Director, Urban Design

Role Overview

• Champions and delivers design excellence across all aspects of the City’s work.
• Works across city divisions and with external partners to elevate design outcomes.
• Leads research and innovation that positions Toronto as a leader in urban design and heritage.
• Leads staff in the development of innovative, strategic urban design policies, guidelines and practices.
• Directs, manages and assists in the development / design review process and ensures that development projects achieve high quality urban design.
• Oversees the City’s Design Review Panel and celebrates best‑in‑class outcomes through programs such as the Toronto Urban Design Awards, promoting a culture of design leadership and learning.
• Leads the teams responsible for heritage listing and designation, Heritage Conservation Districts, archaeology, and sensitively integrating the City’s heritage with new development through the development review process.
• Directs the graphic and visualization unit in the preparation of presentation material, including legislative mapping (Official Plan and Zoning By-law) and thematic mapping, 3D computer modeling, and digital rendering for both the City Planning and Development Review Divisions.
• Develops, designs and implements functional policies and programs that assist with the delivery of major changes in overall business performance and service delivery.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of divisional performance through the development and implementation of sound management practices and procedures.
• Provides staff with direction, guidance, processes and tools to increase efficiencies and improve effectiveness of the services provided by this section.
• Directs, through urban design management staff, all activities of the section.
• Leads and motivates a diverse workforce, ensures effective teamwork, provides resolution to controversial labour relations issues, ensures high standards of work quality and organizational performance, supports continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
• Develops, recommends and administers the annual budget for the section, and ensures that the section's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
• Represents the City Planning Division at Council, Community Councils, other standing committees, Agencies, Boards and Commissions and administrative tribunals such as the Ontario Land Tribunal.
• Participates as a member of the management team in advancing the mission of the City Planning Division.
• Advances the Division's strategic direction and vision for urban design to enhance the quality of the public environment, streetscapes, and leads staff through a process of developing long range objectives for the City as a whole.
• Participates in complex organizational and management change initiatives and the creation of a workplace that supports and is conducive to a high level of organizational performance.
• Establishes partnerships with various external and internal stakeholders.
• Facilitates community and inter-departmental participation in complex City-wide policies related to planning and urban design issues.
• Inspires professional staff to think laterally by exploring creative ideas and solutions to urban design challenges.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, city planning, or in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function combined with relevant management training and experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive experience managing complex architectural and urban design projects and programs in a planning environment, including preparing and managing budgets, business case development, managing risk, stakeholder engagement and reporting on key performance indicators and outcomes.
• Extensive experience working in a diverse range of professional capacities, ideally including experience in both the public and private sectors.
• Knowledge of global best practices and innovative approaches with respect to architecture, urban design, and heritage.
• Extensive leadership experience including, inspiring high performing teams, fostering a collaborative environment and coaching, developing, and engaging staff, and advancing diversity and inclusion.
• Considerable experience leading teams responsible for heritage listing and designation, Heritage Conservation Districts and archaeology in the public and or private sector.
• Experience applying the provisions of the Planning Act, Development Review Processes, Provincial Policies and Legislation related to land use planning and heritage conservation.
• Ability to lead change and shift strategic focus, balance diverse stakeholders and public needs and build strong relations with community groups and leaders, elected officials, and other senior managers.
• An effective decision maker, with a track record demonstrating innovation, problem solving, conflict resolution, and a commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and improvement.
• Highly developed interpersonal, public, labour and human relation skills to forge effective working relationships.
• Ability to thrive in an environment with frequent and competing deadlines, multiple tasks and high-performance expectations in a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to interpret, clarify and negotiate complex service agreements, contracts, policies and procedures.
• Highly developed sense of discretion, judgement, and political acumen to deal with sensitive matters with the ability to represent the Chief Planner & Executive Director at Council and other Standing Committees.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders including members of Council, all levels of City staff, representative from other orders of government, non-profit and private sector developers, community groups and the media.
• Knowledge of municipal governance structures, services and programs, and the municipal relationship to other levels of government, other funders, and the community.
• Familiarity with relevant employment legislation including Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Act, the Occupational Health & Safety Act.