Job Board Title:
General Manager Parks, Forestry & Recreation

Post Date
10/23/2023

Expiration Date
11/22/2023

Details:
We are recruiting for an exceptional person to lead the Parks, Forestry & Recreation division, one of the largest, high profile and customer-facing organizations within the City of Toronto. 
 
The General Manager will lead the strategic direction, policy development, planning, organizing, implementing, directing, and evaluating activities and matters related to parks, forestry and recreation programs and services provided for City of Toronto residents and families. Importantly, the General Manager will ensure change management is at the forefront, including fostering a performance management culture, advancing exceptional customer service for community facing functions and cultivating a results-focused culture.  
 
In this exciting career opportunity, the General Manager will make a substantial difference in the lives of Toronto’s population. A pathway to higher leadership, this role will offer great career advancement potential to top levels of City management. Of significance, the General Manager will garner key interest from elected officials including the Mayor’s office and City Councillors given the role's high impact across social, economic, community development, and environmental priorities of the City.
 

Key Responsibilities:

The impact of this vital position is significant, and its scope includes:
  • Leading a total workforce of approximately 4,000 permanent, temporary and part-time staff, making it the largest Division in the City.  
  • Managing a gross expenditure budget of approximately $360 Million and an annual capital budget of over $ 1 billion.  
  • Promoting and enhancing the social and physical development of our population by ensuring vital community recreation programs and leisure activities for children, youth, adults and seniors are in place. 
  • Oversight of 1500 parks of varying sizes across Toronto including 130 recreational facilities, buildings and operating specialized services including ferries, golf courses, the waterfront, and other amenities. 
  • Environmental stewardship and climate action/resilience plans for over 8000 hectares of land including parks, horticulture and ravines and Toronto’s urban forest and canopy of tree cover that exceeds 11 million trees.  
  • Enhancing the customer experience and accessibility to services.  
Applications due:  November 23, 2023 – 5:00pm ET  
Compensation range for Wage Grade 12: Minimum $203,048, Maximum $258,736. There is an extensive benefits package including health, dental, life insurance, and much more.  Additionally, this includes the OMERS pension plan.  
 
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 provide 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 & Statements and Accommodation Process.
 
Should you require an accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the Mandrake executive search team.
 
We thank you for your interest and only qualified candidates under consideration will be contacted. Lived experience as an Indigenous person or a member of an equity-seeking group would be an asset.
 

Qualifications:
  • Progressive leadership in managing a large complex organization including inspiring, recruiting/retaining, and developing a highly motivated and diverse workforce. Knowledge of / experience with managing within a union environment and, ensuring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is paramount. 
  • Expertise in building alliances and establishing and managing a multitude of partnerships and effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external/community stakeholders, ideally elected officials, agencies, suppliers and the community.
  • General management including administration, financial management/budgeting, and planning, (operating and capital budget planning) facilities and land management. 
  • Demonstrated track-record building and providing exceptional customer experience and service delivery solutions.
  • Expertise in strategic and operational planning, change management, business process improvement, fostering a performance management culture and a results-oriented environment.
  • Capability with policy, program development and implementation, business process improvement, planning and organizing in complex environments and multi-site locations. 
  • Well-developed communication and presentation skills including extensive media relations experience and training.
  • Post-secondary education in management and/or in a professional discipline pertinent to the role or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.


Comments:
Toronto is Canada's largest city and the fourth biggest in North America with a diverse population of over 2.9 million people who call Toronto home. Ranked by many measures as one of the top and safest places to live, work and visit, Toronto is a global and national hub for technology, business, film, music culture, arts, healthcare, and innovation. With a large immigrant population, Toronto is also one of the most multicultural cities in the world. A vibrant city, and one of the world's most multicultural, Toronto has a multitude of parks, green spaces and recreational facilities and a range of community programs.


Employer:
Mandrake - City of Toronto
Contact:
Charles M. Lennox

Email:
cmlennox@mandrake.ca