Project Officer Development Pf&R

City of Toronto•Union, NJ

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Manager and/or Senior Project Manager, the Project Officer leads coordination and delivery of complex projects to plan for and deliver recreation facilities, new parkland, and park improvements. The role supports the City’s parkland objectives and the liveability of Toronto’s neighbourhoods and communities, including implementation of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and its 2027 update. The position coordinates parks and facilities plans, studies, strategies, legal agreements, and multi-stakeholder projects from inception through implementation. It works with City divisions, agencies, consultants, elected officials, community groups, landowners, developers, and other stakeholders. The role also supports strategic planning, public engagement, land-use analysis, budget management, research, and preparation of reports and briefing materials. Depending on the position, the Project Officer may serve as an expert witness in proceedings related to parkland and recreation facilities planning. The role requires work that meets corporate and divisional standards and applicable legislative requirements, including accessibility, occupational health and safety, hazardous materials, building code, and safety authority requirements.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in planning, landscape architecture, urban geography, environmental studies, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience in park and open space planning and design, recreation planning, and land-use planning, delivering complex projects with minimal direction while balancing political, community, and stakeholder interests.
Considerable project management experience, critical judgment, and analytical thinking, including the ability to coordinate or manage multiple diverse projects involving multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
Considerable experience applying planning methodologies, report writing, data analysis, plan review, and scientific and technical information, such as geospatial data.
Considerable experience applying public consultation principles and techniques and negotiation skills, and acting as an effective liaison among elected officials, internal and external clients, and the public.
Must be a member of, or eligible for membership in, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA), Ontario Professional Planners Institute (RPP), and/or Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP).
Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills, including professional oral communication and written materials such as staff reports and briefing notes.
Advanced political acuity, consulting, conflict-resolution, and negotiation skills for complex development, planning, and realty situations involving communities, developers, landowners, City divisions, and public and private agencies.
Advanced knowledge of relevant municipal and provincial policies, legislation, and regulations, including the City’s Official Plan and Municipal Code and provincial land-use planning legislation such as the Planning Act.

Nice To Haves

A focus on Parks, Recreation, and natural environment planning initiatives is preferred.
Knowledge of Parks and Recreation strategic documents is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead, assess, and coordinate complex parks and facilities plans and strategies in accordance with Council direction, legislation, and City policies.
Initiate and advance studies, projects, and legal agreements consistent with Council’s vision and relevant City plans and strategies.
Lead, review, evaluate, and implement local parks plans and area studies, identifying parkland and facility needs and opportunities for improvement.
Coordinate planning and implementation with Parks and Recreation, other City divisions, agencies, and external partners.
Manage multi-stakeholder parks planning, design, and implementation projects, including scoping, procurement, and leadership of project teams and external consultants.
Contribute to city-wide service direction, policies, and procedures related to parkland and recreation objectives.
Negotiate solutions and strategies with stakeholders to achieve parkland and recreational facility objectives.
Engage the public and stakeholders in parks planning and represent the City in public forums.
Depending on position, prepare for and serve as an expert witness at tribunals or judicial proceedings concerning parkland and recreation facilities planning.
Represent the Division at Community Councils, Standing Committees, and meetings with Councillors, community groups, landowners, developers, and other stakeholders.
Provide input to capital budget development and help manage assigned budgets and control expenditures within approved allocations.
Conduct land-use planning analysis, including geospatial analysis, review of policies and land-use designations, survey and parcel information, demographics, environmental and physical conditions, growth patterns, and parkland and facility use and condition.
Advise and report on parkland and recreation planning and implementation issues, assess demographic and societal trends, and coordinate research, analysis, and surveys.
Prepare briefing notes, reports, and correspondence for senior management, Councillors, and others.
Establish and maintain partnerships with City divisions, agencies, boards, and commissions, and consult with Councillors, their staff, and stakeholders as the Division’s representative.
Contribute to teamwork, innovation, excellence, and continuous learning, while demonstrating ethics and professionalism.
Ensure work meets corporate and divisional standards and applicable legislative requirements, including AODA, OHSA, WHMIS, the Ontario Building Code, and TSSA requirements.