Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide project leadership for evidence-based decision-making through information, data and knowledge management.

Responsible for the development and implementation of information management strategies and best practices for the collection and reporting of municipal information and performance measures within the Municipal Services Division.

Key Responsibilities :

Research, Analysis, Recommendations
- Conducts research, develops reports and information products and makes recommendations to colleagues and senior management on performance measurement and programs and operational policy based on evidence and analysis.
- Leads and supports the collection and analysis municipal data and information critical to support the Municipal Service Division's evidence-based service delivery.
- Leads the development and implementation of information management strategies and best practices for the collection, retention and use of local government and municipal finance information within the Municipal Services Division.
- Leads major research and analysis projects of financial and socio-economic information collected by MMAH municipal services offices, other ministry partners and/or stakeholders, including municipalities and municipal organizations.
- Develops and conducts wide-ranging and sensitive surveys with stakeholders and external clients to assess and evaluate program implementation, and support decision-making and reporting on performance indicators within the Division.

Project Management
- Works closely with intra- and inter-ministry teams to ensure that information needs, data, issues and analysis are accurately collected, interpreted and reported.
- Coordinates/develops requests for proposals or services (RFPs and RFSs) and evaluation.
- Negotiates/develops/manages sensitive information sharing agreements, codes of practice and memoranda of understanding, within the Ministry and the OPS as well as with non-governmental organizations, municipalities, research bodies and other sector partners.
- Develops project charters, identifies resources, establishes timelines and manages the projects to collect, store and manipulate data to develop required reporting products.
- Leads/participates on special projects and represents the Ministry on working groups, task forces and committees to provide subject matter expertise and recommendations.
- Leads assigned projects including preliminary consultation, project design, project management and implementation

Communications
- Develops communication projects, tools, guidance materials and reports on ministry programs and operational policy.
- Ensures accuracy and integrity of communication products
- Interprets, promotes, and communicates performance measures and priorities in ministry, and to stakeholders and in other venues.
- Ensures the information on the Ministry's website and in publications is up-to-date, accurate and accessible.
- Prepares, coordinates, delivers and presents reports to staff and senior managers in the Municipal Services Division, across the Ministry and to partner Ministries as well as to external audiences.
- Leads the development of and delivers briefings, data visualizations, housebook notes, issues notes, briefing notes, performance measure achievements and other regular report as well as Minister?s letters, Premier?s letters and client surveys.

Partnerships/Stakeholder Relations
- Establishes working relationships and partnerships with Ministry stakeholders and partner ministries, academic and other subject matter experts and municipal stakeholders.
- Represents the ministry at conferences and on inter and intra governmental committees, inter-municipal working groups, and at training sessions mandated to discuss shared interests and concerns related to program delivery and operational policy development.
- Forges business and information linkages and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders including regional offices, municipalities and municipal organizations and associations.
- Liaises with contacts in municipal, provincial, and other jurisdictions in municipal governance and management fields to keep up to date on trends, assess the appropriateness of information for application in Ontario's setting, and share ideas with colleagues.
- Leads and participates on internal/external committees, working groups or task forces and represents the Branch in consultations with internal and external stakeholders (municipalities and other jurisdictions) related to municipal information management, collection, and analysis.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Municipal government programs, legislation and processes and responsibilities including municipal finance and municipal governance, administration
and land use planning to enable consultation, advice and decision making on improved program delivery across the province.
- Inter-related financial, economic and institutional policies and objectives underlying municipal government processes including municipal finance and
governance and a comprehensive knowledge of stakeholders involved in municipal governance and finance issues in order to coordinate, synthesize
and refine information/data that supports Ministry program delivery and policy implementation impacting the municipal sector.
- Research skills and complex data analysis techniques, to undertake needs assessments, evaluations and conduct performance measurement
- Program planning, development and evaluation processes to support the delivery of municipal programs and implementation of policy.
- Project management techniques to plan and manage policy review, option development, implementation assessments and to align human, financial
and information resources to deliver projects on time and on budget
- Organization and time management to balance workload and coordinate activities.
- Oral and written communication techniques to present recommendations, exchange information and participate on special
projects/taskforces/forums/working groups in order to enhance the implementation of provincial polcities,
- written, oral and graphic communication skills to prepare technical reports, briefing materials, development present and synthesize complex data and
recommendations
- High level of computer proficiency to prepare statistical analysis, spreadsheets, presentations, graphic presentation of information, prepare reports,
presentations and correspondence, access databases and research information.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Relationship management skills to establish effective working relationships with Ministry policy staff, the Ministry's Municipal Services Offices, partner ministries, and subject matter experts
- Consultation and negotiation skills to coordinate work and deliver projects and resolve issues with colleagues and collaborators, to negotiate service level agreements, present/listen/explain/guide colleagues and stakeholders on issues related to municipal financial management and governance.
- Consultation and presentation skills to provide training, advice present findings and recommendations to senior management, peers and external stakeholders.
- Advisory and presentation skills to participate on internal/external committees.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
- Conduct research and analysis to develop tools, processes, performance measures, reports, guidance materials and to identify data and information gaps and needs.
- Interpret and apply legislation, policies, standards and priorities in the development of tools, reports, guidance materials and in training sessions, ministerial committees and with diverse client groups
- Research, investigate, assess, identify and analyze information sources and performance measures and ensure the reliability and validity of existing and newly aggregated data and analyze to meet the needs of senior management and deliver alternatives to support the ministry's strategic direction.
Assess and provide accurate, timely, rigorous, sound advice and findings to manager, director, ministry senior executive and ministry committees to improve policy and program implementation

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Providing advice and consultation to internal and external stakeholders on the development of performance measures, operational policy, and service delivery related to municipal financial and governance issues
- Reviewing and recommending enhancements or changes to operational policy, implementation, information collection, coordination and analysis and performance measurement, including briefing materials, reports, cabinet submissions and treasury board submissions.
- Making recommendations for new/revised reports or new/revised performance measures to enhance evidence-based decision-making on municipal program delivery and policy implementation and developing data collection and reporting methodologies/tools to inform evidence-based decision making.
- Building relationships with and providing advice, communications and consultation with other ministry policy, implementation, and technical experts including from partner ministries and external organizations
- Providing project leadership including developing work plans and established parameters for a range of complex information and analysis activities related to municipal governance and finance. Responsible for prioritizing, planning and managing work programs with colleagues across the ministry.

Has latitude to: provide recommendations and advice for assigned activities; review, develop and recommend operational policy and implementation activities related to municipal finance and governance and to assess potential consequences and offer solutions for the ministry, partner ministries and external partners. Provide expertise in data reporting systems to ensure effective operation of the systems; lead/coordinate the planning, development and implementation of data analysis and reporting to support enhanced delivery of services to the municipal sector. Develop complex protocols and service level agreements among parties related to supply, manipulation, and reporting of data that are implemented with limited conflict or necessary renegotiation.
Represent the ministry/branch in inter-ministry, intra-ministry and other committees.

Decisions are guided by: government mandate, legislation, regulatory guidelines, policies, and precedents and existing ministry practices, protocols and ethical guidelines.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Colleagues within the ministry/division, other divisions, other ministries, and external subject matter experts to define and pursue areas of research, exchange information, coordinate information flow, develop operational policy and report on performance and provide recommendations/advice on complex/contentious issues related to municipal finance and governance.
- Senior management to present reports, options and recommendations.
- Information technology, GIS, data base experts, website experts to discuss ideas and applications for information management platforms and eservices to enhance the delivery of information and services
- Internal and external stakeholders (e.g. intra and inter ministry contacts, municipal associations, non-governmental organizations, other levels of government, including other jurisdictions) and the ministry senior executive to discuss data and information collection, report on performance, recommend new operational policies, to coordinate activities, provide expertise and transfer knowledge.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides leadership and expert advice to work teams across the ministry to coordinate work assignments including procedures, timelines, processes, and dissemination.
- Coordinates the collection and synthesis of data and knowledge management and reporting across the ministry
- Provide training and advice on operational policy and processes

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequently required to respond to numerous inquiries/requests for information/advice.
- Frequently required to work under tight time pressures and demands in developing reports, training materials, policies and processes that involve other branches who have other priorities or pressures.
- Tight time frame for work products requiring for accuracy, detail, robust analysis to ministry senior executive.
- Often required to provide reports/briefings or attend committee meetings on short notice.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequently required to focus on reading and understanding legislation, policies and protocols and creating tables and detailed reports.
- Frequently required to concentrate when analyzing/evaluating municipal data, developing alternatives, and planning/developing options and recommendations for new data requirements.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.