Ontario Dig Authority (ODA) is a Public Safety Administrative Authority; protecting Ontario by enabling safe digging. At ODA, public safety is at the heart of everything we do.
Since 2012, in Ontario, it's the law that any party planning to dig must contact ODA before they dig. ODA connects people planning to dig with the owners of underground pipes, cables, and other infrastructure to help prevent costly damages, service disruptions, and safety hazards. We also regulate an efficient locate system, foster industry wide collaboration, and promote safe, timely excavation across Ontario.
ODA is governed by a diverse Board of Directors, with experienced leaders representing underground infrastructure owners, excavators, ministry appointees and others dedicated to protecting Ontarians. Together, we work to shape a safer Ontario through collaboration, regulation, and education.
Safe Excavation starts with us.
Why Join Us?
Ontario Dig Authority offers dynamic career opportunities in various areas such as operational services, compliance, regulatory affairs, communications, education, IT, finance and HR. When you join our team, you become an integral part of our mission-driven organization, dedicated to making Ontario safer, one dig at a time.
Core Values:
Caring…We invest in the success and safety for our team, communities and the environment.
Integrity...We are dedicated, honourable and honest.
Collaborative...We foster partnerships and work together to build a safer Ontario.
Inclusive...We are a leader in inclusivity and cultivate a foundation of respect and support within our industry.
Innovative...We strive for excellence with a willingness to learn, adapt and innovate.
Do you have what it takes to join our team?
Position Overview:
Reporting to the Vice President, Education and Brand (VP), the Sr. Manager, Education and Industry Outreach (Sr. Manager) leads Ontario Dig Authority's education, outreach, industry engagement, and partnership development activities. The role is responsible for the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of education programs, training initiatives, online learning, awareness activities, partnerships, and approved business development activities that support Ontario Dig Authority's mandate and strategic objectives.
The Sr. Manager works collaboratively across the organization and with industry, education institutions, municipalities, associations and other organizations to promote safe excavation practices, strengthen awareness of Ontario Dig Authority services, support stakeholder adoption of programs and initiatives, and contribute to positive outcomes across Ontario's damage prevention community.
This role provides direct leadership to Education and Outreach staff and supports the Vice President in advancing education, partnership, and industry development opportunities.
This position is located at Ontario Dig Authority's head office at 104 Cooper Drive, Guelph, Ontario. Ontario Dig Authority operates under a hybrid work model with employees dividing their workweek between in-office and remote work in accordance with company policy. Some travel within Ontario and occasional work outside regular business hours may be required to support outreach, education, partnership initiatives.
Primary Responsibilities:
Education Programs:
- Lead the planning, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of education programs that support industry understanding of Ontario Dig Authority services, legislative obligations, and safe excavation practices.
- Oversee online learning, instructor-led training, webinars, workshops, certification-related programming, educational resources, and the Learning Management System activities.
- Monitor participation, engagement, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness, recommending improvements where appropriate.
- Identify education gaps, industry learning needs, adoption challenges, and emerging training opportunities.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of education content, resources, tools, and supporting materials that align with operational requirements and organizational priorities.
- Support education and stakeholder adoption initiatives associated with new programs, services, technologies, and organizational changes.
Industry Outreach and Adoption:
- Lead outreach activities such as campaigns, conferences, trade shows, industry meetings, webinars, and educational events that strengthen stakeholder awareness, engagement, adoption and confidence in Ontario Dig Authority programs and services.
- Represent Ontario Dig Authority at conferences, trade shows, stakeholder meetings, industry events, committees, and educational forums.
- Build and maintain productive working relationships with industry associations, municipalities, contractors, infrastructure owners, educational institutions, regulatory agencies, locate service providers, and others.
- Gather stakeholder feedback, identify emerging issues and trends, and provide insights to support program improvements and education priorities.
- Support collaborative initiatives that advance education, awareness, compliance, and safe excavation outcomes.
Partnerships and Industry Development:
- Support the identification, development, and implementation of partnership opportunities that enhance Ontario Dig Authority's education reach, industry engagement and influence.
- Collaborate with external organizations to deliver joint education initiatives, awareness campaigns, events, and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
- Contribute to research, environmental scanning, and industry trend analysis to identify opportunities for program enhancements and future initiatives.
- Assist the Vice President in evaluating new education, certification, and industry development opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
- Support approved sponsorships, partnership initiatives, and industry development opportunities.
Program Planning and Continuous Improvement:
- Establish annual education and outreach plans, objectives, priorities, and performance measures.
- Monitor program performance and stakeholder engagement metrics and prepare reports, recommendations, and updates for leadership.
- Identify opportunities to improve education delivery, user experience, stakeholder outcomes, and operational effectiveness.
- Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives requiring education, change adoption, communications, or industry engagement support.
- Ensure education programs and outreach activities align with organizational policies, legislative requirements, and industry best practices.
Team Leadership and Collaboration:
- Provide leadership, coaching, workload management, performance feedback, and development support to Education and Outreach staff.
- Establish clear priorities, work plans, service expectations, quality standards and collaborative was of working for education and outreach functions.
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, service-oriented team environment focused on continuous learning and improvement.
- Manage departmental resources and operating expenditures within approved budgets.
- Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications:
- Strong knowledge of adult learning principles, stakeholder education, training development, knowledge transfer, and behaviour-change practices.
- Demonstrated experience delivering education, outreach, awareness, and industry engagement programs.
- Strong relationship-building and partnership-development skills.
- Excellent facilitation, presentation, communication, and consultation capabilities.
- Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills.
- Ability to analyze external and internal feedback, performance data, industry trends, and program results to support decision-making.
- Ability to translate technical, operational, legislative, or regulatory information into practical educational and engagement solutions.
- Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, development, performance management, and team building.
- Sound judgment, professionalism, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, learning management systems, virtual learning platforms, and reporting tools.
Education and Experience:
- Post-secondary education in Education, Adult Learning, Business Administration, Communications, Public Administration, Marketing, Training and Development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5-7 years of progressive experience in education, training, outreach, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, industry relations, communications, learning and development, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of people leadership experience managing professional staff.
- Experience developing and delivering adult education, online learning, certification, awareness, or industry engagement programs.
- Experience working with industry associations, municipalities, regulatory organizations, utilities, infrastructure stakeholders, or member-based organizations is considered an asset.
- Experience supporting organizational change, adoption, public awareness, or public safety initiatives is considered an asset.
Rewards:
- Starting salary of $110,300 - $124,000/annum dependent on qualifications and experience, with room to grow
- A comprehensive company paid benefit plan through Desjardins Life (at 3 months of service)
- CAAT DBPlus Pension Plan with Contribution Choice and Company Match (at 3 months of service)
- 10 personal emergency days per year
- Highly engaged workforce and excellent workplace culture
- Diverse and inclusive environment
- Collaborative team
- New, clean and bright facility
Imagine a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. At Ontario Dig Authority, we are committed to making this a reality through our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives, policy and committee. To achieve this, ODA strives to create a supportive work environment and a culture that welcomes diversity and uniqueness and encourages equitable opportunities for employees. Every individual person deserves respect, dignity and a sense of belonging. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those who may be underrepresented in our industry.
In accordance with the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Ontario Dig Authority is pleased to offer accommodations for job applicants with disabilities, if you require accommodations, please advise by contacting us.
Application reviews are done by a human. We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are currently recruiting for this open position.
AI is a tool that may be used throughout the interview process for purposes such as data collection, interview recording, and summarization, or similar administrative and analytical activities. AI is not used as the sole basis for any hiring or employment decisions. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.