Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement (1 year Contract)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Advisor, Stakeholder Engagement will provide advice, support and assistance to the Associate Director, Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Development in the management of relationships with key community partners including industry players, business improvement areas (BIAs), local ward councillors, municipal and provincial governments, agencies, boards, and corporations. This position facilitates the resolution of key stakeholder requests/issues that involve multiple functional teams. This role will also monitor the agendas for City Council on behalf of Toronto Parking Authority and represent Toronto Parking Authority, as appropriate, at various stakeholder meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide advice and recommendations, operational support and professional judgment on contentious issues for the Associate Director, Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Development.
2. Engage Toronto Parking Authority’s key stakeholders, including but not limited to industry players, BIAs, municipal and provincial governments, their agencies, boards, and corporations. This includes building and cultivating relationships, participating in relevant discussions and advancing Toronto Parking Authority’s interests.
3. Monitor and review City Council agendas and ensure that senior management are briefed and aware of agenda items and any controversial issues or topics. Represent Toronto Parking Authority at meetings and present to local communities and elected officials on matters related to general updates, trends, priorities, etc. Manage agenda items, ensure coordination of responses from appropriate staff, and follow up with any actions or outstanding items. Keep the appropriate staff informed on any updates or issues.
4. Ensure that any direction from City Council to Toronto Parking Authority is identified, analyzed for organizational impacts and appropriate responses, including reports, are submitted in a professional, thorough and timely manner. Makes policy and program recommendations that help achieve the strategic goals of Toronto Parking Authority.
5. Liaise and manage relationships with local councillors and their staff on matters pertaining to Toronto Parking Authority activities.
6. Facilitates cross-functional staff to review issues, and to present solutions and resolution. Monitors issue resolution, ensuring work is complete, and updates stakeholders and systems, as appropriate.
7. Works closely and collaborates with internal business unit teams to understand Toronto Parking Authority’s customers perspectives on relevant topics to help prioritize and tailor Toronto Parking Authority’s external messaging to meet the needs of the business.
8. Provide support to Marketing team by sharing community relations stories and content. Contribute to the development of various communication vehicles, including presentations and speaking notes.
9. Maintain a broad knowledge of Toronto Parking Authority’s operations, as well as various functional and technical areas to ensure adequate representation at City Council and Committees of Council to exercise a high level of political acuity when managing sensitive and contentious issues.
10. Prepares and presents reports, briefing notes, presentations, issues analyses, risk assessments and other materials on a wide range of matters (e.g., projects, programs and agency performance and corporate issues at both a strategic and operational level) for briefings and meetings with community partners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. University degree in a related discipline, including Political Science, Public Policy, Urban Planning or Environmental Studies, or a combination of equivalent experience.
2. Minimum four (4) years related experience in stakeholder or community relations/management, as well as coordination, collaboration and project management across an organization with multiple stakeholders.
3. Broad knowledge in the field of land use planning, transportation planning and mobility is an asset.
4. Public sector/government experience preferred but not required.
5. Exceptional communication skills; both written and verbal.
6. Must be adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment.
7. Demonstrated ability to build and manage effective relationships with colleagues, peers, clients, customers and other stakeholders.
8. Critical thinker with passion for execution and relentless customer focus.
9. Strong influence leadership skills coupled with capacity to simplify the complex.
10. Strong commitment to the organization’s Core Values and cultural change.
11. Internal candidates: No new or reclassified employee with less than one (1) year’s continuous on the job service may apply.