Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects - City of Toronto, Toronto

The Opportunity: Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects

The City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry & Recreation division is seeking a highly experienced Senior Project Manager to join its Capital Project Design & Delivery (CPDD) branch. This pivotal role within the Ravines, Trails, Wayfinding & Special Projects (RTWS) Unit focuses on the successful delivery of high-profile and complex capital projects across Toronto's natural parkland areas. This is a key administration role within the City of Toronto's capital project delivery framework. If you are looking for City of Toronto jobs that make a tangible impact, this opportunity offers a chance to shape how residents experience the city's green spaces.

As a Senior Project Manager, you will lead projects from initial capital planning and feasibility assessments through to design and construction. These critical projects enhance access, movement, and overall experience within natural parkland areas throughout the City of Toronto. Project types are diverse, encompassing trails, trailheads, bridges, boardwalks, staircases, erosion control, and shoreline structures, often located in lands regulated under the Conservation Authorities Act. Your work will directly support and advance major city-wide initiatives such as the Ravine Strategy, Loop Trail, Toronto Islands Master Plan, and Waterfront Revitalization.

The ideal candidate will bring seasoned experience in leading these specific project types, with a preference for specialization in coastal engineering/assessments, structural engineering/parkland bridges & structures, complex natural/multi-use trails, or erosion and flood risk management as it relates to parkland infrastructure delivery. This role demands multi-faceted coordination and engagement with various partner divisions and agencies across Toronto, including the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Water, and Metrolinx, as well as elected officials and community groups.

Key Duties

In this Senior Project Manager role, you will be responsible for a broad range of activities essential to the successful delivery of capital projects. Your major responsibilities will include:

• Plans, prioritizes and manages internal and external resources in a timely and cost efficient manner to meet Council objectives for capital program delivery.
• Engages and consults with internal and/or external stakeholder groups throughout the project lifecycle facilitating internal workgroup meetings to ensure opportunities for input.
• Develops project statements, detailed work plans, project charters, governance structure, schedules, budget, and staff resource plans for projects and ensures a common methodology is applied to projects.
• Anticipates, analyzes and identifies organizational and program delivery impacts of emerging issues and activities; recommends and coordinates innovative corporate solutions using sound professional judgement, conflict resolution and negotiation skills to successfully manage sensitive and controversial matters.
• Creates and manages interdivisional, interdisciplinary and interagency teams and consultation processes to expedite capital works delivery while addressing political, community, and other stakeholder interests.
• Meets regularly with contractors, external stakeholders, and staff in other divisions and agencies and conducts site visits to ensure City's standards and legislative requirements are met in the delivery and/or protection of park and recreation facility assets.
• Supports the Program Manager and Director at various committees, council and councillor meetings.
• Represents the Branch and the Division while communicating with stakeholders and applies political acuity in the multi-stakeholder environment.
• Investigates, reviews, approves and implements appropriate action(s) for satisfactory resolution for issues, complaints and inquiries from Members of Council and the public.
• Develops briefing notes and reports for presentation relating to the delivery of the program, and associated issues to senior management, standing committees, partners, and Council for strategic decision making; prepares and submits correspondence to the Program Manager for use with the Director, General Manager, various Council Committees.
• Ensures that the Program Manager is prepared with the required briefings and presentation materials relating to the delivery of the projects.
• Ensures quality customer service by providing timely, cost-effective and optimum delivery of services.
• Manages scope of project to ensure it remains within approved budget and timeframes. Monitors progress to reduce risks and initiates timely corrective action when required.
• Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for assigned project portfolio, and ensures that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Ensures that asset management, financial planning, control, performance measurement and reporting are in compliance with Corporate and legislative requirements and supports the Division's goals and objectives.
• Acts as signing authority for purchasing (RPGS, GR, and CRO), project management and design/construction.
• Facilitates city-wide contract management for various services and products including but not limited to RFQ/RFP, valuations of bids, recommend of vendor, contract monitoring, communication with vendor, renewals, and problem solving with staff. Develops, prepares and negotiates agreements with suppliers, contractors, other divisions, partner organizations, and user groups.
• Collaborates with staff, Purchasing & Materials Management Division and Legal Services Division to prepare design and construction solicitation documents, including rosters, blankets and other options and templates and creates a set of tools to support capital delivery.
• Participates in the implementation and utilization of performance measures for the Branch.
• Manages assigned projects providing focused and proactive strategic direction.
• Cultivates effective working relations with stakeholders. Collaborates and integrates efforts with other city wide projects and initiatives.
• Recommends changes to design plans in resolving possible installation and maintenance issues; and, reviews plans for future and current projects to determine materials, equipment and personnel requirements and prepare cost estimates, as required.
• In this role you may also hire and supervise staff including, but not limited to scheduling, assigning, and reviewing work and ensuring that quality of work and service meets corporate and divisional standards and employees are trained to perform work in compliance with legislative regulations.

Qualifications and Experience

To succeed in this Senior Project Manager role, you will bring a robust background in project management and a deep understanding of capital project delivery within natural environments. Key qualifications include:

• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Landscape Architecture or a related field, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Relevant professional licenses and PMP certification are considered assets.
• Extensive experience delivering concurrent high profile, high value, complex and varied projects from inception to completion.
• Extensive experience in capital planning and delivery of feasibility assessments, design, and construction of public projects in natural areas such as trails, bridges, ramps, staircases and rest areas in ravine, watercourse, and shoreline areas.
• Extensive experience in municipal procurement and management of professional and construction services.
• Extensive experience delivering projects requiring multi-faceted engagement processes with elected officials, NGOs, interest groups, and the broader public on high profile projects.
• Considerable experience coordinating and obtaining relevant permits, approvals and access requirements from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Urban Forestry, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of the Environment, Toronto Water, Metrolinx, and Hydro One.
• Experience working with elected officials and preparing council reports and briefings.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant acts and regulations including the Ontario Building Code, legal easements, Conservation Authorities Act, Construction Act, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Fisheries Act, Environmental Protection Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Ability to travel to various City of Toronto sites and locations.
• Equally important, you have what it takes to support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity and respectful workplaces.

What's on Offer

This is a full-time, permanent Senior Project Manager position with the City of Toronto, offering a competitive salary range of $105,241-$160,649. You will work 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with a hybrid work model split between Metro Hall and North York Civic Centre, aligning with the City's hybrid work policy. This is an excellent opportunity to advance your career in public service and contribute to vital infrastructure projects that benefit communities across Toronto.

The City of Toronto is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to creating a diverse environment and providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accommodation is available upon request throughout the recruitment process.