Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide highly advanced policy and financial analysis support for the Ministry of Infrastructure and for Treasure Board/Management Board of Cabinet, and to provide advice to senior management of the Ministry and to Cabinet Committees on the design, management and analysis of data supporting the Provincial Government's capital planning and allocation process, and to recommend legislative changes. To provide a substantial focus on creating and analyzing data on the need for and benefits of public Investment In Ontario's Infrastructure stock, as well as on the performance of infrastructure assets owned and operated by broader public sector (BPS) and private sector partners.

Duties / Responsibilities :

The Position works under the direction of the Manager and advises the Minister, the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister and senior executives of the Ministry, the Chair of Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet, the Secretary of Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet, Cabinet Office, Cabinet Committees, and line ministries.

This Position provides advice and recommendations to Cabinet on matters within the powers or duties of Treasury Board under Sections 8 and 801 the Treasury Board Act, 1991, under Section 6(1) (a) - “to assess the adequacy of plans for implementation of plans approved or provided for by the Legislature”, which involves in this case the province's capital plan, capital budget and financial allocations to ministries, and under Sections 6(1) Cc), (0), and (1) relating to directing and establishing policies for the preparation, form, and content of estimates and supplementary estimates submitted to the Legislature for any ministry reviewing and evaluating new or existing programs of any ministry and determining priorities with respect thereto; controlling expenditures of public money within the amounts appropriated or otherwise provided by tie Legislature. The Position is responsible to:

1. Provide policy and financial analysis support for Cabinet Committees or Senior Management, and:
• implement an integrated and more efficient capital decision-making system, allowing Cabinet Committees or Senior
Management to make better informed, more timely decisions between competing capital program areas and investment priorities
• support the Manager or Team Leader by developing/negotiating agenda items for Cabinet Committees or Senior Management in advance with Cabinet Office, central agencies and affected line ministries, and by developing briefing notes and proposed decision minutes for Cabinet Committees or Senior Management.

2. Provide policy and financial advice and make recommendations to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, the Chair of Treasury Board / Management Board and Cabinet Committees on the adequacy of implementation of capital plans and budgets approved or provided for by the Legislature, and advise on expenditures of public funding within the amounts appropriated by the Legislature.

3. Administer the capital planning and allocation process, and:
• track and report Ministry capital expenditures
• utilize performance data and analysis to make recommendations to Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure senior management on closing the gap between infrastructure demand and limited capital resources, and on focusing investments on infrastructure assets that produce the most positive demonstrated impacts on Ontario's economic competitiveness and quality of life
• review and coach line ministries on sharpening their capital planning and needs forecasting, business case development, long-term asset management and post-implementation performance measurement skills

4. Implement supporting data and information system requirements
• consult regularly with experts and stakeholders within and outside the OPS to advance the application of innovative approaches in public infrastructure asset management
• participate in inter-ministry teams to strengthen the implementation of asset management tools and best practices, including the implementation of Public Sector Accounting and Auditing Board standards, and applicable recommendations from the Ontario Finance Review Commission.

5. Other
Lead/coordinate inter-ministry and divisional project assignments and contribute to inter-ministry stall teams engaged in capital data acquisition and analysis, best practices implementation, ongoing criteria development for evaluating future capital plans and proposals, crosscutting database and information technology Issues, and research on leading-edge innovative approaches in capital reporting and accountability
• advise the Manager or Team Leader on the development, implementation and progress of Ministry's strategic plan
• work with the Director to develop and implement Branch work plans
• accountable to the Manager or Team Leader for achieving project time lines and deliverables
• advise the Manager or Team Leader on project staffing, skills and resource requirements
• may be involved in hiring and directing student staff
• may be involved In external consultant Request for Proposal, selection and project evaluation process
• the Manager has the authority to assign additional duties.

Knowledge :

Expert knowledge of economics, business administration or a related discipline. Advanced knowledge of accounting, statistics, planning or related discipline will also be considered. Expert knowledge of and experience in government capital planning, allocation and policy development processes, and public sector accounting. Expert knowledge and experience in the use of information technology and information management, preferably in a policy and/or investment decision-making environment.

Demonstrated organizational and motivational abilities to lead projects/portfolio assignments, making optimal use of other professional resources and inputs within and outside the government. Experience in project management and participating in inter-ministry teams. Exceptional analytical and writing skills and superior oral presentation, negotiation and consultation skills. Effective computer-based quantitative and graphics skills in order to undertake modelling, carry out spreadsheet analysis, prepare reports and correspondence, research and prepare confidential proposals, and communicate electronically.

Judgement :

Judgement is exercised in selecting and developing the professional expertise, technology and methodology required to provide highly advanced advice on the acquisition, management, analysis and application of data on capital investment and capital performance, and in the provision of policy advice arising from the analysis.

Judgement is required In determining the validity and accuracy of data and information applied in modelling exercises to support policy alternatives. Judgement is required to set priorities, assign resources and achieve supportable results on time from the staff team and from project contributors. Judgement is required in articulating Ministry and government/corporate interests, when liaising with central agencies, line ministries, the broader public sector, and external infrastructure partners/stakeholders for the purpose of strengthening collective abilities to measure capital stock, condition and performance. .Judgement is required in presenting policy advice to the Minister of Infrastructure, Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet, and other decision-makers.

Accountability - Programs :

Position is directly accountable for the accuracy and quality of data and analysis concerning Provincial and partner infrastructure policy. Areas of coverage include capital plans and programs delivered by line ministries, BPS transfer partners, and cost share partners such as the federal government, municipalities and private sector proponents. Accountable for responding to directions from Cabinet. Accountable for participation in the infrastructure planning process.

Accountability – Personnel :

Responsible for leading and motivating other project management and team members, and optimizing members' contributions to achieve expected results.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Recognized throughout the government as an expert in data and analysis related to the capital planning and allocation process. High quality data can lead to optimal selection and priority-setting of Provincial infrastructure investment priorities, with optimal demonstrable returns and reduced financial risk for Ontario taxpayers. Errors in interpretation, judgement, data quality, analysis and recommendations could lead to misinformed capital policy and investment decisions, inefficient and non-strategic allocation of limited capital resources, unnecessary layoffs of staff, loss of credibility, breach of Information security, and embarrassment to Ministry executives, the Minister and members of the Cabinet Committee, including Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet.

Contact - Internal :

Regular contact with senior executive, senior management and professional staff across the Ministry, the central agencies and line ministries to obtain/exchange capital data, information and expert policy management advice.

Contact with Cabinet Committees, including presentations to the Chair of Treasury Board / Management Board and to Treasury Board / Management Board of Cabinet, to provide recommendations on the design, management and analysis of data supporting the Provincial Government's capital planning and allocation process, and recommend budgetary, regulatory, legislative and operational changes, which may impact on OPS staffing.

Contact - External :

Contact wIth BPS partners such as municipalities, hospItals, post-secondary institutions and school boards, with federal government officials, and with private sector Infrastructure providers on capital data Issues and related information management systems.