MANAGER STANDARDS & INNOVATION

City of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 126,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Toronto seeks an experienced Parks standards and Innovation leader to drive policy development, program innovation and citywide service delivery. You will coordinate with Parks & Recreation divisions, external partners, and stakeholders to advance training, technology adoption and partnerships.

Reporting to the Director, you will oversee budget, staffing, and emergency management while ensuring policy compliance, quality assurance and alignment with council priorities.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education with relevant management training or equivalent experience.
• Extensive management experience in public sector leadership roles.
• Experience in staff management, guidance and development.
• Proven project management and large-scale work planning, business transformation, and technology improvements.
• Ability to set short and long-term goals and meet deadlines.
• Excellent writing skills for reports and presentations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, analytical and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to build internal and external relationships and lead teams.
• Knowledge of Parks and Recreation domain and related operations, processes and technology.
• Familiarity with Ontario statutes including Occupational Health and Safety Act and Bill C-45.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership in design, development and implementation of innovative programs for branch services.
• Evaluates operational efficiencies and ensures compliance, consistency and continuous improvement.
• Develops policies and procedures with training and change management.
• Manages branch operating budget including allocations and procurement planning.
• Responds to emergencies and coordinates resources; supports director and branch operations.

Skills

Leadership

Policy development

Budget management

Staff development

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Change management

Public sector experience

Education

Post-secondary education with management training

Job description

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Job ID: 63369
Job Category:Policy, Planning & Research
Division & Section: Parks & Recreation, PR Parks
Work Location:Kipling Yard, 441 Kipling Avenue, 343 Eastern Avenue, 100 Rosedale Valley Road
Job Type & Duration: Permanent, Full-time
Salary Range: $126,000- $176,140
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 3
Posting Period: 02-NOV-2026 to 09-NOV-2026

Reporting to the Director, Parks, the incumbent provides overall leadership of the Parks Standards and Innovation units which oversee business development and transformation through development and implementation of policies, standards, training, new technology and new programs on a citywide basis for the Parks Branch. The position implements, monitors and ensures policy compliance and quality assurance, collaborates with other Parks and Recreation branches and City divisions. The position provides operational support and coordination in the areas of staffing, budget, complex issue and emergency management.

Major Responsibilities:

The primary functions associated with this position include but are not limited to:

• Provides leadership in the design, development and implementation of innovative programs in the revitalization of Branch services by integrating trends, assessing environmental initiatives and impacts, identifying emerging issues and efficiencies, and promoting community development and partnerships


• Evaluates operational efficiencies, identifies duplication of function, establishes performance targets and provides ongoing consultation and direction to Branch operations including the monitoring of programs to ensure compliance, consistency, continuous improvement and efficient delivery of services


• Develops and implements detailed plans and establishes policies/procedures to ensure quality programs and services along with necessary training and change management


• Develops and manages Branch operating budget including managing annual work selection allocations, procurement planning and business case development


• Responds to emergency and priority situations by anticipating problems, making decisions, deploying appropriate financial and human resources; provides senior level operational support to the Director and coordinates all branch operations support issues including labour disruption, weather related emergency response, smog and heat alert protocols and other divisional operational issues


• Provides leadership to and liaison for business transformation, geospacial asset management system development, work management system development and associated business processes inclusive of resulting components that include organizational change, operational change and culture change


• Oversees the Branch service planning, new and enhanced services and strategic direction based upon Council and City wide priorities


• Plans, identifies and generates partnership development opportunities with internal Divisions, other municipalities and external partners such as Toronto Water, Toronto Transportation, MLS, TRCA, and Toronto Polices Services


• Negotiates service level / partnership agreements


• 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


• Provides senior level strategic advice to the Director and Managers on issues that pertain to Citywide and Branch operations


• Represents key issues and reports for the Parks Branch at Committee, Division and City wide meetings


• Represents the Division/Branch on Inter-Divisional project committees and teams


• Chairs Branch Committees, liaises with sub-committees including prioritizing of tasks and responsibilities


• Responds to Councillor requests, media and public enquiries and complaints in a timely manner


• Oversees research and preparation of reports, presentations and communications on behalf of the Division and Branch on issues that impact the City of Toronto


• Identifies, develops, co-ordinates and implements Branch professional development and succession planning initiatives


• Supervises the day to day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning, prioritizing and reviewing of work


• Coordinates, reviews and edits Branch business reports, articles, briefing notes, memos and correspondence


• 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


• Coordinates the development of the Branch annual operating budget submissions


• Ensures compliance with the Union Collective Agreements, covering unionized workers in CUPE Local 416 and Local 79, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and all other relative legislation to protect the safety of our employees, program participants, visitors and our communities


• Acts as a Supervisor under the definitions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and ensures that adequate training, safety equipment and safe work procedures are in place in order to develop a strong culture of Health and Safety and minimize any Health and Safety issues

Key Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education, university and or/graduate degree in a discipline pertinent to the job function combined with relevant management training experience, or equivalent combination of education and expertise


• Extensive management experience gained through progressively more responsible positions in the public sector and/or functions of administration, operations planning, service delivery and project management


• Considerable experience in managing staff, including the ability to motivate and develop a high performing work team


• Considerable experience in project management and large scale work planning, including business transformation, and technology improvements including associated change management


• Demonstrated ability to establish and achieve short and long term goals, including the ability to work within ambitious timelines and budgets


• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to prepare detailed reports and make presentations


• Demonstrated competencies that include highly developed human relations, communication, negotiation, analytical and conflict resolution skills


• The ability to build a collegial network and strong working relationships with field managers


• Proven track record of solid internal and external relationships and strong leadership capacity


• General knowledge and proficiency in a range of core functions of the P&R portfolio, and specific technical expertise of parks and facility operations, business processes and technology


• Demonstrated ability to operate as a fully accountable program leader and as a member of a management team, and self-directed work teams


• Familiarity with Ontario Statutes, including Occupational Health and Safety Act and Bill C45

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 .