Director, Strategic Initiatives

The Director of Strategic Initiatives provides vision, leadership and direction in the development and implementation of a diverse portfolio including the Durham Region Strategic Plan, environmental sustainability, various policy files, innovation, Indigenous relations and other special projects.

The incumbent will:

• Provide vision, leadership and direction in the development, management and implementation of a diverse portfolio of corporate and community strategic initiatives that drive continuous improvement

• Lead projects and initiatives requiring interdepartmental participation and cooperation, actively initiating and supporting the development of collaborative working relationships

• Direct the development, implementation and evaluation of the Durham Region Strategic Plan and, facilitating alignment across the organization

• Ensure that tools and resources are in place to monitor organizational performance, working with Commissioners and the CAO to identify and address issues and trends as needed.

• Oversee development and implementation of a range of strategies and policies designed to ensure the Region continues to be a welcoming and vibrant community, with strong community partnerships

• Foster innovation and champion change management, creating an environment that embraces improvements to existing services and service delivery methods, and the supports the efficient integration of new and enhanced processes and practices into the organization

• Provide overall leadership to community partnerships related to the portfolio, including enhancing the Region﾿s relationship with Indigenous communities

• Strategically oversees the human resources of the Strategic Initiatives division, ensuring a strong complement and supporting the technical and professional skills of staff

• Use financial experience and strong business acumen to develop, implement, control and maintain operational budgets to ensure the effective management of divisional programs

The successful applicant will possess:

• Degree in the social sciences, political science, public policy, public administration or equivalent

• Progressive management experience in a policy development and analysis, strategic planning, research and implementation role

• Experience in strategic planning, budget planning, program execution and monitoring

• Strong leadership skills that exemplify and foster organizational excellence in the delivery of programs and services

• Politically astute with demonstrated ability to grasp organizational and regional issues

• Ability to use tact and discretion to deal courteously and effectively with the public and colleagues

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills; well-established verbal and written communication abilities

• Efficient and proven management style with the ability to prioritize and plan complex strategies with a wide range of interested parties in a flexible manner

• Ability to skillfully navigate political structures and systems and the ability to plan, develop and implement complex projects

Management & Exempt Salary Grade 10

• Salary: $154,264 to $192,830 per annum