SENIOR MANAGER STRATEGIC PLANNING & INITIATIVES

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

5d•CA$144,591 - CA$196,565•Onsite

About The Position

Toronto Building is seeking a strategic, forward‑thinking, and results‑oriented Senior Manager Strategic Planning and Initiatives to join its leadership team. With a bold ambition to be a modern, customer‑focused regulator, the Division plays a critical role in supporting Toronto’s growth and prosperity by ensuring a safe, healthy, and accessible built environment in alignment with the Ontario Building Code Act and Ontario Building Code. Through innovation, partnership, and regulatory excellence, Toronto Building advances City Council priorities, including housing, sustainability, and economic development.Reporting to the Director, Policy and Strategic Support, the Senior Manager will provide strategic leadership in the development, design, and execution of transformation initiatives tied to divisional and corporate priorities. The role combines high‑level strategic planning with hands‑on leadership of cross‑functional and multi‑divisional initiatives, driving continuous improvement and enhancing service effectiveness. Working collaboratively with internal partners, other orders of government, and City Agencies and Corporations, you will foster strong relationships and promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and exceptional customer service to deliver impactful, city‑building outcomes.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in public administration, planning, business administration, policy, or a related discipline pertinent to the job function, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience leading and delivering complex, cross-functional and multi-divisional programs and projects with full accountability for results, including managing competing priorities, shifting demands, and tight deadlines in in a large, complex organizational environment.
Extensive experience developing and implementing strategies and policies, to support organizational priorities, business transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Extensive experience building and managing relationships with internal and external partners, including senior leadership and other levels of government, and managing complex, high-profile issues through negotiation and consensus-building while balancing political, community, and public interests.
Extensive experience leading and managing teams in a complex organizational environment, including overseeing operations, driving performance, and fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
You have successfully completed, in the process of, or able to successfully complete the Powers and Duties of a Chief Building Official exam, administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Excellent analytical, technical, interpersonal, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly, facilitate discussions, and support effective decision-making among diverse audiences.
Knowledge of relevant legislations, regulations, codes, collective agreements and policies such as the Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, WHMIS, etc.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements.
Manages, motivates and trains staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
Supervises the day to day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary.
Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget, and ensures that that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
Develops, designs and implements functional policies and programs that produce major changes in overall business performance based on long-term needs. Contributes to the continuous improvement of performance through analysis and the development and implementation of sound management practices and procedures. Provides management staff with direction, guidance, processes and tools to increase efficiencies and improve effectiveness of services provided by the section.
Supports senior management with high level strategic projects, involving cross-functional, or multi-divisional teams by driving strategic efforts, and the development of strategies to achieve the corporate vision for assembling and managing tools and resources to support transformation and complex program delivery. Provides updates on project status, issues and key deliverables and ensures the effective delivery of strategic priority programs and resolution of complex, high impact issues.
Participates in comprehensive collaboration and coordination involving internal and external partners. Actively reviews and assesses work methods, equipment and software requirements so as to ensure that the most effective and efficient practices are employed.
Participates in the review and formulation of policies, performance standards and procedures of the Division/Service Area/Office. Prepares correspondence/reports to Standing Committees, City Council and Members of Council as necessary. Represents the Division/Service Area at meetings with other government officials, municipalities, citizen groups, other divisions, the Mayor’s Office, Councillors and public utilities for information sharing purposes.
Provides strategic support to and represents the Division/Service Area/Office on corporate priorities, city building initiatives, corporate wide strategic action and on committees, ensuring seamless integration and considerations related to enterprise risk management, operational risk assessments, compliance and audits.
Provides leadership and establishes partnerships with clients, external partners, other levels of government, members of Council, the public, unions, etc. to address and resolve conflicting demands and problems from various partners and foster effective partnerships while balancing corporate interests.
Participates in organizational and management change initiatives and the creation of a workplace that supports and is conducive to a high level of performance.
Develops and implements strategies, policies and management systems to report on and provide controls for blanket contracts, sole source purchases and accounts receivable/payable to ensure compliance with City policies and by-laws. Manages the quotation and tendering process, including preparation of requests for written quotations, proposal calls, price agreements and sole source agreements and negotiates terms to meet the needs of the City.
Ensures continuous development of strategies and plans to implement City-wide operational policies in support of business transformation objectives and/or intergovernmental and agency relations.
Leads projects and special assignments that may involve multiple functional areas within the Division/Service Area/City to address technological and business needs and/or intergovernmental and agency relations. Oversees the development, maintenance and implementation of internal management systems/controls to promote cost-effective solutions to the Division’s/Service Area’s/Office’s core businesses.
Participates in the resolution of issues and complaints that have escalated to the senior management level.