Community Engagement Director at Metrolinx

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

We’re looking for leaders who inspire trust, shape culture, and move ideas forward. As a people leader in our division, you will foster an inclusive, respectful, and people-first culture; provide clear direction and coaching that empowers your team to succeed; model accountability and integrity in your decision-making; collaborate across teams to drive impact; and lead through change with resilience and a forward-thinking mindset.

The Director plays a critical role in supporting the Ontario Line project by leading a team that proactively identifies potential impacts of construction and develops strategies to reduce them. They lead a large, public-facing operation with staff deployed across the city to engage community members, local leaders, and elected officials on construction-related issues, manage community-related risks and issues, receive and respond to complaints. The incumbent will work alongside a peer director (already in place), responsible for Ontario Line strategic engagement, to jointly lead the team and deliver an effective, proactive community engagement program 
 

What will I be doing?

• Supports and enables the effective delivery of the Metrolinx capital program by providing direction and expertise to the strategic planning and tactical delivery of a high-profile construction mitigation programs focused on proactive and reactive construction issues management, public engagement, and collaboration.
• Identifies and proactively furthers relationship-building and partnership opportunities to shape and achieve effective construction mitigation programs, plans and objectives.
• Delivers strategic advice, options and recommendations for issues management, including strategy, analysis, and messaging, as well as identifying and mitigating risks and concerns that could impact Metrolinx’s ability to deliver the project on schedule.
• Works directly with contractors and project delivery teams to mitigate and de-risk construction impacts and develop on the spot solutions to construction challenges.
• Fosters positive relationships with internal peers who support the successful execution of construction mitigation programs.
• Builds and manages positive and productive relationships with key stakeholders affected by Ontario Line construction including construction liaison committees; community partners; local schools; and Business Improvement Areas.
• Cultivates and actively manages critical relationships with local elected officials and City of Toronto staff to ensure their concerns are addressed. 
• Oversees the procurement of services including defining requirements, evaluation of submissions and ongoing performance management of a range of large, sophisticated contractors.
• Develops a high performing team by coaching, mentoring and supporting career development, championing inclusion, driving accountability and on-time performance in a fast-paced environment.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in public administration, planning, communications, community engagement, business administration or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.
• Demonstrated progressive senior leadership experience leading teams, including developing, planning and executing, strategic community and stakeholder engagement programs and activities, including issues management.
• Strategic planning and project management and execution skills to develop annual business plans, goals and objectives, track KPIs, manage an array of project logistics, and balance changing priorities with competing deadlines.
• Negotiating, influencing and political acuity skills to identify, analyze, and determine the impact of emerging and potentially contentious issues, and proactively develop and execute strategic issues management plans to address issues, propose solutions, strategic options and positioning.
• Knowledge of and expertise in the techniques, strategies and methods of strategic communications, communications planning, issues management, to direct and oversee a critical community and stakeholder engagement program that supports a wide spectrum of information needs of external audiences.
• Familiarity and experience working with the diverse communities that make up the regions.
• Experience managing vendors offering professional services. 
• Strong innovative thinking, creative problem solving and effective organizational skills to establish effective networks and creative and innovative approaches to community engagement strategy solutions that effectively convey the Metrolinx’ mission, vision, values and mandate and engage and impact audiences and stakeholders through multiple channels. 
• Relationship & stakeholder management skills to engage, cultivate, and manage relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and the media to meet or exceed internal client needs. 
• Strong oral/written/presentation communication skills to write speeches and briefs at the executive level and manage delivery of community engagement programs, services and products; to represent Metrolinx at public events; to consult, influence and collaborate with colleagues across levels and business groups.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement? 

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:

We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting us at: 416-202-5601 or email [email protected].

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. 

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

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