Job Specification

Purpose :

To plan and coordinate major transportation policy and research projects that address and support the economic, social, environmental and land use objectives of the province.
To coordinate multi-disciplinary projects involving complex transportation policy and program issues, provide related consultation and outreach services.

Key Responsibilities :

Policy Analysis and Development
Provides guidance and technical support to the development of new policy and planning strategies, concepts and approaches for transportation in support of the ministry's strategic directions.
Identifies the transportation, environmental, and economic and social impact of policy proposals on government directions and stakeholders' interests.
Identifies issues, assesses policy, economic, environmental and political implications for the ministry and recommends options to support management decision-making.
Research Analysis and Coordination
Assesses and undertakes research and analysis related to policy and planning requirements and develops terms of reference and methodology to address specific complex policy issues.
Consultation / Stakeholder Relations
Coordinates study team activities including estimating financial, human and technology resources; shaping consultation with external stakeholders; assesses consistency of proposals with ministry/government directions and advise on technical requirements, ensuring quality control of policy proposals and reports produced by project teams.
Fosters partnerships and acts as a liaison with internal/external stakeholders, agencies, transportation industry, other jurisdictions, academic sector and interest groups to identify and assess emerging challenges related to the e transportation system and ensures the ministry is positioned to react to these challenges.
Represents the ministry on multi-jurisdictional committees, advisory groups and task forces, ensuring the ministry's position is accurately represented.
Coordinates work on cross-divisional and inter-governmental teams to support multi-faceted projects, studies, plans and strategies.
Information/Advice
Provides advice/expertise/recommendations to senior management and staff through reports, presentations and briefings on transportation issues and concerns.
Coordinates/prepares complex policy reports, discussion papers and Cabinet submissions, responds to and resolves issues and concerns and provides a provincial perspective on issues crossing jurisdictional boundaries.
Issues Management
Anticipates and identifies emerging transportation issues and trends related to the economic, environmental, social and land use objectives of the province and within the context of the government's transportation policy priorities.
Identifies trends and best practices in policy development related to transportation and environmental issues and assesses application for ministry policy and planning initiatives.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
Government and ministry planning and policy development processes, strategic directions, environmental issues, and economic theory and practices to plan, develop, coordinate and fund major policy and planning projects in the context of the government's transportation initiatives.
Economic theory and analytical methods and the links with transportation policy issues required to conduct complex statistical analysis and develop innovative transportation proposals and models.
Government structure, and multi-modal transportation theory, principles and practices or operations related to transportation to anticipate emerging issues and trends, determine economic, social, environmental and land use impacts on transportation, and promote the government's agenda.
Project management techniques to provide technical guidance and support to multi-disciplinary project teams of staff and consultants, develop terms of reference and ensure viability of all reports and recommendations.
Research techniques to plan/conduct/coordinate policy research studies, information, advice, and policy environment scans, trends, gaps and needs analysis.
Oral and written communications, consultation, training and presentation skills, to respond to issues, provide governments/ jurisdictions/agencies recommendations, prepare reports, analyses, Cabinet submissions, briefing materials and correspondence, to represent the ministry/province on cross-ministry and intergovernmental task forces/working committees, and to promote policy initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
Strong computer software programs and tools to research and prepare own materials (e.g. reports,
spreadsheets/charts/graphs, presentations, briefing notes, etc.)

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

Consultation and negotiation skills to identify area of concerns and negotiate complex problem resolution with government officials, partner ministries and external stakeholders.
Communication and presentation skills to provide expert advice to senior management, prepare complex
correspondence, briefing notes, reports and recommendations and explain/discuss ministry and government policies and directions with internal and external contacts.
Partnership building and relationship management skills to establish key stakeholder linkages across the OPS and in federal/ provincial / territorial, and municipal jurisdictions, and to work cooperatively in policy development projects.
Facilitation skills, diplomacy, political acuity and business acumen, to represent the ministry/province on
intergovernmental forums, and to communicate/advise/lead the Ministry/provincial policy/position on sensitive, political, issues to working committees, other governments, and stakeholders.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
Conduct complex data analysis, assess latest development in the field and develop innovative transportation solutions.
Analyze and develop innovative approaches to address public policy issues, and to effectively communicate and recommend options to senior ministry officials.
Evaluate a range of factors issues related to the economic, environmental, social, and land use objectives of the province and within the context of the government's transportation policy priorities.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Identifying transportation issues and trends and assessing their relationship to provincial economic, social, environmental and land use objectives.
Conducting complex analysis of transportation infrastructure and developing solutions and mechanisms.
Developing technical, policy and planning reports and Cabinet submissions, assessing the viability of findings and presenting recommendations/advice to senior management to support ministry and government policy on transportation issues.
Negotiating resolution of policy issues and problems with government officials, partner ministries and other stakeholders.
Providing advice to senior management and stakeholders regarding transportation issues.
Coordinating multi-faceted projects, studies, plans and strategies.
Providing input for project budgets and expenditures.
Has latitude to identify and recommend issue resolution to senior ministry officials; determine project priorities, and recommend adjustment strategies to meet changing ministry/government directions.
Decisions are guided by provincial and ministry strategic directions, existing legislative/regulatory and policy framework, best practices and government directives and procedures.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Staff and senior management within the division and other ministry areas to provide advice and information on transportation issues and criteria, recommend policy solutions and discuss/evaluate emerging trends and developments.
Staff and management in partner ministries to discuss/coordinate joint initiatives and provide advice/explanation of ministry transportation policies and transportation initiatives.
Officials of the federal government, municipal representatives, other jurisdictions, academic community and the private transportation sector to discuss transportation issues and concerns, negotiate resolution of issues and data sharing requests.
Internal and external committee and task force members to deal with transportation issues and strategies.

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides technical guidance, support and recommendations to senior staff for the development of policy proposals related to transportation in the province.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Frequently required to respond to requests within short deadlines where time pressures result in the need to occasionally work beyond normal work hours for response to information requests.
Frequently required to deal with deadlines which are subject to change without notice, priorities that are not anticipated or contentious issues which arise unexpectedly and require quick turnaround for issues management.
Occasional travel for stakeholder consultations and other branch business.
Frequently required to deal with highly confidential/sensitive material.

Mental / Sensory :

Continuous requirement to concentrate when reading materials, analyzing fiscal documents and research, and response to information requests when drafting reports, briefing notes and policy related materials.
Requirement to listen intently when attending meetings, seeking input from stakeholders.
Requirement to undertake complex analysis, on demand, within a tight timeframe.
Occasional requirement to manage and communicate effectively with irate stakeholders/clients.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.