Sports Partner Liaison

at  City of Edmonton

Job Number: 51526
Community partners have long played a role in the development, delivery and animation of recreation spaces and amenities in Edmonton. The City of Edmonton recognizes that it cannot effectively meet City objectives alone, and partnerships are critical to achieve priorities and build an active and healthy city.
Working within the Partnership and Event Strategy Section as part of the Community and Recreation Facilities Branch, the role of the Sport Partner Liaison is to attract, develop and steward partnership opportunities in the area of sport and recreation. The Sport Partner Liaison brokers and manages partner agreements and provides ongoing strategic support for complex partner initiatives that may include lease/contract agreements, management agreements, contracted operation of spaces, operation of entire facilities, or delivery of programs and services. They seek and develop strategic partner opportunities that lead to enhanced delivery of sport and recreation opportunities for Edmontonians.
The Sport Partner Liaison will work closely with the Recreation Strategy Liaison by providing support with research, evaluation and planning of both City led and partner initiated recreation projects.
We are seeking a professional who has solid knowledge and experience in sport and recreation research and planning, partnership brokering, interest based negotiation, project management, relationship management, community engagement, strategic planning, and process development. Adding to our high performing team, the candidate will have a strong understanding of the City of Edmonton’s district planning approach, strong business acumen, an ability to assess and evaluate creative opportunities and projects, partnership opportunities and a passion for advancing recreation opportunities for our city aligned to the City’s district plans.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS:

• Extensive knowledge and demonstrated competency in life cycle maintenance
• Extensive knowledge of current trends, program development and standards in the specialized content area of sport, active recreation, and community facility and park development
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve issues and facilitate effective problem solving processes and complex issues Good research skills related to the position
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively respond to council and senior management inquiries
• High level of organizational skills and ability to work under pressure
• Ability to facilitate opportunities to collaborate between multiple stakeholders who have differing needs views and opinions to explore and develop synergies and opportunities
• Ability to interpret and understand legal agreement terms and conditions in consultation with legal representation
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.ly/4brRrXm)
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion
• Alignment with the goals of the City Plan (https://bit.ly/3RZcCaA)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree in Physical Education, Recreation Administration, Business Administration or a related degree
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of community recreation or sport which includes demonstrated competency in sport/recreation facility operation and development, project management, public involvement processes, partner and organizational development, and capacity buildin

• Partner Collaboration: Seek and support collaborations with new and existing sport and recreation facility operators in Edmonton
• Project Guidance: Advise partners on project management, from strategy and design to building and operating new or redeveloped facilities
• Partnership Development: Act as the main contact for potential partners, helping them with proposals, business cases, and operational planning
• Evaluation and Due Diligence: Assess the business case, financial viability, and organizational capacity of partners to ensure project sustainability
• Agreement Management: Develop, negotiate, and manage various agreements with partners, ensuring mutual benefit and operational viability
• Capacity Building: Support and empower partner organizations in facility operations, policy development, and program delivery
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, supporting collaborative projects and initiatives
• Knowledge Sharing: Provide partners with information, resources, and guidance on City policies, procedures, and funding opportunities
• Public Information and Referral: Offer information and referral services to the public and community organizations on sport and recreation opportunities
• Strategic Planning: Contribute to the development and implementation of city-wide strategies related to sport and recreation
• Data analysis and developing materials like presentations and reports
• Responding to council and citizen inquiries
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree in Physical Education, Recreation Administration, Business Administration or a related degree
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of community recreation or sport which includes demonstrated competency in sport/recreation facility operation and development, project management, public involvement processes, partner and organizational development, and capacity building