Job Specification

Purpose :

To lead the review and monitoring of the 407ETR compliance with legal agreements and provide related briefings to senior staff.
To coordinate with other staff members and identify key contractual obligations, measures of performance, expected baseline performance, and to assess actual performance.
To provide support to the "one window" coordinating function between the Ministry offices (Road User Safety Divisions, Drivers and Vehicles Offices, Enforcement Offices) and 407ETR.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Policy and Program Analysis Leadership
Reviews and monitors the agreements between the Province and 407ETR and provide briefings to senior staff related to such reviews of the 407ETR annual/periodical reports. Leads and supports investigations and audits, and prepare complex reports and recommendations for senior management for the resolution of complex technical issues. Uses data modeling applications and techniques and ensures adherence to agreements and policies. Develops and manages performance management systems for contractual obligations of 407ETR under the Concession and Ground Lease Agreement (CGLA) as well as the Settlement Agreement. Coordinates with other staff members to identify contractual obligations, measures of performance, expected baseline performance, and assess actual performance. Coordinates development of reporting processes, and prepares reports in actual 407ETR performance.
Manages operational aspects and RUS Division issues related to 407ETR, including implementation of the Amending Agreements and relationship with 407ETR as the one window between 407ETR and the Ministry.
Researches, monitors and prepares reports/presentations to senior management on trends, initiatives, and issues related to the private toll highway. Identifies weaknesses and concerns with existing agreements, and makes recommendations for change to ensure consistency with ministry/government strategic directions.
Consults, negotiates with, and presents proposals to 407ETR staff to advise on ministry requirements, reaches consensus and recommends solutions for review and approval.
Leads projects and provides advice and guidance to assigned multi-disciplinary resources and working groups with respect to initiatives such as service quality standards development, customer billing, traveler information and access to MTO databases.
2. Advice/Issues Management
Monitors emerging/contentious issues and develops and presents business cases and contractual amendments address 407ETR's interests while ensuring public interest is protected.
Manages and coordinates issues, including issues related to commercial vehicle inspection, licence plate denial by liaising with RUS Division and 407ETR, and consulting with appropriate offices and stakeholders, and preparing briefings to senior management.
3. Stakeholder Relations/Partnerships
Establishes partnerships and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to consult on issues related to the privatized highway, resolving mutual problems.
Serves as administrative coordinator for the Ministry's Contract Steering Committee for 407ETR by organizing and facilitating the work of the committee and functional working groups.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Theory, principles and practices related to the management of private service providers, contract and performance management for transportation infrastructure provide monitoring of provincial and 407ETR agreements, provide leadership and support to investigations and audits, and to develop and manage performance management systems to reinforce contractual obligations.
- Economic theory and analysis, research methodologies/techniques and transportation theory and principles to investigate/determine congestion relief and expansion requirements and develop innovative recommendations to meet standards established within the Act, CGLA and amending agreements.
- Strategic directions, legislation, regulations, policy frameworks, political agenda and related Government/Ministry programs and priorities governing transportation planning, to ensure that provincial objectives/directions are considered in the development of policy frameworks/initiatives; analyze, develop and present strategies for changing policies/programs and ensure recommendations are feasible within legislative and regulatory frameworks, legal agreements with private sector concessionaires and long term objectives and operational plans of the Ministry.
- Strategic planning and current/anticipated transportation issues/trends to provide advice and expertise to Ministry senior management on a broad range of issues, identify impacts on government policies and programs and guide/influence policy directions and decision-making.
- Concession and Ground Lease Agreement provisions to identify potential and actual issues related to performance and contractual obligations, and make innovative recommendations for amendments.
- Policy and program development and decision-making processes to lead the development of policy frameworks and proposals.
- Data modeling and collection techniques to develop and manage performance management systems, and to identify measures of performance and anticipated baseline performance, to evaluate actual performance, coordinate the development of reporting processes, and provide reports of 407ETR performance.
- Private sector financing frameworks, mechanisms and ability to assess the economic impacts of financial procurement strategies and to research/develop/assess alternate financing procurement options to support transportation planning initiatives.
- Project management skills and techniques to plan, organize and conduct major multi-disciplinary transportation planning projects to support Ministry/Government transportation planning objectives and public/private partnerships initiatives including defining project scope, design, methodologies, budget and human resources, developing terms of reference and deliverables.
- Program analysis and assessment methods and techniques to understand and evaluate the level of performance and compliance required to meet Ministry standards under legal agreements with private sector partners and to assess the impact/risks associated with changes/trends/developments in other jurisdictions.
- Oral and written communications and presentation to prepare and present a wide range of complex material including briefing materials, policy papers, training material, letters and Cabinet submissions and represent the ministry on inter-ministerial committees and work groups.
- Consultation and communication principles and methods to: build/maintain strategic partnerships with private sector partners critical to effective management of toll highways; develop/lead/participate on crossministry/stakeholder and industry consultation processes; liaise effectively with a broad range of
national/international contacts; and contribute to the development of communication strategies and vehicles to disseminate Government policy directions and initiatives.
- Computer operations and word processing, database management, presentation and spreadsheet applications to prepare briefing and presentation materials, reports and correspondence, conduct data analysis and to support research and policy/program development activities.


Interpersonal / Influencing Skill

- Influencing and negotiation skills to lead consultations with private sector concessionaires in the resolution of abroad range of issues to advise on ministry requirements, reaches consensus and recommends solutions for review and approval.
- Consultation, presentation and influencing skills to convey strategic policy and program proposals and/or issuesanalyses/resolution recommendations to Ministry senior management in own/other ministries, discuss/resolve competing policy/program related issues and gain support for proposed policy/program initiatives
- Leadership, persuasion and consensus building skills to lead cross-ministry, multi-stakeholder project teams where position has no direct administrative authority, to produce desired deliverables on time and within budget

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Influencing and negotiation skills to lead consultations with private sector concessionaires in the resolution of abroad range of issues to advise on ministry requirements, reaches consensus and recommends solutions for review and approval.
- Consultation, presentation and influencing skills to convey strategic policy and program proposals and/or issuesanalyses/resolution recommendations to Ministry senior management in own/other ministries, discuss/resolve competing policy/program related issues and gain support for proposed policy/program initiatives
- Leadership, persuasion and consensus building skills to lead cross-ministry, multi-stakeholder project teams where position has no direct administrative authority, to produce desired deliverables on time and within budget for a broad range of policy, program, research and other projects with government and provincial implications for transportation planning.
- Network and partnership building, influencing, negotiation and consensus building skills to develop effective linkages with other ministries, inter-jurisdictional stakeholders both nationally and internationally, sector/industry partners/representative to discuss trends/developments and work collaboratively in joint ventures that enhance the Province's transportation goals and objectives.
- Interpersonal/influencing skills to balance competing interests between the Government and its private concessionaires and convince stakeholders and senior management to accept alternative/innovative responses to resolve issues/problems.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
- Lead studies related to the performance of the Province's toll highway, including conducting policy/technical reviews, identifying and prioritizing relevant issues, implications, options and opportunities resulting from transportation/tolling policy research projects and initiatives, and providing assessment and recommendations regarding levels of congestion relief and highway expansion.
- Plan, lead and coordinate policy frameworks and initiatives and research related to service quality standards and tolling policy for highway partnership/privatization, and develop alternate financing procurement options that support provincial goals and objectives for a sustainable transportation systems.
- Conduct comprehensive analyses and evaluation of data to determine needs for congestion relief and highway expansion, assess trends and tolling impacts/issues vis-à-vis ministry policies/practices and develops policy/legislative recommendations consistent with Ministry transportation planning priorities.
- Co-ordinate investigation and dispute resolution processes into allegations, complaints, inquiries regarding highway tolling practices/processes, analyze issues and provide expertise and advice to the arbitrator to facilitate issues resolution and build consensus between the Ministry and concessionaire.
- Carry out comprehensive analyses and lead and support investigations and audits, and prepare complex reports and recommendations for senior management for the resolution of complex technical issues.
- Assess and evaluate Ministry policies to assess their effectiveness and capacity to support current and future transportation plans and objectives, particularly related to public/private sector partnerships and/or alternate financing procurement, and make recommendations to senior management for new/enhanced policies.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Providing advice to division management and other senior staff.
Recommending private sector management strategies through issues management and identification of issuesrelated practices and trends.
Providing analysis and preparation of briefing materials and correspondence on contentious issues for the Premier, Minister, Deputy, Assistant Deputy and other senior executive officials.
Providing team leadership in order to realize joint goals and objectives, including concessionaire (407ETR) and OPS staff.
Development of policy, providing analysis and recommendations to senior officials and advising on which course of action to be taken on specific initiatives.
Developing project objectives, work plans and study designs, and in identifying staff, budget and other resource requirements for the review and monitoring of the toll highway operations by the private sector owner. Interpreting legislation and legal agreements (Highway 407 Act, CGLA, amending agreements), ensuring obligations are met and identifying weaknesses in relation to ministry and government objectives.
Negotiating new amending agreements, resolving disputes with the owner and developing business planning objectives and legislative framework.
Communicating/consulting with private sector owner, other government officials and stakeholders on contentious legal and policy issues, and gaining consensus on planning proposals.
Has latitude to: lead investigations and audits, and provide recommendations for senior management for the resolution of complex technical issues; manage operational aspects and divisional issues related to 407ETR; and lead projects and provide advice and guidance to assigned staff and working groups on initiatives such as service quality standards development, customer billing, traveler information and access to MTO databases.
Decisions are guided by a broad framework of government/ministry strategic directions, guidelines, transportation policies, processes and practices and legislative authorities.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Cross-ministry division management, ADM's office, and ministry staff to provide advice, briefings and background information, and to prepare reports for senior management.
Private sector concessionaire (407ETR) in the resolution of issues and concerns associated with the toll highway. Stakeholders including municipal agencies, external agencies, and members of the publoic to respond to requests, explain the ministry perspective on specific initiatives, and to explain the intent of program delivery functions and resolve concerns with the interpretation and application of ministry policies.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides team leadership, project direction, advice and technical guidance to unit staff and assigned multi- disciplinary team members involved in research and policy development initiatives related to transportation planning and issues resolution including organization the team, assigning tasks, reviewing progress and providing guidance and advice.
- Provides expert technical advice and guidance to Ministry colleagues and cross-ministry committees/working groups on performance management strategies and issues resolution to support the province's transportation plans and objectives.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Occasionally required to respond to information requests and changes in deadlines on short notice that limit control over the pace of work and require rebalancing of work priorities, e.g. preparation of briefing notes/position papers, Minister's Office and/or senior management briefings). Demands associated with policy/program development initiatives may be determined by the Government's legislative agenda and key priorities.
Occasionally required to respond to requests within short deadlines when responding to stakeholder
inquiries/issues that often require co-ordinating responses with other parties (e.g. private sector concessionaire and the dispute resolution arbitrator).

Mental / Sensory :

- Occasionally required to concentrate when analyzing complex and diverse traffic and financial data, reading andanalyzing policy, documents and other materials and when carrying out research activities.
- Occasionally required to concentrate and listen intently when participating in meetings and conferences and during stakeholder consultations.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.