COMMANDER COMMUNITY SAFEGUARD SERVICES

City of Toronto; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 126,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Toronto is seeking a Commander to provide strategic leadership for the Emergency Management Program within Toronto Paramedic Services. The role focuses on emergency preparedness, operational readiness, and coordinated responses to major events across the City.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief, you will lead planning, budgeting, and multi-agency collaboration, ensuring IMS integration and staff development to strengthen resilience and public safety.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Continuity or related field.
• Considerable experience in emergency management, public safety, healthcare operations, or paramedic services in a large organization.
• Experience leading staff, performance management, and organizational leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, procedures, and programs for operational readiness and emergency preparedness.
• Coordinates multi-agency planning and response among emergency services, hospitals, and government partners.
• Represents Toronto Paramedic Services on committees and planning initiatives.
• Manages staff, scheduling, performance, training, and development.
• Leads budget development and monitoring within approved allocations.
• Supports and leads response to emergencies through EOC/DOC operations.
• Authors staff reports, briefing notes, and executive presentations.

Skills

Emergency management

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Change management

Policy development

Communication

Public safety operations

Incident Management System

Education

Post-secondary education in Emergency Management

Tools

IMS 300 certification

Incident Command System

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert

• Job Category: Emergency, Fire and Paramedics Services
• Division & Section: Toronto Paramedic Services, PS Operations
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent Vacancy

Salary Range: $126,000 - $176,140

• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hoursper week
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 23-Sep-2026 to 7-Oct-2026

Reporting to the Deputy Chief, Toronto Paramedic Services, this position provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for the Emergency Management Program. The position is responsible for supporting emergency preparedness, operational readiness, and coordinated response for major planned events, mass gatherings, critical incidents, and emergencies across the City. Working collaboratively with internal and external partners, the Commander helps ensure Toronto Paramedic Services is prepared to respond effectively to complex and evolving incidents while supporting the safety of residents, visitors, patients, and responders.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements strategic plans, policies, procedures, and programs that support Toronto Paramedic Services' operational readiness, emergency preparedness, community safeguard, and business continuity objectives.
• Continuously monitors, assesses, and responds to emerging risks and healthcare system changes that may impact paramedic service delivery, advising senior leadership on operational implications, mitigation strategies, and response options.
• Supports emergency readiness for major planned events, mass gatherings, critical incidents, and emergencies across the City to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, patients, and responders.
• Coordinates and manages multi-agency planning and response efforts among emergency services, hospitals, public health agencies, long-term care facilities, municipal divisions, provincial ministries, and community stakeholders.
• Represents Toronto Paramedic Services on municipal, provincial, healthcare, and emergency management committees, working groups, and planning initiatives.
• Manages, motivates, develops, and evaluates assigned staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality, accountability, innovation, continuous learning, and organizational performance.
• Supervises the day-to-day operation of assigned staff, including scheduling, work assignment, performance management, attendance management, training, coaching, and professional development.
• Develops, recommends, administers, and monitors annual operating budgets and project expenditures, ensuring resources are effectively managed within approved budget limitations.
• Supports and, when required, leads Toronto Paramedic Services' response to emergencies through deployment to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Divisional Operations Centre (DOC), Incident Command Posts, or field operations.
• Works collaboratively with members of the City's Emergency Operations Centre network and allied emergency services to ensure coordinated and effective responses to major incidents and emergencies.
• Develops, maintains, and evaluates the strategic components of Toronto Paramedic Services' Major Incident Plan, Mass Casualty Plan, Incident Management System (IMS), and Business Continuity Program, ensuring integration with operational response plans and municipal emergency management frameworks.
• Leads the design, development, coordination, and evaluation of emergency exercises, simulations, training programs, and after-action reviews to strengthen organizational preparedness and resilience.
• Provides expertise and support to hospitals, healthcare institutions, municipal partners, and community organizations in the development and integration of emergency, contingency, and continuity plans.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of large-scale strategic initiatives, organizational change projects, and service improvement activities impacting pre-hospital and community-based care delivery.
• Conducts research, environmental scanning, benchmarking, and policy analysis to identify emerging issues, leading practices, legislative changes, and innovative solutions applicable to Toronto Paramedic Services.
• Works collaboratively with City divisions, agencies, boards, commissions, elected officials, healthcare organizations, and community partners to advance the strategic priorities of Toronto Paramedic Services.
• Authors and/or coordinates the development of staff reports, briefing notes, business cases, Council reports, strategic recommendations, and presentations for senior leadership, Standing Committees, and City Council.
• Participates in organizational and management change initiatives and provides strategic advice regarding organizational effectiveness, service delivery, risk mitigation, and future planning.
• Serves as the project lead for divisional strategic planning, business continuity planning, business impact assessments, and related organizational resilience initiatives.
• Supports public, political, healthcare partner, and funding stakeholder confidence through the promotion of regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, quality assurance, accountability, and service excellence.
• Ensures compliance with applicable legislation, municipal policies, emergency management standards, occupational health and safety requirements, and professional best practices.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships and alliances that strengthen Toronto Paramedic Services' ability to deliver integrated, effective, and coordinated emergency and community safeguard programs.

Key Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Business Continuity, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Considerable experience working in emergency management, public safety, healthcare operations, paramedic services, disaster planning, or a related field within a large, complex organization. Experience as a Paramedic would be considered an asset.
• Considerable experience managing professional, technical, operational, or program staff, including performance management, workforce development, and organizational leadership responsibilities.
• Considerable experience leading operational responses, emergency preparedness initiatives, business continuity programs, strategic planning activities, hazard identification and risk assessments, emergency exercises, special events, or community engagement initiatives.
• Experience working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, including senior leadership, elected officials, government agencies, healthcare partners, and community organizations, to advance organizational and service objectives.
• Must possess and be able to maintain a valid Province of Ontario, Class "G" Driver's License and must qualify for the City's equipment operating permits and requirements.
• Thorough knowledge of the Incident Management System (IMS), emergency operations centre functions, and emergency response coordination, with IMS 300 certification or equivalent.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, standards, regulations, and policies governing emergency management, occupational health and safety, and healthcare or emergency services operations.
• Technical expertise in emergency medical services, emergency management, public safety operations, healthcare systems, and related fields, complemented by strong program planning, policy development, project management, and program evaluation capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality reports, briefing notes, business cases, executive presentations, and policy recommendations for senior leadership and decision-makers.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and conflict resolution skills, supported by strong political acuity, sound judgment, and experience managing sensitive, confidential, and high-profile issues.
• Strong financial management expertise, including budget development, forecasting, monitoring, resource allocation, and ensuring effective stewardship of organizational resources. High attention to detail, organizational effectiveness, and information management.
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership, coaching, and team-building abilities.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with frontline staff, senior executives, elected officials, external partners, and the public.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated accountability, professionalism, integrity, and commitment to public service excellence.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and high-pressure environment involving competing priorities and critical incidents.
• Thorough understanding of applicable clinical, operational, legislative, and organizational requirements impacting paramedic service delivery.
• Ability to support emergency operations on a 24/7 basis, including evenings, weekends, statutory holidays, and extended emergency activations when required.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity .