Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To plan, organize and manage regional corridor management functions and activities including land development/planning review, access management, entrances, encroachments, building and land use as well as signs.

To provide land use planning and engineering expertise and resources to regional senior management regarding corridor management issues.

To provide technical advice on permit applications, development proposals, land use proposals and other corridor management related issues in order to protect the long term viability and integrity of the highway network within the region.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the general direction of the Manager of Highway Operations the incumbent:

1. Manages and coordinates the activities of section staff, including assigning and tracking work, monitoring work performance, and determining performance standards; directs, develops, hires, promotes and disciplines staff and establishes training and development needs to ensure the subject matter expertise of staff.

2. Develops and reviews multi-year work plans and budgets; establishes performance measures and systems to assess program effectiveness and efficiency; monitors customer service standards and develops and maintains performance indicators to ensure that corridor management functions are delivered in a timely and efficient manner.

3. Ensures the application and enforcement of corridor management policies for the provincial highway system within the region; identifies operational policy gaps and deficiencies and formulates proposals and recommendations to address issues; works with Corridor Management and Property Office to assist with priority scheduling.

4. Coordinates the review, analysis and approval of all entrance, building and land use, encroachment and sign permits for the region as well as recommends the approval of property requisition and disposal requests to senior management and recommends highway assumptions, closings, designations, removals, revocations and transfers for approval.

5. Provides sound and accurate engineering, technical and administrative advice and direction to staff within the ministry, other government officials, stakeholders (provincial and municipal) and the public regarding corridor management issues impacting on the provincial transportation system in the region.

6. Co-ordinates corridor management activities with other public agencies, (i.e. municipalities, provincial ministries, federal departments); co-ordinates responses with other ministry/regional representatives to public inquiries, complaints, legal claims, etc.

7. Manages and directs major projects for the development of regional corridor management policies, procedures and guidelines by identifying, reviewing and providing input on proposed changes and serves as the regional representative on the Provincial Corridor Review Committee to participate in the development of new ministry procedures, processes and policies.

8. Develops relationships with the land development industry, other private sector stakeholders and levels of government to provide advice and interpretation on program policies and procedures, promote consensus on issues and establish the framework for the creation of new business opportunities to finance highway operations including the negotiation of agreements for non-tax revenue opportunities with industry in order to recognize the value of the highway corridor and consider mechanisms/options to extract value from the asset/system (i.e. right-of-way, advertising, etc.).

9. Provides strategic advice and information to the Manager of Highway Operations, Regional Director and other senior division and ministry management on a variety of corridor management related matters, activities and business transition issues; identifies emerging issues and industry trends and potential impact on regional and ministry engineering programs and policies.

10. Participates and/or coordinates staff participation in planning and design projects to ensure application of corridor management best policies and practices.

11. Represents the ministry as required at court proceedings, public hearings and meetings as required and ensures the proper maintenance of records and files.

Knowledge :

Incumbent must be licensed by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO).

Advanced knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of civil engineering with emphasis on transportation planning, corridor management and highway design to manage the application and enforcement of corridor management policies for the provincial highway system within the region, to identify deficiencies in corridor management projects and to establish the framework for the creation of new business opportunities to finance highway operations.

Thorough knowledge of related acts and regulations (i.e. Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, Drainage Act, Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Highway Traffic Act, etc.), the ministry's engineering policies and procedures, design and construction standards and specifications, as well as management techniques to manage the review, analysis and approval of regional building and land use, encroachment and signs and permits, provide authoritative advice on pending issues impacting on the highway system.

Thorough knowledge of Collective Agreements, ministry policies, procedures and guidelines as well as well-developed management, supervisory and administrative skills to effectively manage staff assigned to the section.

Excellent planning, organizational and project management skills to plan and coordinate work plans and resources, establish performance measures and systems to assess program effectiveness, efficiency and quality and to direct major projects for the development of regional corridor management policies, procedures and guidelines.

Sound analytical and problem solving skills to assess requests that deviate from ministry policies, approve or refuse permits issued under the PTHIA and to deal with infractions by utilizing progressive measures up to and including legal action.

Excellent consultation, communication and presentation skills to establish effective working relationships with colleagues, associates, senior officials, developers and the public, to promote consensus on complex technical and policy issues, to identify emerging issues and trends and provide authoritative advice and information to senior management and to represent the Ministry at hearings and meetings and to make presentations and prepare reports.

Well-developed knowledge of management techniques, economics and budgeting to develop and review multi-year work plans and budgets.

Strong negotiation skills to lead and negotiate agreements with industry for non-tax revenue opportunities that recognize value of the highway corridor.

Working knowledge of computerized information, software and database applications to prepare correspondence and reports and to coordinate the management of complex technical data.

Judgement :

Under the general direction of the Manager of Highway Operations and within established ministry policies and guidelines, judgement is exercised in assessing the administrative and technical demands on the Corridor Management Section, developing programs and procedures to achieve the intent of ministry policy and objectives, and providing direct input to the development of Ministry policies and objectives based on regional operations and experiences.

Judgement is exercised when assessing and resolving issues referred by staff and when approving or rejecting unusual and/or sensitive development proposals.

Judgement is used to effectively co-ordinate the activities of the section to ensure consistency and conformance to procedures and policies and when developing and maintaining performance indicators to ensure that corridor management functions are provided in a timely and efficient manner.

Judgement is required when establishing the framework for the creation of new business opportunities to finance highway operations and when negotiating agreements with industry for non-tax revenue opportunities.

Accountability - Programs :

The position has the delegated authority to execute and issue permits and is accountable for the effective and efficient administration of ministry corridor management procedures and policies in order to maintain the integrity and safety of Provincial Highway Rights-Of-Way. The position is further accountable for administering permit control of entrances, signs, buildings and land use and encroachments according to the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act.

Accountability – Personnel :

The position reports to the Manager of Highway Operations and is accountable for the effective management of professional, technical and administrative staff which includes assigning and tracking work, monitoring work performance, and determining performance standards; hiring, promoting and disciplining staff, conducting performance reviews and approving merits; responding to grievances as well as establishing training and development needs to ensure the subject matter expertise of staff.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

The position is accountable for development and monitoring of annual work plans and budget estimates and allocating resources accordingly. The position is accountable for the proper collection and administration of permit fees for entrances, encroachments, building and land use and signs adjacent to highways. The position is also accountable for making recommendations for the acquisition and maintenance of equipment and for the approval of property acquisition and disposal requests.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Failure to identify and act upon current issues or potential future inadequacies with respect to corridor utilization could seriously impact on the level of transportation and utility related service to the public. Inadequate plans and controls could lead to dangerous conditions, embarrassment to the ministry and legal suits against the ministry.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with colleagues, associates and senior management in own and other branches, regions, divisions, to exchange information and advice, to resolve problems and to co-ordinate activities/input. Regular contact with legal, technical and professional staff, to consult on and assess long term plans and design issues and with union representatives and human resources staff regarding personnel issues.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with senior officials from other ministries, government agencies and municipalities, to exchange information and resolve problems where there is an overlap in jurisdictions and to provide expert and authoritative advice. Frequent contact with external engineers to consult on planning and design matters and to explore and resolve highway conflicts. Frequent contact with municipalities, developers and the public to provide explanations on policies and specific issues.