Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide a full range of advisory and information services to municipalities in a region of the province to enhance municipal operational effectiveness, improve decision-making, provide guidelines on provincial requirements and implement a wide range of ministry/provincial policies and programs.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Monitoring, identifying, evaluating and taking appropriate steps to support the financial viability, organizational and administrative integrity, and capability of municipalities while ensuring that the province's interest in economic, environmental, social and other issues are considered; preparing financial and managerial evaluations for government agencies to determine whether municipalities have the capacity to participate in government initiatives or major municipal projects; and participating in local government structure studies aimed at strengthening municipal government in Ontario.

2. Analysing municipal documents including financial information, preparing reports and documentation in accordance with legislation and ministry policies; assisting in formulating policies and strategies relating to local finance, administration (e.g. policy statements, implementation guidelines) and providing authoritative verbal and written advice/information to the public, municipalities, developers, agencies, other stakeholders on matters relating to municipal government.

3. Identifying and conducting research on a variety of issues of concern to the Minister and senior management resulting from internal administrative reviews, media reports or complaints by citizens' groups/general public; consulting with municipal officials/staff to clarify needs/problems and determine alternatives/solutions; and preparing briefing notes/reports and correspondence in response; briefing senior management and the minister on related issues.

4. Identifying problems/concerns with existing programs/legislation and recommending changes/improvements in program structure/delivery or amendments/development of new legislation; reviewing policy proposals such as cabinet submissions from other ministries and recommending the ministry's position to senior staff.

5. Advising municipal officials/staff regarding new or amended programs and related legislation or policies, promoting a variety of provincial initiatives related to local governance (e.g. conflict of interest, performance measures, municipal restructuring), implementing regulatory and program responsibilities and facilitating partnerships to deliver education/training programs (e.g. seminars, workshops and one-to-one information sessions) to explain or clarify the role of the municipal government to encourage local resolution of problems (e.g. citizens' inquiries and referrals from Ombudsman's Office, provincial policies).

6. Serving as a resource to municipal organizations/associations, e.g., Municipal Financial Officers' Association (M.F.O.A.), Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurer of Ontario (A.M.C.T.O.), Association of Municipalities of Ontario (A.M.O.) and constituent organizations to maintain an effective provincial-municipal partnership; representing the ministry before municipal councils, tribunals, commissions, Ontario Municipal Board, task forces and the public on a variety of provincial-municipal issues.

7. Liaising, coordinating and working closely with other ministries and agencies (e.g. inter-ministerial committees, service integration, program coordination, training initiatives) to support the achievement of the government's policy objectives.

Staffing and Licencing :

Job requires a valid Ontario Class 'G' driver's licence to drive to municipal meetings, seminars, conferences.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of municipal administration and operational issues (e.g. municipal finance, taxation, structure and administration), provincial legislation, regulations, policies/programs that affect municipal activities and financial management and analysis in order to analyse and evaluate municipal governance programs and operational issues, prepare detailed reports and supporting documentation and make recommendations to alter or create new administrative guidelines, policies or legislation, in accordance with legislation and provincial policies; provide authoritative advice to senior provincial government officials, municipal councils and administrators. Job requires knowledge of project management, research, analysis, evaluation, consultation and negotiation techniques to carry out assigned projects, to analyse, synthesize, evaluate, and make recommendations on program delivery issues/problems and persuade municipalities to accept new initiatives/restructuring; prepare approval or decision documents/applications; and provide advice and presentations to senior government official and the private/public sector; appear as an expert witness before the OMB or other tribunals. Job requires knowledge of computer software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet and presentation) to produce reports, briefing documents, correspondence and presentation materials and to retrieve information from branch systems.

Skills :

Job requires issue analysis and evaluation skills to research information, conduct studies and prepare reports, and develop/make recommendations and strategies on municipal governance issues, program administration and policy development for consideration by senior staff that would result in the creation/modification of provincial strategies/standards and on implementation of new/revised policy initiatives. Job requires analytical skills to analyse problems raised by municipal staff/officials and to provide timely and practical advice and assistance. Job requires analytical and evaluation skills to assess applications and municipal documents (e.g. Municipal budgets, FIR's) and provincial issues and make recommendations. Job requires interpreting and explaining legislative requirements and provincial viewpoints while negotiating and attempting to achieve compromise/resolution from interest groups with opposing viewpoints. Job requires planning and coordination skills to carry out assigned projects and meet objectives by developing terms of reference, project work plans, setting priorities, identifying resource requirements, consulting with stakeholders; and to coordinate meetings and workshops with municipal staff.

Job requires verbal communication skills to explain/interpret legislation, provincial policies/standards/programs related to municipal governance and to convey and explain detailed information, present ideas/positions, and make public presentations to senior management, other ministries, municipal councils, the Ontario Municipal Board, other boards and commissions, the public and the media. Job requires written communication skills to prepare issue/briefing reports and correspondence on contentious issues or concerns raised by the media, for the Minister's signature. Job requires consultation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to resolve municipal governance issues, to interpret and clarify provincial policy directions, to negotiate and persuade parties with divergent points of view to reach consensus on issues with representatives from local levels of government, developers and special interest groups.

Job requires proficiency with word processing, data management and spreadsheet software to perform analysis and prepare reports.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working in accordance with ministry principles, policies, practices and standards for municipal governance. Job requires exercising judgement in representing the provincial position on a range of municipal issues to municipal staff and officials. Job requires analyzing a diverse range of issues which affect municipal operations and to assess effectiveness and compliance with provincial requirements, which includes conferring with interest groups with divergent viewpoints on municipal governance, synthesizing the information, developing options and making recommendations which may adversely affect some interest groups or the public while respecting the confidentiality of sensitive information. Job requires providing advice and direction to municipal staff which is viewed as authoritative and is used as the basis for local decision making. Job requires the independent planning and completion of assigned projects/studies pertaining to Ministry and corporate initiatives within required deadlines. Work is performed independently and assignments are outlined in broad terms with technical direction given only on the most complex or sensitive matters. Job requires referring to senior staff, issues which depart significantly from standard practices and Ministry policies which have major policy implications.