Director, Third Party

Position Summary

Reporting to the Head of Property, Planning & Development; the Director of Third Party is responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and administration of the requirements of property, approvals and permits for capital projects within the Major Projects group. As a Subject Matter Expert, the Director will plan, direct, and effectively work with the Major Projects group to determine the property, planning, approvals, and utility services to ensure Major Projects are completed on-time and on-budget to the highest quality.

Working collaboratively with their team and other departments, the incumbent will provide guidance in property acquisition (size, location), related activities (lease, purchase, expropriation), and the approvals required to successfully execute Major Projects (change of land use, site plan approval, minor variance, permits, third party agreements), all within established timelines and budget. The Director will also have an indirect reporting relationship to the Chief of Major Projects within the Engineering, Construction, and Expansion group.

Scope & Responsibilities

The duties of this role will include but are not limited to the below:

• Develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and procedures to ensure the Department’s objectives are achieved.
• Deliver strategies to maximize property acquisition, leasing and maintenance opportunities to support Major Projects.
• Assist with the preparation and monitoring of the annual capital budget for Major Projects.
• Ensure timely reporting of performance results and/or sensitive issues to Head of Property, Planning & Development.
• Provide review of Major Projects design submissions and assist project teams with the early identification of potential municipal and/or provincial regulatory permits and approvals for the construction of Major Projects.
• Coordinate with the other sections of Property, Planning and Development, City of Toronto, City agencies and other municipalities (when required), for the acquisition of property, obtaining permits, and any other third party approval to meet TTC requirements.
• Liaise with TTC staff/management, engineers, architects, lawyers, consultants, developers, City of Toronto or York Region, and other agencies and parties regarding the delivery of the Major Projects program.
• Establish strong working relationships with all necessary municipal and/or provincial divisions and departments for the expeditious review and approval of all permits, approvals and agreements as required.
• Lead negotiations and the successful execution of agreements with third party developments in coordination with CreateTO as part of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) proposals in support of Major Projects.
• Assist project teams and their designers/contractors in obtaining the required municipal and/or provincial regulatory permits, approvals and agreements (e.g. Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments, site plan variances, TRCA permits, tree removal permits, building/demolition permits, ROW permits, environmental compliance approvals, and MTO permits).

Scope & Responsibilities (continued)

• Lead and provide strategic direction to project teams in negotiating complex, critical or difficult third party and municipal/provincial agreements.
• Participate in the development of contractual strategies to facilitate utility relocations and/or the integration of utility work into the Major Project construction contracts.
• Participate in the development of necessary agreements and/or cost-sharing arrangements with Utility Asset Owners for the agreed upon utility relocation/implementation work as required.
• Participate in negotiations with utility asset owners for relocation/installation of utilities affected/required by Major Project construction.
• Advise Major Projects staff on issues requiring resolution within the construction contracts, to ensure full coordination and compliance with standards of Utility Asset Owners.
• Provide support to construction staff including review of submittals, Request for Information (RFI), and contract changes with regards to related matters.
• Ensure all agreements and commitments recommended to the TTC represent the best interests of the organization regarding operational, financial, legal, engineering, construction and property requirements.
• Prepare executive presentations and Board Reports and attend TTC Executive and Board Meetings as required.
• Plan, direct, coordinate and monitor activities of staff to ensure quality and quantity standards are maintained.
• Evaluate ongoing staff performance to determine recommendations for promotions, salary increases, personal development, disciplinary and related matters.
• Promote a respectful work and service environment that supports diversity, inclusion, and is free from harassment and discrimination.
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of inclusive and accessible policies, programs and/or services for employees and customers in accordance with TTC's commitments and obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and Related Orders, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and TTC policies.

Key Skills & Expertise

• Strong knowledge of municipal and provincial approvals, agreements, regulations, guidelines and practices.
• Excellent understanding of the City’s Official Plan, zoning by-laws, internal processes and knowledge of proposed or upcoming changes to applicable legislation.
• Ability to read, interpret, and report on engineering and architectural plans, drawings, technical memos, reports and specifications.
• Proven knowledge of financial, legal, planning principles and strategies related to approvals and agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-discipline teams and build high-quality relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Sound judgement and effective analytical, problem solving, conflict resolution, negotiation and decision-making skills.
• A valid Province of Ontario Class ‘G’ driver’s license for site visits.
• Must have or rapidly acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the Ontario Human Rights Code and Related Orders including disability accommodation and accessibility requirements pertaining to passengers and employees.
• Must have or rapidly acquire a thorough knowledge of the Major Projects group and the TTC’s organizational structure, operations, policies and procedures applicable to the work performed.

Education & Accreditation

• A University Degree, or College Diploma in a related discipline (e.g. Civil Engineering or Urban Planning), combined with extensive related experience in large infrastructure projects in a managerial capacity, OR a combination of education, training, and experience deemed to be equivalent.
• Registered Professional Planner (RPP) or Professional Engineer (PEng) designation is preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP certification) or equivalent certification is an asset.

Core Competencies

• Business Acumen & Strategic Mindset
• Negotiation & Influencing Skills
• Problem-Solving & Solutions-Oriented
• Interpersonal Effectiveness & Team Leadership
• Adaptability & Change Management
• Reporting & Data Analysis