Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide leadership and co-ordination of infrastructure management and planning across all capital programs including needs identification and analysis. Develops recommendation for program and funding strategies. To co-ordinate overall performance monitoring and results measurement for the maintenance, reconstruction, and up grading of roads and bridges in the region. To provide the regional focal point to support corporate infrastructure management initiatives, such as the Asset Management Business Framework.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Reporting to the Regional Director, this position:

1. Provides leadership, with assistance from regional functional offices (Engineering, Operational Services, Contracts, and Road User Safety) in the development and recommendations of annual and long-term capital programs (i.e., major and minor capital, preservation management, connecting links, unincorporated roads, first nations subsidies and patrol yard facilities.)

2. Leads and co-ordinates the analysis of infrastructure needs information and the identification of resource requirements. Develops and recommends investment strategies to optimize improvement of system adequacy; co-ordinates the development of priority lists for all capital investment activities based on input from functional offices; undertakes a variety of technical studies; and makes program recommendations to assist the Regional Director and regional managers in decision-making regarding program planning.

3. Recommends allocations to the Regional Director based on consideration of all capital needs; and provides assistance to the Regional Director and appropriate managers in the identification of maintenance/operations requirements and the allocation of available funds.

4. Provides one-window regional liaison with the Program Management Branch, and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines where required, for program development/revisions and funding matters. Provides the focal point in the region and main point of contact with the Program Management Branch for the development and implementation of corporate infrastructure initiatives, such as the Asset Management Business Framework, a new business approach to infrastructure management.

5. Co-ordinates with regional offices the overall performance monitoring and results measurement for the maintenance, reconstruction and up-grading of roads and bridges in the region, and provides any required head office liaison to ensure results are measured and reported in accordance with ministry and OPS requirements.


6. Provides management and technical supervision and leadership to staff involved in the activities of the Program Planning Section including: recruitment and selection of staff, managing performance issues, allocating work and projects, setting and reviewing performance standards and objectives, providing for staff training, development and learning opportunities, administers discipline, recommends merits, manages the illness and injury program and employee relations issues, including strike contingency planning and grievance response, up to and including Stage 2 designee.

7. Provides leadership for the identification and/or resolutions of public complaints, referrals from the Minister's, Premier's and Ombudsman's offices, MPPs, municipal leaders and the OPP related to regional issues.

8. Provides authoritative briefing/presentations to the Regional Director, ADM Operations and Office of the Minister and Deputy Minister on regional operational issues and initiatives. Participates on Ministry committees regarding infrastructure management.

9. Represents regional interests as a member and/or lead on various project teams and steering committees for the development of operational requirements and future business directions. Manages the co-ordination and provision of regional input and response to ministry policy development and legislative/regulatory changes related to the program.

10. Establishes office operational and business plans and performance measures and makes operational decisions to achieve business goals consistent with program and overall ministry business planning objectives. Manages, develops and balances limited resources and evaluates progress to meet business plan goals.

Knowledge :

Position requires a degree in Civil Engineering from a university of recognized standing and current membership with the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

Knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of civil engineering, pertaining to design, rehabilitation and performance of roads and bridges to lead the analysis of technical infrastructure condition information, and to assess the impacts of different rehabilitation treatments on road and structure performance, life expectancy and life-cycle costs.

Working knowledge of corporate infrastructure management methods and systems, such as pavement and bridge management systems, to assess the conditions of roads and bridges, and economic impacts of design and rehabilitation strategies.

Knowledge of financial analysis techniques and financial planning and budgeting processes to undertake financial/trade off analysis of rehabilitation strategies, and to recommend program allocations to determine multi-year cost effective approaches to optimize system adequacy based on desirable and actual funding allocations.

Highly developed technical, analytical, and organizational skills to co-ordinate several capital funding programs and the relevant activities and schedules of other offices and individuals, to analyze system information and to undertake a variety of technical studies to make recommendations regarding annual and long-term capital programs and investment strategies.

Knowledge/understanding of corporate business plans/directions to co-ordinate overall performance monitoring and results measurement for the maintenance, reconstruction and upgrading of roads and bridges in the Region in accordance with corporate requirements.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills to prepare reports on program performance and make recommendations related to resource levels and planning approaches to improve program effectiveness.

Highly developed interpersonal skills to discuss/reconcile competing funding demands of various regional managers, to effectively obtain infrastructure information and initiate analysis by other regional offices, and to provide regional liaison with the Program Planning Branch (PMB) and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM).

Negotiating skills to influence corporate infrastructure initiatives and effectively make the case for regional resources by effectively presenting funding requirements and program strategies to PMB and MNDM as required. Negotiating skills also required to resolve complaints from various areas, offices and individuals.

Judgement :

Work is performed under the direction of the Regional Director and in accordance with Ministry policies and guidelines. Judgement is used when: co-ordinating the work of a number of regional offices related to program planning and infrastructure management, obtaining necessary information, reconciling competing interests and developing annual and long term capital programs, priority lists, and alternate investment strategies.

Judgement is also exercised when recommending investment strategies and allocations for capital programs; considering all relevant factors, and the benefits and impacts on the highway and municipal roads systems and when determining the best approach to discuss program plans, investment strategies, and funding requirements and their impacts with Program Management Branch and Ministy of Northern Developmet and Mines to most effectively build the case for resources and the preferred funding approach.

Determining information required to analyze performance/results information and obtaining the required information from various offices within the region in a practical way that minimizes impacts on their operations, and assembling any required reports for head office.

Completed work is considered authoritative; completed analyses and studies, and recommended investment strategies and program plans are reviewed by the Regional Director for approval.

Accountability - Programs :

This position is accountable to co-ordinate infrastructure planning activities in the region across all capital programs; to conduct studies, analyze information to develop strategies to optimize systems adequacy and to identify long-term resource requirements; and to recommend appropriate program plans, priorities and allocations based on actual funding levels.

The incumbent is responsible to review funding requirements, program plans, and impacts of funding levels with PMB and MNDM to ensure co-ordination of regional plans with corporate plans and initiatives.

The position is also accountable to promote effective asset management in the region and to serve as the regional focal point for the development and implementation of corporate infrastructure management initiatives such as the Asset Management Business Framework.

Accountability – Personnel :

The position is accountable to provide supervision and technical guidance to a staff of
3-4.

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

The position is accountable to manage a budget of approximately $300,000. for the Program Planning Office.

The position also develops and recommends capital programs with annnual values of $150 - 350 million, and assists in the allocation of annual maintenance/operation funds of about $50 million. Position is accountable to review program/project expenditures and values in order to recommend in-year changes required to meet budget or obtain additional resources or to revise multi-year programs.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Failure to properly analyze infrastructure needs and identify long-term resource requirements and to develop program plans that make most effective use of available resources could lead to increasing deterioration in the overall condition of the roads and bridges in the province, inefficient use of resources, higher future costs, inconvenience to road users, and possible safety and economic implications.

Contact - Internal :

Position requires regular contact with senior officials and other ministry staff in the regions and head office to exchange information and to review/discuss plans, recommendations and corporate initiatives. Position participates on Ministry infrastructure committees.

Contact - External :

Position requires contact with staff of the Ministry of Northern Development & Mines to exchange information and review/discuss programs and revise funding matters. Occasional contact with members of the public Minister's, Premier's and Ombudsman's offices, MPPs, municipal leaders and the OPP related to regional issues or complaints.