Job Information
City of Toronto SENIOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION COORDINATOR in t, Ontario
SENIOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION COORDINATOR
Job ID: 54002
Job Category: Communications & Marketing
Division & Section: Parks, Forestry & Recreation, PFR CPDD Capital Proj Design & Delivery
Work Location: METRO HALL
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, 1 Permanent, 1 Temporary (12 month) vacancies
Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $45.98 - $50.40
Shift Information: Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: L79 Full-time
Number of Positions Open: 2
Posting Period: 17-Mar-2025 to 31-Mar-205
Job Summary:
In this role, you will develop, coordinate, lead and evaluate public consultation programs and engagement activities related to the implementation of Parks, Forestry and Recreation's $2.7 billion ten-year Capital Budget and Plan, including new parks, playgrounds, splash pads, and Community Recreation Centers all across Toronto. You will also provide advice and guidance to project teams, project managers and senior management on all engagement-related matters.
Major Responsibilities:
Develops and implements detailed communications and engagement plans based on each project's unique requirements.
Participates as a member of project teams comprised of professional staff, external planning consultants, technical consultants and senior management to provide advice and expertise on issues related to public consultation.
Plans, designs and delivers public, stakeholder and rights holder events (such as meetings, workshops, open houses, charrettes, focus groups etc.) to encourage public participation, support project objectives, and create an informed public.
Provides guidance, mentoring, advice, coaching and feedback to other branch and divisional staff on public engagement planning and delivery, including in the development of work plans, implementation plans, contingency response plans, and ongoing issues management.
Makes recommendations related to process, issues management, timing, and the handling of external stakeholder/rights holder input to both external stakeholders/rights holders, project teams, project managers, senior management and Councilors.
Works proactively to assist stakeholders, residents, and Councilors through challenging public processes.
Ensures that public consultation activities support strategic divisional and corporate plans and programs (including but not limited to the Reconciliation Action Plan, the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, the Data for Equity Strategy, and the Toronto Seniors Strategy.
Ensures that public consultation programs meet the requirements for corporate and divisional policies, City Council direction and federal and provincial legislation.
Ensures that strategic projects of the division are delivered with an effective public consultation process, planned and designed using approaches and practices that will be acceptable to stakeholders, rights holders and City Council.
Ensures that Toronto’s diverse ethno-cultural and multi-lingual and Indigenous populations are included in the planning and design of capital projects by undertaking investigations of ethnicity, language and cultural practices prevalent within a project area, and ensuring that public engagement processes and communications material respond to these conditions in a way that ensures they are both welcoming and accessible to all.
Evaluates and incorporates resident, stakeholder, and rights holder inputs into processes to ensure they are reflected in project outcomes, thereby improving division/corporate performance and building community trust.
Prepares and documents these inputs as well as divisional responses to them in concise summary reports that are fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Researches, writes and designs audience-appropriate communications materials (e.g. newsletters, flyers, letters, etc.) for distribution to the public to notify residents, stakeholders, and rights holders of upcoming public consultation activities and to support branch objectives. Reviews and approves communications materials prepared by communications staff for the same purpose. Ensures that issues management takes place throughout the length of a project.
Creates, shares and/or exchanges information and ideas in virtual communities and social networks ensuring connectivity with the public and the development of strategic relationships with key influencers.
Liaises with provincial, federal and other municipal government representatives, City staff, external stakeholders in a variety of settings and situations to provide context and information sharing opportunities ensuring that projects proceed in an efficient and effective manner.
Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates social media and online web-based communication strategies.
Assists with the creation and maintenance of project websites in consultation with branch and divisional staff.
Prepares detailed presentations and council reports for branch, division and corporate clients.
Participates in the development of standards, practices and guidelines for public consultation staff, project managers and, when applicable, external public consultation consultants.
Monitors and tracks expenditures for the public consultation portion of project budgets.
Prepares terms of reference and request for proposals for assignments related to public consultation work for the branch.
Reviews and evaluates tender bids and recommends award of contracts for public consultation projects.
Acts as an advocate for public engagement within the branch and the division with project teams, project managers, senior management, other corporate divisions and individual Councilors.
Researches, develops and evaluates alternatives to current public consultation practices to maintain a cost-efficient state-of-the-art standard of service.
Assists with resolving public complaints or disputes that arise during the planning and construction of capital projects.
Acts as a representative for the division on committees, task forces or working groups, which include staff and/or stakeholders/rights holders. Sometimes acts as chair or facilitator for these events.
Carries out public speaking engagements in a variety of locations and venues (small and large) providing information and opportunities for public feedback on issues and projects important to the branch.
Key Qualifications:
Post-secondary education in social science, political science, urban planning, urban studies, environmental studies, public administration, communications, public relations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in public consultation and facilitation, including consensus building techniques and practices.
Considerable experience in motivating, leading and providing guidance and advice to professional teams.
Experience designing and managing community engagement processes, specifically related to engaging multi-ethnic, Indigenous, and other hard-to-reach communities.
You must also have:
Sensitivity towards and understanding of the diversity of knowledge, temperament, language, literacy levels, culture and ethno-racial backgrounds in communities throughout Toronto.
Excellent communications skills, including writing, storytelling and the ability to interpret technical information into a written form that is understandable by the general public.
Excellent public speaking skills including the ability to speak with knowledge and assurance in front of an audience.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal and project management skills, including a proven ability to manage multiple projects at once, coupled with strong attention to detail.
Well-developed strategic planning, problem-solving and conflict management skills.
Ability to deliver creative content (i.e. through Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, etc.).
Experience using Microsoft Office Suite (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Ability to motivate staff and promote effective team dynamics,
Must have access to a vehicle or have the ability to travel and transport heavy equipment (e.g. sound equipment, easels, display boards, brochures and other printed material) to various locations across the city as required.
Must be able to work evenings and weekends, as required.
Additionally, the below are considered assets:
Lived experience as a member of an equity-deserving community
Expertise in communications, social marketing, and/or human-centred design approaches and research methodologies.
Expertise in trauma-informed approaches to public consultation and engagement.
NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:
City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.
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 toemployment equity (https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/content/Hiring-Policies-and-Statements/?locale=en_US) .
Accommodation
The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request . Learn more about the City’sHiring Policies and Accommodation Process (https://jobs.toronto.ca/jobsatcity/content/Hiring-Policies-and-Statements/?locale=en_US) .