SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER PF&R

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

1d•CA$115,672 - CA$160,649•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to a Manager in the Parks Planning and Strategic Initiatives branch, the Senior Project Manager (SPM) will lead a range of projects that plan for and deliver new parkland, park improvements, and recreational facilities which support the objectives of Toronto’s Parkland Strategy, Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan, Toronto Official Plan and other legislative frameworks. Successful candidates will be considered to fill positions in the following areas of work: Major Capital Facilities Planning Parks Planning and Area Studies Park Design, Delivery and Master Planning Parkland Acquisitions

Requirements

Post-secondary education in urban and regional planning, urban geography, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience with the procedures, practices and legislative requirements associated with development applications, site plans, parkland dedications, parkland procurement, facility planning and park related environmental issues and related matters.
Extensive experience with public consultation, stakeholder management and negotiations related to development applications and/or realty processes related to securing and delivering 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.
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 and Recreation.
Membership or eligibility for membership of the Ontario Professional Planners, Ontario Association of Architects or than Ontario Association of Landscape Architects.
Highly developed human relations, communication, negotiation, analytical and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to operate as a fully accountable program leader and as a member of a management team and self-directed work teams.
Ability to establish and achieve short- and long-term goals, including the ability to work within ambitious timelines and budgets.
You foster an organizational culture that emphasizes innovation, collaboration, transparency, accountability, and trust while promoting a strong code of ethics and integrity to support public service excellence
Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to prepare detailed reports and presentations.

Responsibilities

Develops, reviews and implements detailed work plans, strategies, project charters, schedules, budgets and resourcing plans to support successful implementation 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 Official Plan, 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 division’s contact in their absence as necessary, for the management of the general operations of the Unit.
Manages, hires, motivates and trains staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others. Schedules, assigns and reviews work. Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary. Supervises various unionized section staff in a project management context
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
Develops briefing notes and reports for presentation to senior management, standing committees, partners, and Council for strategic decision making; prepares and submits correspondence to the Manager, Director, General Manager, various Council Committees and Boards of Management.
Provides planning support and expertise regarding parkland and recreation planning, park design and real estate matters to other City divisions, agencies, boards, commissions, Councillors, development industry, stakeholders, the public and judicial or quasi-judicial bodies (e.g. OLT).
Investigates, documents, prepares and collects information, and testifies/reports to mediations, arbitrations, and lawsuits if and as required.
Represents the division/branch, supports the Manager and Director and advances the division’s mission and goals and strategic corporate initiatives by providing leadership and technical expertise at project, community consultation and Committee meetings and meetings with Members of Council, service providers, various levels of government, outside agencies, community and environmental groups and other stakeholders.
Cultivates effective working relations and works collaboratively with partner branches within P&R and other partners internal to the City of Toronto, including Corporate Real Estate Management, City Planning, Transportation Services, Toronto Water and CreateTO.
Ensures that community and user consultation planning processes are appropriate and consistently followed.
Ensures quality customer service by providing timely, cost effective and optimum delivery of services. 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), including issues, complaints and/or general inquiries received from Members of Council and the public.
Provides support with on-going strategic planning and development of city-wide service direction, policies and procedures, in consultation with other City divisions, government agencies, development industry, and stakeholders.
Provides project management support and leadership within the branch as a member of a self-directed work team.
Manages assigned projects; motivates, mentors, supports and trains staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance and continuous learning, and encourages innovation in others.
Assists project teams in the design, implementation and utilization of performance measures for the division/branch.
Manages city-wide contract management for various services and products including but not limited to RFQ/RFP, valuations of bids, recommendation of vendors, 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.
Provides input in the development of the division's capital budget and 10-year capital plan and the division/branch/unit's annual budget, utilizing information on capital, operational and staffing requirements, known pressures and required adjustments.
Plans, organizes, administers, monitors and coordinates development related planning application reviews involving the delivery of a new park or recreation asset including: negotiating, and securing land for park/recreation purposes through the development approval process or confirming cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication payment arrangements and any monetary benefits for the improvements and/or purchase of additional parkland or implementation of park/recreation improvements, as required
Manages the business case development, design, budget, legal agreements and final technical review and approval of the park/recreation assets prior to their acquisition or transfer over to the City, as required.
Anticipates, analyzes and identifies planning, organizational and program delivery impacts of emerging initiatives, plans, issues and activities; recommends and coordination 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.
Supports communication required for projects that may garner media attention and recommends course of action and ensures the Manager is apprised of issues impacting he service delivery of operations
Supervises the day-to-day activities of assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Identifies work programs, priorities and involvement for the affected staff.
Authorizes and coordinates vacation and overtime requests. Monitors, evaluates and maintains records concerning staff performance and participates in staff investigations when required. Supports the divisional and corporate Labour Relations units in the grievance process, mediation, arbitration and terminations.
Ensures compliance with and understanding of the Collective Agreements covering unionized City workers, corporate and divisional policies, procedures, guidelines, and City by-laws.
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.
Recommends changes to design plans in resolving possible installation and maintenance issues; and, reviews plans for future and current projects to determine materials, equipment and personnel requirements and prepare cost estimates, as required
Acts as a Supervisor under the definitions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and ensures the creation, development, modification and implementation of adequate training, safety equipment and safe work procedures are in place
Act as signing authority for payroll, purchasing project management and design/construction.
Prepares and/or authorizes administrative forms such as DPO, purchase orders, workorders and timesheets.
Ensures quality of work and service meets corporate and divisional standards and employees are trained to perform work in compliance with all legislative regulations that apply, such as Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Ontario Building Code, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), Fire Code, Electrical Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), etc.