches to measure and report performance for services provided, including the development of KPIs
• Researches industry standards and development to ensure use of best practices and that legislative requirements are met.
• 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.
• Provides research and analysis assistance for the Manager/Director and feasible options for recommendation on the timely delivery of projects, and provides reports for senior management, Council, staff and members of the public. Reviews, directs and responds to correspondence.
• Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the unit, and ensures that the unit’s expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations. Ensures that asset management, financial planning, control, performance measurement and reporting are in compliance with Corporate and legislative requirements and supports the Division’s goals and objectives.
• Acts as signing authority for payroll, purchasing (RPGS, GR, and CRO), project management and design/construction.
• 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 with staff.
• Develops, prepares and negotiates agreements with suppliers, contractors, other divisions, partner organizations, and user groups.
• Ensures the quality of work and service meets corporate and divisional standards and employees are trained to perform work in compliance with legislative regulations.
• 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.
• Acts as the Division Lead, including but not limited to legislated compliance, documentation and systems updates and reporting as it relates to developer parks and/or infrastructure issues.
• 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 (LPAT).
• Monitors scheduling, assigning, and reviewing of work and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary.
• Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests.
• Works collaboratively and in conjunction with the Corporate Employee Relations team when providing advice on collective agreements and in administering Collective Agreement matters.
• 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. Acts as a resource person for public inquiry on program activities.
• 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.