Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide project leadership, advice, and expertise in the research, analysis, development and implementation of policies and programs related to inter-regional transportation infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Policy Analysis and Development:
- Undertakes all aspects of policy and program development and evaluation, from research and analysis of trends and directions, issue identification and management, stakeholder consultations, impact analysis, development of options and recommendations, and preparation of any legislative
documentation.
- Plans, leads and coordinates studies, research and analysis to identify emerging inter-regional transportation infrastructure issues and trends related to the economic, environmental, social, and land use objectives of the, and to research, investigate, and address specific issues.
- Leads and/or coordinates projects related to the development of the ministry's inter-regional transportation infrastructure and develops planning strategies, concepts and approaches inter-regional transportation funding policy and criteria, and develops/prepares infrastructure funding and policy reports, discussion papers and Cabinet submissions.

2. Issues Management:
- Assesses strategic challenges to the sustainability of inter-regional transportation improvement and transportation system and ensures the ministry is positioned to react to these challenges.
- Coordinates, prepares policy reports, discussion papers and Cabinet submissions to respond to and resolve issues and concerns and provide a provincial perspective on issues crossing municipal boundaries.
- Maintains awareness of trends, developments and technology related to transportation and infrastructure issues.

3. Stakeholder Consultation and Liaison:
- Develops and maintains relationships with other governments, the academic community, the private sector and other stakeholders to identify emerging trends in developing of inter-regional transportation infrastructure; to advise on transportation infrastructure policy issues; to discuss and seek consensus on funding and policy options; and to assess the implications and impact of policy options on inter-regional transportation.
- Maintains linkages with other partner ministries/agencies, municipal and federal governments, to ensure integration of proposals with other initiatives and to foster consultations to support inter-regional transportation infrastructure development.

4. Briefings and Information:
- Provides policy advice/expertise to senior management and staff through reports, presentations and briefings on inter-regional transportation policy issues and concerns, assessment of policy, economic and political implications; and recommendation of options to support management decision making.
- Serves as ministry representative on multi-jurisdictional committees, advisory groups and task forces, ensuring accurate reflection and presentation of ministry position.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Economic theory and principles together with knowledge of government and ministry planning and policy development processes and strategic directions to plan, develop and coordinate major inter-regional projects related to transportation.
- Municipal structure, the private transportation sector and multi-modal transportation theory, principles and practices to anticipate emerging interregional transportation issues and trends, determine economic, social and environmental and land use impacts on inter-regional transportation and assess municipal funding requests.
- Project management and planning skills to plan, organize and execute transportation infrastructure projects with multi-disciplinary project teams of staff and consultants, to consult and coordinate projects with other impacted ministries, governments, and agencies, and to ensure viability of all reports and recommendations.
- Research, economic, statistical analysis and computer modeling methods and techniques to gather and conduct complex statistical analysis and develop municipal funding formulas, criteria and business models.
- Oral and written communication skills to provide expert advice to senior management; to prepare complex reports and recommendations; and to explain/discuss ministry and government policies and directions with a wide variety of contacts.
- Software applications and computer modeling to research and prepare own materials.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Consultation skills to identify areas of concern and discuss and resolve problems with municipal officials and partner ministries.
- Presentation skills to prepare and present advice/expertise to senior management and stakeholders; to prepare reports, recommendations, presentations and briefings on inter-regional transportation policy issues and concerns, and to represent the ministry on multi-jurisdictional committees, advisory groups and task forces.
- Partnership and consensus building skills to develop effective linkages with multi-jurisdictional stakeholders in the provincial, federal and municipal governments, the academic community and the private transportation sector

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem-solving skills to:
- Lead and/or coordinate research and analysis of developments in support of the development of inter-regional transportation initiatives and/or policy development.
- Evaluate competing interests and proposals of stakeholders to identify issues and impacts and to develop negotiating strategies and options for solutions.
- Develop technical and policy reports and Cabinet submissions with recommendations to support policy on inter- regional transportation.
- Plan and undertake complex inter-regional transportation infrastructure policy research including conducting complex data analysis and modeling.
- Identify and prioritize complex issues and concerns with municipal officials in order to ensure municipal objectives are not compromised.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Leading and/or undertaking policy research related to inter-regional transportation issues, and technical policy projects focusing on inter-regional transportation infrastructure.
- Developing policy proposals and related to municipal and inter-regional transit in Ontario and ensuring new policies support ministry and government transportation policy agendas and directions.
- Identifying inter-regional transportation issues and trends and assessing their impact on provincial economic, social, environmental and land use objectives.
- Leading/coordinating projects; determining work schedules, human and financial requirements of projects; extent of consultation with external researchers/academics and supervising work of multi-disciplinary staff.
Has latitude to plan research projects, and to recommend policy options and solutions to emerging issues.
Decisions are guided by: provincial and ministry strategic directions, business policies, processes and procedures and legislative authorities.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Ministry management to brief /present inter-regional transportation infrastructure policy; recommend innovative solutions to issues; and discuss/evaluate new technologies and developments in the sector.
- Cross-ministry colleagues and staff to exchange advice and information on inter-regional transportation infrastructure issues.
- Counterparts in partner ministries to discuss/coordinate joint policy initiatives and provide advice/explanation of ministry inter-regional transportation policies.
- Policy counterparts in other jurisdictions (e.g. federal government, municipal representatives, academic community, private transportation sector) to discuss inter-regional transportation infrastructure issues and concerns; investigate/evaluate new research methods and techniques; and provide advice/information on inter-regional transportation policy and directions.

Guidance / Supervision :

- When leading projects, provides technical guidance to assigned team members and consultants involved in the inter-regional transportation infrastructure and funding review projects.
- Provides advice to other ministry and government staff on inter-regional transportation policies and the impact of new policy initiatives.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequently required to provide research and briefing materials for senior management and respond to requests on short notice.
- Frequently required to deal with competing/conflicting work priorities for the submission of Cabinet submissions and issues analysis.

Mental / Sensory :

Frequently required to read, understand and critique complex technical reports and analysis.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.