Contract up to 12 months
Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.
The Stakeholder Relations team builds strong, strategic relationships that foster trust, generate goodwill and amplify key initiatives. Through collaboration, advocacy and meaningful engagement, the team connects with stakeholders to enhance public confidence and advance Metrolinx’s mission to connect communities through an integrated transportation system.
We are seeking a leader who wants to be part of a new and best-in-class strategic stakeholder engagement team. As our ideal candidate, you have a keen interest in creating, growing and maintaining strategic relationships with broader industry and thought leaders, such as business groups, trade unions and industry associations. You are a natural communicator and storyteller who will represent Metrolinx to a range of audiences, big and small. You have proven political acuity skills to appreciate and navigate the relationship between the Government of Ontario and its Crown Agencies. You thrive in ambiguity and relish the chance to fill in the blanks.
As a leader in the Community, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Division, you are expected to foster an inclusive, respectful, and people-first culture; provide clear direction and coaching that empowers teams to succeed; model accountability and integrity in your decision-making; collaborate across teams to drive results; and lead through change with resilience and a continuous improvement mindset. We’re looking for leaders who inspire trust, shape culture, and move ideas forward.
- Develop and implement comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies to build and sustain positive relationships.
- Lead efforts to enhance Metrolinx's public profile and advocate for its initiatives and projects among external groups as identified in the annual strategic plan. Contribute to the strategic plan to build a community of support for transit initiatives among key stakeholders.
- Design and implement comprehensive policies that align with Metrolinx’s overall business goals with external relationships and provide a consistent organization-wide stakeholder experience.
- Manage mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement, including collecting and analyzing data on stakeholder feedback, engagement levels and outcomes.
- Identify and seek opportunities to improve relationships with stakeholders, working closely with internal teams to effect change.
- Oversee the strategic alignment of external and internal communications programs and products associated with stakeholder requirements.
- Completion of a degree in Communication, Community/Public Relations, or a related discipline or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent.
- Demonstrated experience managing stakeholder relations, including leading teams and preferably with government relations experience.
- Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement principles, practices, and methodologies.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategies and plans for complex projects or initiatives.
- Proven ability to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse stakeholders that benefit from, directly contribute to, and influence transit and transportation in Ontario.
- Proven experience leading teams directly and working with internal matrix organizations.
- Problem solving and oral/written/presentation skills to guide production of creative tactics, and to assimilate diverse or complex information for communication to stakeholder audiences of varied knowledge and understanding.
- Working knowledge of corporate communications (e.g. media, public relations), and the principles, practices, and use of multimedia. (e.g. audio/visual, print, and web), media relations, issues management, business communications, and planning, corporate branding, journalism, and new social media applications.
- Familiarity with relevant legislation (e.g. Metrolinx Act, Places to Grow Act, Planning Act, Building Transit Faster Act, Municipal Act, etc.) is an asset.
