SENIOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

3d•CA$105,241 - CA$160,649•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Manager, Cultural Partnerships, the Senior Cultural Affairs Officer is responsible for leading the City of Toronto’s Cultural Districts Program, which recognizes and celebrates culturally distinct areas while addressing challenges such as commercial displacement and the loss of cultural identity. The position will deliver a ceremonial recognition program for eligible districts; design and deliver local building capacity initiatives for community organizations working in Cultural Districts; and develop policy and program recommendations to support sustainable community development within Cultural Districts. In addition, the Senior Cultural Affairs Officer contributes to the implementation of key cultural space and planning initiatives identified in Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025–2035). Driven by a commitment to culture and equity, the role works collaboratively with City divisions and the community partners to advance integrated, city-wide approaches to cultural planning.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in a related discipline such as planning, arts administration or in a related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
Considerable experience with cultural planning, public engagement, and/or infrastructure projects involving multiple communities and stakeholders.
Experience delivering complex planning and policy assignments from inception to implementation while balancing political, departmental and stakeholder interests combined with a thorough understanding of the culture sector.
Experience developing, planning and carrying out community engagement and consultation activities that involve and support diverse groups, including Indigenous peoples, Black communities, equity-deserving populations, artists, and cultural organizations.
Considerable experience managing projects and motivating and leading project teams.
Experience preparing comprehensive reports and the application of relevant information to support policy analysis and decision-making.
A strong knowledge of provincial legislation and policy around planning, land use, development, heritage, zoning, and municipal by-laws.
Excellent research and analytical skills to support policy development activities; ability to conceptualize and develop options and recommendations to support decision making.
Strong communication skills, both written and oral with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at a professional level with community members, elected officials, consultants, and staff from across the organization.
Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
Sound judgement and ability to handle matters of a confidential nature.
Familiarity with government legislation in the area of Occupational Health and Safety.
Ability to work flexible hours which may include overtime and occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

Develops and leads the City’s Cultural Districts Program, and cultural planning, space, and infrastructure projects.
Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding cultural districts and cultural planning.
Strategically prioritizes the work of the division to support cultural districts, and cultural space development and retention.
Supervises assigned projects, ensuring effective teamwork and communication, high standards of work quality and organizational performance and continuous learning.
Acts as the primary contact point for external and internal inquiries, providing information to cultural organizations that are interested in developing, renting or purchasing space and require professional advice.
Consults with City Divisions, real estate developers, and not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations to review cultural development proposals from a municipal cultural perspective.
Coordinates and provides input into corporate strategic initiatives such as secondary plans, neighbourhood studies, community services, and site specific real estate development proposals to provide solutions to municipal cultural planning challenges and opportunities.
Leads research on supporting cultural districts, cultural space policies, and other cultural planning matters, ensuring that such research takes into account overall City priorities, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
Plans and delivers culturally appropriate public engagement activities such as workshops, community consultations, and other events related to cultural districts, local capacity building, and cultural planning.
Identifies emerging cultural space and planning issues through knowledge of trends and changes in the sector and proposes initiatives to increase culture's impact on the economic and social life of the city.
Ensures that project expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
Facilitates and initiates new and innovative partnerships to support cultural organizations to access space and advance the development of the sector, with a focus on partnerships to support cultural districts.
Leads interdivisional staff teams on special projects and manages the work of outside consultants.
Prepares reports to Committee and Council on complex cultural planning issues.
Coordinates calls for tenants and lease negotiations for City-owned cultural facilities and space initiatives within cultural districts.
Provides essential leadership and direction in representing the Economic Development and Culture Division on various working groups, teams, and committees.