Manager, Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives (Engineering and Environmental Services)

The Role

Oversees and provides direction for special studies and projects within the Department. This includes but is not limited to: assisting the Commissioner and Directors in coordinating and overseeing cross-departmental project teams; identifying strategic gaps and assessing business improvement opportunities; and developing and maintaining project schedules and coordinating the work of staff and external consultants. Leads and supports departmental and corporate initiatives including, but not limited to: digital transformation; strategic planning; and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Manages and undertakes specialized studies and retains external consultants to perform research and provide recommendations on policy, program, and organizational issues. Creates reports, implementation strategies, and initiatives, and presents study results for buy-in and approvals while maintaining confidentiality. 

Administers the Department’s Project Management Office, ensuring consistent methodology across projects, studies, and initiatives, and trusting relationships across the Department.
   

Duties/Responsibilities

• Works with the Commissioner and Directors to develop, prepare, and monitor compliance with consistent, integrated business plans, budgets, and programs aligned with the Department’s service delivery plan within the Divisions.
• Identifies and prioritizes strategic, organizational, business service delivery, customer service, and policy deficiencies, and develops multi-year plans to address prioritized deficiencies, annually. Identifies issues, challenges, opportunities, and proposes solutions. 
• Develops cross-departmental project plans for addressing yearly priorities, including oversight of cross-departmental and corporate teams in implementing and completing program work.
• Organizes project teams into workgroups and provides guidance to produce deliverables. Negotiates with other Departments and business units to obtain required skill sets. Identifies and resolves conflicts within project teams and the work, and creates contingency plans to mitigate risk.
• Assesses staffing needs, participates in the recruitment process, and makes recommendations on staff selection.
• Assesses corporate climate, socio-economic factors, trends, and other criteria to determine probability of project success and manage cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary resource allocation.
• Develops project budget and business plan proposals, and monitors in-year expenditures to ensure budget compliance.
• Performs needs analyses and obtains approvals for external service providers required to complete projects. Monitors work and billing of third-party workers, consultants, contractors, and other specialists.
• Manages the lifecycle of the cross-departmental project portfolio, ranging from strategic planning initiatives to tactical activities.
• Establishes and administers the Project Management Office for projects, studies, and initiatives, which includes defining project goals, objectives, risks, assumptions, staffing levels, roles and responsibilities, work breakdown structure, milestones, and deliverables. Ensures compliance with established project management methodologies. Manages project dependencies.  
• Conducts cost-benefit and risk analyses, and return on investment calculations to determine project feasibility. Monitors project costs to ensure completion within budget. Seeks and procures additional funding where necessary.
• Manages activities throughout the project lifecycle, including allocation of resources, scheduling, documentation, and budget to ensure success. Establishes and delivers formal communication plans and progress reports to stakeholders.
• Documents project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and micro deliverables using software tools and/or project management methodology. Conducts stakeholder reviews and forums to solicit feedback, input, and expectations, and incorporates into project plans.  
• Assists the Commissioner and Directors to establish and implement formal change management programs.
• Ensures compliance with legislation (e.g., health and safety).
• Performs related duties as required.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a degree in a related field (for example, but not limited to: business administration, public administration), plus Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, plus progressively responsible related experience.  
• Knowledge and skill in project management, financial management, technology management, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in project delivery and execution of project management methods, including negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution.
  Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, and applicable legislation (e.g., health and safety).
• Analytical, organization, and problem solving skills.
• Leadership, communication, and human relations skills to build consensus and effectively convey and present technical and non-technical information to varied audiences; represent the Department on committees and project teams; organize own and others’ work effectively, create schedules and meet deadlines; and influence change and establish business partnerships.
• Ability to work independently and as an effective team member.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, and project management software.
• Ability to write precise, easy to understand correspondence; system specifications; business cases; project proposals; reports; time and cost estimates; and training plans. 
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.