Director, Strategic Initiatives & Asset Management (Engineering & Environmental Services)

Our Story:

Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

Our Team:

Four divisions make up the Engineering and Environmental Services team: Strategic Initiatives & Asset Management, Design and Construction, Waste Management and Water and Wastewater Services. Collectively, we provide water supply and treatment, wastewater treatment, waste collection and processing and construction projects across the Region. We are an innovative and collaborative team who support each other as we deliver our services to the residents and businesses while protecting the environment.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Commissioner, Engineering & Environmental Services as Director, Strategic Initiatives & Asset Management you will direct the administration, financial, and non-program related activities of the Department, including corporate performance, employee engagement, monitoring of strategic planning commitments, and policy development. You will support the Commissioner in managing departmental initiatives. You will have the responsibility of leading the corporate Asset Management Program and Project Management Office in partnership with other Departments within the Region who care for infrastructure assets.

Apply your Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Acting as the liaison with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, you will help support and ensure programs and projects in the Department follow the corporate policy of equity and inclusivity.
• You will provide professional advice to senior management, other divisions, CAO, Regional Chair, and Council.
• You will supervise a Manager of Asset Management and a Manager of Communications & Community Engagement and indirectly supervise additional staff.
• You will direct and coordinate the Department’s involvement and rollout of employee engagement and business improvement activities, including developing and monitoring projects through project management practices.
• You will make presentations, develop survey forms, analyze data, and prepare reports. You will lead a consolidated environmental community engagement and communication program area to inform and educate the public on waste management, water and wastewater programs and construction projects.
• You will work closely and collaboratively with the climate adaptation and mitigation work in other Departments to support ClimateActionWR and the Corporate Energy Office.
• You will approve reports to the Environmental Coordinating Committee and Council.
• Using your skills and experience you will lead the corporate asset management program, meeting requirements of O. Reg 588/17, develop and implement the Region’s vision for asset management and ensure strong working partnership with Corporate Finance and other Departments to support the development of policies, strategic goals and actions, linkages to the Capital Plan, and supports the corporation’s asset management committees.
• You will administer operations of the Division, ensuring efficient use of human, physical, and financial resources.
• Performs related duties as required.
• You will lead the development and implementation of a Project Management Office by developing a vision and road map to support the vision. You will provide project management guidelines, templates, and policies and support an internal project management “think tank” that shares best practices across the corporation.
• You will represent the Department as a member of the emergency management team.
• You will participate in intermunicipal groups, and comment on key reports and policies as requested by outside agencies. You will lead negotiations with the private sector as it relates to approval clauses in development agreements.
• As subject matter expert you will develop and monitor the Department’s commitments in the Region’s Strategic Plan, including coordinating activities with its divisions, identifying milestones, and representing the Department at strategic planning meetings and training.
• You will have the opportunity to act as a chair for special projects and studies, as required, including directing the activities of multi-disciplinary groups of area municipality and regional staff and consultants, typically involving planning, engineering, environmental, financial, and legal participants.
• You will interact with public officials and the public to represent the Region's interests and views on specific initiatives.
• You will support the Department by developing SOPs and robust communication plans for effective communication with the public and Council and ensure open houses and public meetings are held.
• You will negotiate approvals and funding, and exchange technical and policy information with area municipal staff, Councilors, Ministry officials, and developers. You will provide information to individuals, groups, committees, and the media.
• You will review and update the Department’s policies, including developing a tracking system and project plan to ensure policies are modernized per relevant legislation, in collaboration with program areas.

Apply Your Experience at the Region of Waterloo

• Knowledge of strategic planning, business improvement techniques, change management, and business intelligence, usually accompanied by Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a degree in a related field, plus progressively responsible leadership experience in a municipal strategic discipline.
• Knowledge of the Department’s mandate and strategic direction to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Knowledge of operations and management principles, relevant provincial standards, and relevant portions of the Regional Official Plan, Municipal Act, Planning Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, and Environmental Assessment Act. Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and collective agreements.
• Ability to synthesize unique, complex issues regarding engineering, economics, planning, environmental concerns, public perceptions, and politics, and make inquiries to obtain information to form opinions, make decisions, and advise. Ability to monitor news media to keep current on local and national issues, policies, and developments relevant to departmental programming.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office and databases.
• Understanding of multiple cultural frameworks, values and norms and a demonstrated flexible style when faced with dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural contexts. Understands the dynamics of cross-cultural and inclusion-related conflicts, tensions, misunderstandings, and opportunities. In addition, recognizes and addresses one’s filters, privileges, biases, and cultural preferences with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement in diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence.
• Ability to lead transformative change in line with the vision and values of senior leadership while delivering on the expectations of an evolving workforce and regional residents. Is able to discern when to inquire, advocate, drive, or resolve more decisively.
• Leadership skills to develop, motivate, direct, and support staff.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
• Ability to make effective recommendations and decisions regarding program approaches, policies, and the Department’s mandate, involving interpretation of legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, and scientific data which carry health impact, and political, legal, and financial implications.
• Ability to write comprehensive technical reports to Standing Committees and Council. Ability to write policies, reports, letters, and other documents requiring complex descriptions and explanations to provincial Ministries, engineering and planning consultants, developers, and the public.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region.
• Communication, human relations, and negotiation skills to defend priorities and balance objectives in a political environment; present to the public, elected officials, senior staff, and provincial Ministries; present reports to Standing Committees and Council; represent the Division and Department on committees; and participate as an effective team member.

Additional Information:

In addition to offering a competitive compensation package, we have a strong focus on health and wellness, including fitness facilities and family-focused benefits.

Consideration will be given to candidates that are not fully qualified when no fully qualified applicants can be identified.

We thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview.

The Region of Waterloo is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the Region, we respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity. The Region of Waterloo is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. Alternate formats of this document are available upon request. Please contact the Service First Contact Centre at phone number 519-575-4400, or TTY number 519-575-4608 to request an alternate format.