MANAGER PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Responsibilities

Plans and manages a multi-year corporate public engagement strategy, including advancing changes to business processes, policies, communications and partnerships to support change at the corporate and divisional levels as appropriate.

Provides strategic advice and corporate leadership to senior management , Members of Council and City Divisions related to public engagement , including identification of best practices, research, resources and tools, monitoring and reporting .

Develops and monitors plans for community engagement and for increasing civic participation in local government and decision making.

Plans and manages public engagement data monitoring and reporting systems and processes.

Ensures that public consultation strategy aligns with objectives in the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan, Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, and vision for Access, Equity and Diversity;

consultation approaches target Toronto's diverse ethno-cultural and multi-lingual populations and determine the most appropriate method to consult with specific communities.

Consults on and acts as centre of excellence for public consultation to various corporate functions and divisions outside the Service Area on a project by project or event by event basis.

Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program specific requirements.

Manages, motivates and trains the unit’s 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 for the unit, and ensures that the unit’s expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.

Provides leadership, coaching and management to a team of professionals, providing direction, expertise and addressing issues as they arise.

Ensures strategic Corporate, Service Area and Divisional program plans are relevant through effective public consultation process planning, design, service delivery and reporting.

Ensures public engagement and consultation programs and processes are compliant with the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and other relevant Federal and Provincial legislation, city-wide policies and guidelines.

Develops strategies and tools for use by Divisions to provide leadership for integrated strategic program and policy planning / development related to public engagement across the City and with external partners.

Provides expertise and consulting where councillors are engaged in various consultations, community engagement and planning, including capital program and environmental assessment consultations.

Keeps current with and develops recommendations for the strategic direction of emerging trends relating to various aspects supporting public consultation and public engagement.

Leads the advocacy for public consultation / engagement with divisions and agencies to exchange knowledge on public consultation / engagement trends, methods, standards and improvements.

Conducts research projects to test and evaluate consultation / engagement and public relations methods and strategies.

Develops standards and methods to optimize and leverage the use of social media and networking, using the intranet and internet, electronic service delivery methods and public electronic access technology for community engagement in planning, design and delivery of various projects.

Establishes an effective and collaborative working relationship with divisional senior management teams, managers and project managers, staff from other City divisions and external partners;

liaises with political representatives on behalf of the City and responds to enquiries.

Acts as a representative of the Division on internal groups, with the public, Provincial, Federal and municipal representatives, partners, etc.

Resolves public complaints and / or disputes.

Key Qualifications :

Extensive experience planning and managing complex, corporate-wide public consultation projects, processes and in-person and virtual methods from inception through to implementation and reporting with minimal direction while balancing political, community and other stakeholder interests.

Proven success managing and interpreting public engagement data and data systems to report on findings, provide insights for decision-making and to evaluate outcomes and outputs to drive continuous improvement.

Considerable experience working independently and leading multidisciplinary teams to manage complex projects, optimize business processes, manage change and develop policy.

Exceptional political acumen, judgement and insight, as well as advanced skills and judgement in governance and communications, including the ability to negotiate and achieve consensus among parties having different objectives

Highly developed interpersonal, human relation, communication (written and oral), negotiation, conflict resolution, analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to interact and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization including senior management, Members of City Council and external community partners.

Familiarity with the objectives in the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan, Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, and vision for Access, Equity and Diversity and the application of these objectives and vision to consultation approaches that support participation from Toronto's diverse ethno-cultural and multi-lingual communities.

Ability to function effectively in a service-oriented, politically sensitive environment and to balance the needs of the organization and the public.

Flexibility and ability to thrive in an environment with frequent and competing deadlines, multiple tasks and high performance expectations.

Experience building, leading and managing a team of professional staff in an ever-evolving environment and with competing priorities and demands.

Post secondary education in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function combined with relevant management experience, or an equivalent in work experience (Social Sciences, Political Science, including Sociology, Urban Studies).

Familiar with relevant government legislation including the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (OADA), Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.