Job Specification

Purpose :

To support and assist in planning and implementing key and overarching projects and initiatives that will support the mission and vision of the Office of Francophone Affairs and the mandate of the Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Project Planning and Development
- Support OFA's key initiatives and multifaceted projects by managing and coordinating programs, communication, policy and project coordination plans, strategies and activities; and collaborating with other ministries, levels of government and stakeholders to invite and guide participation.
- Promotes and coordinates project strategy and sub projects by working with stakeholders, chairing steering committees and other forums; coordinating priorities, issues, and required staff/financial resources; administering budget allocations; negotiating federal/provincial cost sharing and transfer
payment agreements; developing project plans; and devising and implementing performance assessment criteria to evaluate project outcomes.

2. Project Management
-Leads assigned project staff through all phases of projects including development and implementation by establishing objectives, business planning processes and timelines; and coordinating project plans, strategies and activities.
- Provides leadership, guidance and advice to the Director of Strategic Communications and Special Projects, the ADM and management to ensure coordination of sub projects, and to ensure that issues are identified, addressed, and resolved effectively.
- Develops Cabinet Submissions, briefing notes, action plans and responses to inquiries to the Deputy Minister's and Minister's Offices.

3. Program Development and Analysis and Agreements Negotiation
- Provides leadership and expertise in the development of accountability agreements with stakeholder and providers in respect of OFA's programs and initiatives: develops and obtains approval for the agreement mandate; facilitates the engagement of the parties; and conducts contractual
negotiations with providers and stakeholders.
- Ensures that program options and contractual agreements consider key factors such as funding, governance, impacts, and service targets, ministry and stakeholder interests.
- Identifies issues impacting the ministry position, designs the contract, and manages/resolves related legal and contractual issues. Plans, analyzes, and develops related funding requirements for RbP and in year funding purposes.
- Develops or contributes to the design and development of operational policies, guidelines and procedures through research and analysis of existing services/programs and models, issue identification, stakeholder consultations, system and financial modelling; impact and risk analysis, assessment and development of innovative recommendations.
- Serves as the program specialist for an area of programs /models and provides advice, expertise and develops innovative solutions to address program design and unknown and complex contract management issues.
- Prepares legislative documentation, undertakes program and privacy risk assessments, and drafts guidelines, interprovincial agreements, cabinet submissions and MB20's where appropriate.

4. Advice and Expertise
- Presents, advises and makes recommendations to the Director of Strategic Communications and Special Projects, the ADM and management team (in English and French) on program, policy and communication issues and strategy development.
- Participate on Local, Regional and Province-wide Organizing Committees; chairs inter-ministerial working groups of other ministries and agencies.

5. Stakeholder Relations and Outreach
- Cultivates stakeholder relations with the federal government, Quebec Government, French Government and other governments from member countries of l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, community organizations and stakeholders on events including financial participation.
- Manages and coordinates outreach plans and initiatives to organizations across Ontario to engage organizations and community groups

6. Communications
- Coordinates and develops communications plans, initiatives, strategies and promotional materials to raise the public profile of multifaceted of initiatives and projects in collaboration with the Policy branch, Cabinet Office Communications, including the involvement of the Minister and Premier at events;
and collaborates with Tourism Ontario, Regional Tourism Organizations and stakeholders to promote initiatives and projects outside of Ontario.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
-Policies, Programs development principles, guidelines and procedures of the Office of Francophone Affairs, and relevant legislation to manage and coordinate program/policy/project strategy delivery.
-Ministry strategic directions, priorities, goals, programs, issues, relevant legislation, and government decision-making/approvals processes and protocol, to provide strategic communications/issues/policies advice to the ADM and senior management team on project initiatives and strategies.
-OPS policy and program development and planning processes, including Cabinet submission procedures, to ensure project adherence to established criteria; and inter-jurisdictional agreements and guidelines associated with developing and implementing partnerships with other ministries, agencies, municipalities, the federal government and stakeholders.
-OPS and ministry communication plans, strategies, policies and protocols to coordinate outreach, generate interest and enlist participation and involvement by stakeholders.
-Strategic planning, business planning and project management, to plan, coordinate and execute communications action plans, programs and projects which require a corporate perspective.
-Staff leadership skills to lead project team members to achieve organizational goals, objectives and results.
-Organizational skills to plan and execute project initiatives and sub-projects in consultation with other participating ministries, agencies and stakeholders.
-Written and oral communication techniques in French and English to prepare and present proposals, reports, briefing notes, project plans, status reports and planning documents.
-Computer software to produce communications materials.
-Superior level oral and written French and English to provide bilingual consultation and to prepare notes, presentations, reports, recommendations and external communications in French and English.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Interpersonal and persuasion skills to initiate and cultivate stakeholder relationships; to invite partnerships; to provide guidance and consultation to project and program staff;
- Consultation, advisory and facilitation skills to work with other ministries, other levels of government and stakeholder organizations to support the planning, development and implementation of project initiatives/strategies.
- Communication and presentation skills to present policy initiatives and make recommendations to the ADM and senior management team.
- Presentation skills to chair committees and lead consultation processes.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
- Evaluate and define project and program management requirements, identify and analyze options, make recommendations, coordinate and implement processes for diverse projects and project components.
- Analyze and advise on program, policy and project coordination plans, and communication and outreach strategies to build interest and stakeholder partnerships, and promote OFA's initiatives at the provincial, national and international levels.
- Assess and determine budget and financial requirements, and develop expenditure control mechanisms.
- Devise and implement performance assessment criteria, and evaluate project outcomes.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

- Responsible for: the development and administration of program planning, evaluating, managing and coordinating of major annual, multi-year, multijurisdictional provincial projects and initiatives, which includes managing and coordinating policy, project coordination plans, strategies and activities
supporting and promoting OFA's mandate, vision and objectives as well as the mandate of the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
- Impact of decision-making involves: developing project budgets; making decisions and recommendations with impact on Ontario's leadership in Francophone Affairs assuming the role lead in planning, managing and coordinating large-scale events and projects with potential social, economic and cultural impact on the province.
- Has latitude to: plan, manage and coordinate major province-wide projects and initiatives; recommend strategic policy and partnerships with other levels of government and stakeholder organizations; recommend changes or improvements to existing project plans of partners; advise the ADM and management team on policy and program approaches for joint Ontario Government/multi-jurisdictional initiatives.
- Makes decisions under the direction of the ADM, where decisions are guided by Office of Francophone Affairs and ministry policies, directives,
procedures, guidelines and relevant legislation.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Director, Strategic communications and Special projects, ADM, the management team, Deputy Minister and occasionally the Minister to provide briefings and advise on strategic directions and priorities.
- Management from other ministries and agencies to build support/partnerships and provide advice.
- Broad range of community organizations, Ontario Heritage Trust, TFO, Tourism Ontario, Regional Tourism Organizations and stakeholders to promote initiatives inside and outside of Ontario.
- Municipal governments and the federal government, Québec government, other provincial governments and territories, French government and other member countries of l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie to build stakeholder relationships, and enlist participation.
- Collaborates with Policy Branch on policy and program planning and outreach initiatives.
- Participate on inter-ministerial working groups of other ministries and agencies and representatives of other levels of government as well as community-based organizations.

Guidance / Supervision :

Guidance / Supervision
- Provides expertise, advice and assistance on strategic project coordination strategies, communication plans, outreach and recommended partnerships to the Director, Strategic Communications and Special Projects, ADM and management team, other ministries/central agencies management, Deputy
Minister/Minister's staff.
- Provides guidance, advice and direction to project team staff by assigning tasks, monitoring and reviewing work, ensuring quality deliverables and adherence to project timelines.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequent conflicting work demands and priorities from multiple sub-projects and stakeholders.
- Time-sensitive environment with requirement to prioritize competing work demands and meet an unmovable deadline.
- Frequent requirement to respond to spontaneous demands from the Director and management team.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequent intent listening and reading with concentration (e.g., comprehending and assessing the implications of recommended strategies and materials prepared).

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.