Metrolinx

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

We are seeking an experienced industry leader to join as the Director, Stakeholder Relations. As the incumbent, you will build a best-in-class strategic stakeholder engagement team as Metrolinx undertakes the largest transit expansion in North America. You thrive in ambiguity and relish the chance to fill in the blanks. You have a keen understanding of how to create, grow and maintain strategic relationships with broader industry and thought leaders, such as business groups, trade unions and industry associations. You are a natural communicator and storyteller who will represent Metrolinx to a range of audiences, big and small. You seek opportunities for partner endorsements to amplify the principal Metrolinx objective of connecting communities across the Region. You have proven political acuity skills to appreciate and navigate the relationship between the Government of Ontario and its Crown Agencies. You have an eye for detail and customer service, as you lead the team responsible for correspondence, tours and events, and our program for executive visibility.

Reporting to the Vice President, Stakeholder Relations within the Community, Communications and Stakeholder Relations Division, this is a people leader role and will have the support of a diverse team, including professionals skilled in stakeholder management, correspondence and events. We’re looking for leaders who inspire trust, shape culture, and move ideas forward. As a leader in our Division, you will foster an inclusive, respectful, and people-first culture; provide clear direction and coaching that empowers your team to succeed; model accountability and integrity in your decision-making; collaborate across teams to drive impact; and lead through change with resilience and a forward-thinking mindset.

What will I be doing?

• Strengthen strategic relationships between Metrolinx and key regional and transportation sector stakeholders.
• Oversee the implementation of comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies to foster positive relationships.
• Identify and prioritize key corporate stakeholders, ensuring tailored engagement plans for each group.
• Lead efforts to enhance Metrolinx's public profile and advocate for its initiatives and projects. Develop and implement advocacy campaigns to build support for transit initiatives among key stakeholders.
• Lead the design of the stakeholder experience strategy which includes comprehensive policies that align with Metrolinx’s overall communications and community engagement goals and provides a consistent organization-wide stakeholder experience.
• Manage mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement, including collecting and analyzing data on stakeholder feedback, engagement levels and outcomes.
• Develop an organization wide corporate stakeholder strategy that aligns with the corporate mission and values as approved by the Metrolinx Board of Directors.
• Develop, manages and advises on relationships with various levels of stakeholders, overseeing and coordinating mutually beneficial relationships built on a firm understanding of one another's policies and strategic priorities.
• Propose and seek opportunities for senior executive visibility to highlight Metrolinx initiatives and strengthen relationships with industry and regional stakeholders
• Identify and seek opportunities to improve relationships with stakeholders, working closely with internal teams to effect change.
• Oversee the strategic alignment of external and internal communications programs and products associated with stakeholder requirements.
• Manage correspondence and events for the Senior Management Team and Chief Executive Officer events in collaboration with executive offices and communications teams.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in Communication, Community/Public Relations, or a related discipline or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.
• Demonstrated progressive experience managing stakeholder relations, including leading teams and supervising an operating or functional unit with multiple departments; preferably with government relations experience.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement principles, practices, and methodologies, with a track record of successful engagement with diverse communities, including vulnerable and underrepresented groups.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies and plans for complex projects or initiatives.
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, and local organizations.
• Politically astute with well-developed networking, stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Management and leadership to provide senior leadership oversight and coach and mentor staff in a matrix organization.
• Problem solving and oral/written/presentation skills to supervise production of creative and written material for print, online, and desktop publications, and to assimilate diverse or complex information for communication to stakeholder audiences of varied knowledge and understanding.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation abilities. Ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Project management principles and practices, including budget and schedule controls, to lead and direct cross functional teams and consultants engaged in simultaneous projects (i.e. development, project progress, related staff, and project resources) and monitor project activities for adherence to timelines, budgets, and project performance objectives.
• Knowledge of senior management and corporate administration requirements (e.g. business planning, financial management, risk management, asset management, capital planning, business continuity planning, and human resource management).
• Working knowledge of corporate communications (e.g. media, public relations), and the principles, practices, and use of multimedia. (e.g. audio/visual, print, and web), media relations, issues management, business communications, and planning, corporate branding, journalism, and new social media applications.
• Familiarity with relevant legislation (e.g. Metrolinx Act, Places to Grow Act, Planning Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario (RSO), Municipal Act) is an asset.
• Fluency in French that meets Ontario Public Service (OPS) standards would be considered an asset.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:

We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting us at: 416-202-5601 or email hr.recruitment@metrolinx.com.

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

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