Our team is highly skilled, passionate about our community, and we care. Let’s grow together.

Who We Are

In Whitby, we are dedicated to our work, our community, and each other. We work hard, we have fun, and we celebrate our successes.

The Town of Whitby is a community in transformation that is located in the heart of Durham Region in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Whitby is the second-largest municipality in the region and one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Located on Lake Ontario and only an hour east of Toronto, the population of Whitby is expected to grow from 140,000 to more than 200,000 by 2031. Whitby’s Official Plan has been updated to establish new directions for Whitby’s planned growth and development; the protection of our natural and built environments; urban design intensification; sustainability; community improvement; and, new employment within this time frame.

The Town of Whitby combines a small town atmosphere with the sophistication and amenities of a larger urban centre. Whitby boasts two beautiful heritage downtowns, one of the finest recreational harbours with an award-winning marina, year round sports and recreation activities, parks, trails, and a robust arts and culture scene, all of which are part of the extraordinary amenities that Whitby residents enjoy every day.

Whitby has an exciting and aspiring future, with a community that is welcoming, growing and transforming. On our team, you can expect to make a difference through your work and have a direct impact on shaping our growing community. Creating an inclusive environment where employees experience job satisfaction and have rewarding careers is important to us. We live our values and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, respect and engagement where people enjoy coming to work.

The Town of Whitby is a hybrid organization. This means staff are empowered to do their best work from various locations, as appropriate for the position.

We want to be the preferred employer for the most talented people who care about the Town of Whitby, and are excited and proud to serve our vibrant community.

Let’s grow together.

What You Will Get To Do

The successful candidate will have a positive impact on our corporate culture by demonstrating the Town’s core values (Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Engaged) through daily interactions with individuals at all levels of the organization, external contacts and elected officials.

By effectively building positive rapport and relationships both internally and externally, the successful candidate will help us achieve our mission that together we deliver services that make a difference in our community.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Creative Communities, the Manager, Events and Tourism is responsible for leading the development and implementation of strategic initiatives that support economic growth, enhance community life, and position Whitby as a destination of choice. This includes oversight of the Town’s Special Events Strategy and Tourism Strategy—both key components of Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan. This role drives cultural vibrancy, municipal revenue, and meaningful partnerships within the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of over 90 events annually, including Town-led, community, and corporate events.
• Develop and direct marketing and promotional strategies to increase awareness of Town of Whitby events and tourism initiatives, including audience targeting, social media campaigns, and brand alignment based on event concept and vision.
• Provide guidance and permit approvals for third-party and community-led events supported by the Town.
• Lead the creation and implementation of a new Signature Event in collaboration with key stakeholders (e.g., BIA, Station Gallery) to drive tourism and stimulate local economic activity.
• Oversee high-profile events such as the Mayor’s Gala and Mayor and Council Golf Tournament, supporting the Mayor’s Community Development Fund.
• Chair the Special Event Review Team and ensure policies, guidelines, and permits are aligned with legislation and industry best practices.
• Implement and manage Whitby’s Tourism Strategy, including destination branding and visitor experience enhancements.
• Administer the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) program in partnership with local hotels, ORHMA, and internal departments.
• Support and serve on the Board of Directors for the Whitby Tourism Development Corporation (WTDC), managing MAT-funded initiatives.
• Collect and analyze tourism-related data to guide strategy development, grant applications, investment attraction, and product innovation.
• Lead and mentor a team of full-time and seasonal staff within the events and tourism portfolio.
• Manage strategic projects and studies of varying complexity.
• Develop and monitor annual work plans, budgets, and performance reports aligned with strategic goals.
• Act as a subject matter expert on all matters related to events and tourism.
• Oversee risk management, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement initiatives across all programs.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with external organizations, resolving conflicts and fostering collaboration.
• Stay informed of trends and best practices in special events and tourism, continuously evolving Whitby’s offerings to reflect innovation and excellence.

Who You Are

You are a bold, visionary leader who is passionate about building vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities. With a proven track record in event management and tourism development, you are creative, energized by growth and driven by results.

You thrive in fast-paced environments and excel at navigating complex challenges with innovative thinking and strategic foresight. As a natural relationship builder, you connect easily with a wide range of stakeholders, from community leaders and elected officials to local businesses and cultural organizations.

You are a strong advocate for empowerment and collaboration. You create space for your team to thrive by providing clarity, resources, and trust. Whether working onsite, remotely, or in hybrid environments, you focus on outcomes and empower your team to deliver results.

You understand that leadership is not just a title—it’s a responsibility. You model inclusivity, trust, and accountability in everything you do, creating a team culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to bring their best.

To you, being at work is a mindset and not a location. You know leading a team working across different locations means focusing on measurable results and outcomes, not monitoring day-to-day inputs. You equip your team with the right resources, clarity, and confidence to be empowered and autonomous, and you provide them the assurance you are there with support and guidance when they need it. To you, leadership is not a title, but an action and an example. You believe the cornerstone of successful working relationships is trust and inclusivity, and you consistently model this for your team. You are focused on creating a team culture where people feel safe to bring their whole self to work, whether it is onsite, remote, or a mix of both.

What You Bring To Our Team

As the successful applicant, you must possess:

• A university degree in Recreation, Event Planning, Tourism, or a related field.
• 5 to 7 years of progressively responsible experience in special events, tourism, or cultural planning, preferably in the public sector.
• A minimum of 2 - 4 years of experience in people leadership.
• Certification as a Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE) or Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) (required).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership and ability to think innovatively and long-term.
• Proven expertise in event logistics, tourism marketing, volunteer coordination, and destination development.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels.
• Strong understanding of political sensitivities, confidentiality, and the ability to assess issues from diverse perspectives.
• Experience advising senior leadership and elected officials on strategic event and tourism initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with tools such as Better Impact (volunteer management) and social media platforms.
• A valid Class G Driver’s License.

Salary Range/Hourly rate:

$130,755.00 - $148,586.00

Hybrid information:

Remote Hybrid

Hours:

May require flexible hours of work, including days, evenings and weekends. (35 hours per week, plus additional hours as required.)

Closing Date:

September 5, 2025

Our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism
At the Town of Whitby, we view holistic inclusion as the pathway to achieving healthy relationships, inclusive excellence and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We acknowledge our history—the good and the bad, promote social justice and address discrimination and inequities. We strive to create a workplace that encourages you to always bring your authentic self to work.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Town of Whitby is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Accommodation
The Town of Whitby 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.

We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Personal information provided is collected under the authority of The Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.