Community Services Strategist

The Opportunity:

The Community Services Strategist is responsible for advancing the Community Services directorate’s priorities by aligning Council direction into actionable strategies, policies, and cross-functional initiatives. The role operates at both a directorate and cross-departmental level, where Community Services priorities intersect with corporate planning, infrastructure, and growth, ensuring recreation, arts, and culture strategies are aligned with broader municipal objectives and Council’s focus areas.

This position leads complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, facilitating collaboration across departments and ensuring strategies and policies are integrated, clearly defined, and positioned for execution by operational business units. The Strategist works in close partnership with Managers, who retain accountability for service delivery and contribute subject matter expertise to long-term planning. The role operates through influence and formal governance structures, with accountability to align decision-makers, remove barriers, and escalate issues to senior leadership where required.

The position also provides strategic guidance on funding approaches, including grants, partnerships, levies, and cost-sharing, in collaboration with Finance and other corporate functions.

Success in this role is demonstrated through improved cross-departmental alignment, advancement of priority initiatives, and the development of clear, actionable long-term plans that guide service, infrastructure, and investment decisions.

Responsibilities include:
• Lead development of a long-term Recreation, Arts and Culture Master Plan focused on service levels, infrastructure needs, growth, and community outcomes (10–20 year horizon).
• Support alignment and reporting of Community Services initiatives tied to Council priorities through established corporate governance processes.
• Lead long-term service planning by developing and applying service standards, service levels, and investment scenarios to guide infrastructure, program delivery, and growth decisions.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve complex, cross-cutting issues impacting Community Services by developing integrated strategies that balance service levels, financial sustainability, and community impact.
• Lead the development and execution of sponsorship and naming rights strategies, including asset identification, valuation, market positioning, and the securing of agreements that align with City priorities, governance requirements, and brand standards.
• Lead the ongoing review, update, and refinement of community facilities off-site levy models, including rate setting, assumptions, and funding allocations, to ensure alignment with growth projections, infrastructure planning, and legislative requirements.
• Work is advanced through a combination of internal subject matter experts (e.g., Planning, Finance, Infrastructure, Economic Development), cross-departmental teams, and external consultants, coordinated by the Strategist.
• Lead negotiations with neighboring jurisdictions and external partners to secure agreements and funding contributions aligned with Community Services priorities.
• Ensure strategic initiatives are clearly defined, appropriately resourced, and supported by effective governance and decision-making frameworks.
• Lead review and development of Council policies within the Community Services directorate in collaboration with Managers and subject matter experts, including Wavier of Facility Fees, User Fees, Cultural Policy, and Naming Rights.
• Oversee development of research processes and secure the resources needed to support studies and activities tied to the overall strategy.
• Prepare brief, evidence based reports and presentations that use reliable research, utilization data, and municipal benchmarks to support decisions and outline clear recommendations.
• Foster effective communication and collaboration with Council, stakeholders, and internal teams. Lead frequent touch points and check-ins with community users and sport groups.

You Bring:

• Degree in Public Administration, Recreation Administration, Business Administration, Urban/Regional Planning, or a Certified Strategy Professional’s or Certificate in Professional Management specializing in Strategic Management.
• A Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Public Manager (CPM) would be considered assets.
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in strategy, policy, or complex program leadership within a municipal or public sector environment.
• Proven ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research and lead public engagement to identify service needs and priorities.
• Proven experience leading cross-departmental initiatives without direct authority.
• Demonstrated ability to develop holistic strategic plans with clear, incremental steps toward long term goals.
• Experience managing multi-year, multi-stakeholder initiatives across all lifecycle stages, including oversight of multi million dollar budgets and strong financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting skills.
• Demonstrated experience delivering high level updates to senior leadership, elected officials, and stakeholder groups.
• Proven experience developing, overseeing, and managing multiple budgets, with strong understanding of impacts on municipal resources and future needs.
• Municipal leadership experience is an asset.
• Contract management experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong leadership project management skills with the ability to influence and collaborate with others, both internal teams and consultants.
• Ability to see connections across complex organizations.
• Translate big-picture strategy into practical actions.
• Proven team leadership, guiding project teams toward defined goals.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated tact and diplomacy in building effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to formulate, coordinate, and execute plans for a wide range of projects.

We Offer:

Along with a competitive compensation program and City paid health and dental premiums, this position also includes:

• Excellent health, dental, paramedical, and benefits plan
• First-in-class pension plan
• Career development and tuition reimbursement
• Employee discounts, gym membership, social events, and health & wellness initiatives

Continuous learning through training and development is encouraged as are flexible work arrangements, when possible. We recognize that our people work best when they feel engaged in their environment and appreciated for their efforts and our overall benefits package reflects that.

Additional Information:

The position is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

*Please provide a cover letter along with your resume as a means of introducing yourself and your interest in this role.