Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services

Embracing diversity and promoting inclusiveness and equity of opportunity

THE ORGANIZATION

The City of Toronto is home to more than 3 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses.

Corporate Services at the City of Toronto includes: Corporate Real Estate Management, Customer Experience (including 311), Environment & Climate, Fleet Services, Office of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and Technology Services. The direct reports to the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services is eight (8) and the total divisional staff complement is 2,400. The Key Priority Areas for Corporate Services speak to:

MODERNIZING GOVERNMENT

• Customer Experience – Deliver simple, easy, and accessible services to the public across multiple channels (i.e. digital, phone, in-person). Focus on accelerating digital processes (e.g. payments, service requests and appointment bookings) and optimizing operational delivery
• Workplace Modernization Program – Optimize and modernize the City of Toronto's office buildings to build a new and healthy model for workspaces, employees and how we work. Effective use of real estate coupled with modern office space and flexible work culture
• Corporate Standardization and Centralization – Centralizing and integrating key corporate services to create greater value, efficiencies and standards processes across the City (e.g. real estate, fleet, technology and cybersecurity)
• Digital Equity – Address barriers and challenges to digital access ensuring the public is connected – not divided – by technology

CLIMATE ACTION

• Implement the Net Zero Carbon Plan for City-owned buildings and the Sustainable Fleet Plan to reduce GHG emissions and build resilience in City assets
• Lead the implementation of TransformTO to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Toronto to net zero by 2040
• Support climate-informed decision-making and implementation of carbon reduction projects corporately and community-wide

ASSET LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Safe, compliant and accessible assets to deliver City services
• Accelerate data analysis and data sharing capabilities for City programs
• Optimize use of City assets to achieve greatest value and to serve a growing City

RESILIENCE

• Ensure the organization has the staff with the right skills to meet baseline operational requirements
• Enhance the City’s cyber resilience to prevent and minimize impacts of cyber attacks and strengthen the City’s cyber posture
• Invest in and strengthen the City’s technology infrastructure to allow for a more resilient and agile workforce

THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE AND DRIVE THE BUILDING OF A WELL RUN AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE CITY THAT ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF TORONTO

The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services facilitates the development and implementation of cross-departmental synergies, tackles roadblocks and implements corporate-wide organizational effectiveness, strategies and policies in collaboration with other members of the Senior Leadership Team, the City Manager and City Council. The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services assists in the administration and operation of the City of Toronto by overseeing several divisions and offices providing corporate-wide services to the City and leading major strategic, cross-divisional initiatives and priorities. The Deputy City Manager’s focus is on the delivery of effective, efficient and modern services to all Divisions, Agencies and Corporations. The Deputy City Manager will strategically seek to offer operational excellence and value in line with City priorities, based on specialized knowledge, best practices, and technology to serve internal and external partners. The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will guide transformation to achieve results in a multi-stakeholder environment.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will ensure that City programs and services within the service area are effectively coordinated to deliver high-quality customer service for the residents and businesses of Toronto while implementing Council strategies, priorities and decisions in an effective manner. The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will also work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the City Manager and City Council team to ensure that the City administration is compliant with expected high standards of fiscal responsibility, management policies, standards, practices and procedures, public service, ethical, professional and political behaviour, openness, transparency and integrity. The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will drive innovation and demonstrate transformation leadership by navigating ambiguity with agility, accelerating performance, managing risks and evolving the culture.

The Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will lead by example in demonstrating the values of service, stewardship and commitment. In addition, the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services will lead by example in embracing and exemplifying the City’s four workplace culture themes that create the roadmap to building a great Toronto Public Service: Being Respected, Empowered and Valued; Embracing Diversity and Inclusion; Making a Difference; and Working Together…and exhibit the key foundational leadership competencies that encompass accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, customer focus, teamwork and Toronto Public Service commitment.

THE CANDIDATE:

The ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, experience, skills and attributes:

• Proven track record of driving results demonstrating excellence in strategy through to execution.
• Strong critical thinking and conceptual skills.
• Effective and efficient decision-making skills.
• Prior experience in a unionized environment is an asset.
• Able to balance competing priorities and interests and drive win-win outcomes.
• Strong communication, relationship building, consultation and collaboration skills to present information to staff, the public and stakeholders and build alignment and engagement.
• Demonstrated good judgment and leadership skills, ability to create and encourage a unified vision, establish direction, align people, influence others to gain commitment and to drive consensus and results.
• Progressively more responsible and accountable senior executive leadership and multi-functional management experience ideally gained in large complex organizations.
• Demonstrated credibility in upholding and modeling the organization’s core values.
• Proven track record of delivering on strategic objectives through the effective and efficient management of talent and resources.
• Well-developed strategic planning skills to formulate plans incorporating all relevant perspectives, constraints, risks and costs.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills to identify gaps and deficiencies and develop proactive approaches to continuous improvement.
• Strong policy acuity.
• Willingness to be both mentor and coach, and to use those skills in developing staff.
• Demonstrated success leading transformation, modernization or strategic change of scope and scale.
• Proven skills, expertise and confidence to work effectively with elected officials.

Employment Equity

The City of Toronto is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, members of visible minority groups and women.

The City of Toronto strives to build an inclusive society and providing an accessible environment in which all individuals have access to the City’s services and programs in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.

Read the City of Toronto’s Aboriginal Employment Strategy for more information on the commitment to implementing employment practices that ensure that employment opportunities are accessible to Aboriginal people.

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 accommodation and employment equity.

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’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.

Should you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the LHH Knightsbridge executive search team.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you are interested in being considered for this exciting and challenging senior leadership opportunity, please submit your expression of interest (cover letter and current resume) by email to Lindsay Millard, Senior Consultant, at [email protected] with “City of Toronto, Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services” in the subject line.

ABOUT LHH – www.lhh.com