Commissioner, Community Services (City of Peterborough)

A high-impact career opportunity for a collaborative senior manager who can direct human, financial and physical resources, and build positive partnerships to effectively lead delivery of a wide range of services, facilities and programs that benefit Peterborough residents and visitors alike.

Located in the heart of Ontario’s scenic Kawarthas region, an area known for its exceptional quality of life and access to a wide array of amenities, the City of Peterborough is committed to ensuring that all its residents – 82,000 and growing strong – have equal access to the City’s goods, services and facilities. The City promotes a safe, healthy workplace, and its employees strive for excellence every day in providing the very best service possible.

For this executive mandate as head of Peterborough’s Community Services Department we are looking for an accomplished senior leader who’s an excellent decision-maker and a recognized relationship builder, with proven success in managing performance and delivering results. The Commissioner works in a complex, changing environment with multiple stakeholders, and is committed to enhancing residents’ quality of life by directing social services, arts, culture, heritage, recreation and the environment.

Reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and indirectly to City Council, you’ll be responsible for the strategic, operational and financial management of the Community Services Department. This is a complex portfolio encompassing Arenas, Arts, Culture and Heritage (including Art Gallery, Peterborough Museum & Archives and Heritage Office), Recreation, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Social Services (including Housing), and Sustainability and serving as the Corporate Liaison with the Peterborough Public Library. You’ll also assist the CAO with the overall leadership of the Corporation as a member of the Corporate Senior Management Team.

As Commissioner of Community Services, you will establish departmental goals and objectives based on organization-wide priorities, stakeholder demands, environmental scans, and anticipated changes in legislation and governance. You’ll lead the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans, direct and oversee the development and delivery of programs and services, and ensure the sound implementation of organization-wide policies and programs. City Council and the Administration will also look to you for advice regarding any legislation or programs that may affect the services provided by your Department, and to ensure that activities are coordinated between City departments and divisions, meet City needs and reflect contemporary practices and customer service excellence.

The successful candidate for this key role will have a university degree in a relevant discipline, with no fewer than 10 years’ senior management experience in a municipal environment. Complementing your proven experience in negotiating service contracts and managing in a unionized environment, you’ll have a track record of capably managing and leading people and programs, identifying and achieving corporate policies and objectives, managing and evaluating programs and projects, developing a budget, managing finances, and measuring performance. This is supported by demonstrated knowledge of key legislation (e.g. Municipal Act, 2001 and Heritage Act) and policies.

As an exceptional leader you are self-motivated, positive, confident and approachable, respectful of diverse opinions and perspectives, and willing to share information with others and solicit input in order to achieve common goals and objectives. Adept at building partnerships – internally and externally – and able to represent the Department at Council meetings and the City at committee, board and intergovernmental functions, you possess strong facilitation and conflict resolution skills, and experience in creative problem-solving, championing and facilitating change, and building confidence among peers, City Council, and the community.
To be considered for this senior leadership role, submit your application to Phelpsgroup at careers@phelpsgroup.ca. Application deadline: May 31, 2019.

Phelpsgroup
401 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4
Phone: 416-364-6229