Manager, Student Transportation Unit

Are you an experienced policy leader looking for a challenging opportunity to utilize your strategic leadership and strong collaboration skills? Do you thrive on building teams and leading exciting policy initiatives? We are looking for a leader who can help shape policies and programs impacting Student Transportation services in Ontario.
The Student Transportation Unit is responsible for developing policy and framework for allocating funding to school boards through the provincial funding model to support the delivery of home-school transportation in the elementary / secondary education system.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

The OPS is an innovative, responsive, and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable. Diversifying leadership is a top priority for the OPS. Our goal is to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most under-represented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) on our leadership teams.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply. As an organization that promotes equity and diversity, the OPS encourages applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities.
The OPS is an accessible employer and we offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy, the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint, and the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the public service.

What can I expect to do in this role?

Create the Work Environment
In the Ontario Public Service, we hold our leaders to the highest standards, expecting them to embody authenticity, accountability, and courage in every action and decision. It will be your responsibility to create a work environment and team culture that ignites innovation, nurtures collaboration and champions inclusivity by creating a diverse, anti-racist and accessible workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment. By aligning your choices with these values, you will create a vibrant work environment where every individual can thrive.
Deliver on Business Goals and Priorities
Your leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards the achievement of its business goals. It will be your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team to deliver their best performance and align the team's daily actions with the strategic vision of the ministry.
As the Manager, Student Transportation Unit, you will:
• Motivate, coach, mentor and manage a team of professional staff, while supporting and promoting a productive, diverse and inclusive work environment
• Lead the planning, development, research and evaluation of policy initiatives and programs, including the ongoing impact to legislation, regulation, and program frameworks and to oversee policy development
• Lead and direct stakeholder relations, consultations, and engagement and oversee partnership and consensus building in delivering programs that support ministry strategies and goals
• Provide expertise and advice to ministry senior management and staff on policy/program development and implementation options, recommendations, risks, and issues management strategies
• Lead the team in developing data analytics and to implement refinements to funding model and associated policy/regulations.

How do I qualify?

Leadership and Management Skills:

• You have leadership experience to inspire, engage, motivate, develop, and mentor professional staff to achieve results on high-profile initiatives.
• You have demonstrated success fostering an environment of continuous improvement, creativity, and excellence.
• You are a collaborative leader and have incorporated the principles of inclusion and diversity across all elements of your management style.

Technical Expertise:

• You are experienced in policy and program development, implementation and/or evaluation methods to provide evidence-based options and recommendations to senior management.
• You have experience in the management of complex policies, regulations, or programs, including risk management, funding allocation, quality assurance and securing value for money.
• You have demonstrated knowledge of government approvals and decision-making processes, with experience in overseeing / preparing of Cabinet submissions, recommendations, policy materials, briefing notes, etc.
• You have experience in undertaking and guiding quantitative and qualitative research and analysis of demographic, economic, financial, and program-related information.

Strategic Planning:

• You have experience leading strategic business planning and evaluation in addition to multi-year business planning and program review.
• You have demonstrated project management experience to develop business change management options, proposals, and strategies to maximize the effectiveness of programs and service delivery.
• You can review and evaluate new/existing policies and related legislation for relevance and application.
• You have experience providing thoughtful and strategic advice to senior executives on approaches and innovative solutions to address complex policy and/or program issues.
• You have highly developed judgement skills and political acuity to anticipate and manage program issues.

Communication Skills and Relationship Management:

• You have demonstrated stakeholder management skills to build and maintain collaborative relationships across a broad range of stakeholders and with key partners.
• You use effective consultation and negotiation skills to build credibility and consensus with colleagues, stakeholders, and senior management.
• You have superior written and oral communication skills to guide the analysis, prioritization and response to all issues including preparation of comprehensive reports, Cabinet Submissions/Cabinet papers, public statements, and strategic communications.
• You exercise a high level of political acuity and judgement when managing issues and developing and providing advice for confidential matters.