Job Classification Title: CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Job ID #: 1741190 X
Division: Economic Development & Culture
Section: Cultural Services
Work Location: CITY HALL, 100 QUEEN ST W
Job Stream: Policy, Planning & Research
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary/Rate: $39.21 – $42.98 / Hour
Hours of Work (bi-weekly): 70.00
Shift Information: N/A
Affiliation: L79 Full-time
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Date: 20-Aug-2012
Closing Date: 04-Sep-2012
Job Description
Major Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Senior Cultural Affairs Officer, the Cultural Development Officer assists in the development and implementation of cultural programs and projects to foster and enhance the growth of Toronto as a creative City.
- Identifies emerging cultural issues through knowledge of trends and changes in the sector, assesses the required resources, develops strategies and proposes initiatives to increase cultural impact on the economic and social life of the city
- Provides background research on complex cultural issues and supports stakeholder consultations; information flow and internal City review processes
- Researches, organizes and writes briefing materials, discussion papers, policy proposals, reports and correspondence on cultural issues. Prepares reports on complex cultural subjects for consideration by City Council and its Standing Committees. Example, progress implementing the Culture Plan
- Maintains and updates data on culture in Toronto in order to coordinate and prepare bi-annual progress reports for City Council on eleven cultural indicators
- Provides input, analysis and direction on next steps into such documents as the ‘Creative City Planning Framework’ as a supporting document to the ‘Agenda for Prosperity’ and ‘Imagine a Toronto’
- Identifies opportunities (e.g., trade missions, major festivals) and proposes actions that the City could take to support the ‘Agenda for Prosperity’ to foster Global Toronto through culture
- Plans, conducts, interprets and evaluates research and policy studies, including joint projects within division and with other City divisions, task forces and committees, other levels of government and other external groups and agencies
- Consults and/or works collaboratively with external groups, including the development of contacts with others at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, non-governmental organizations and interest groups, other agencies and the private sector
- Facilitates and initiates new and innovative partnerships to support cultural organizations to advance the development of the sector
- Maintains awareness of programs at other levels of government and conducts consultations with Toronto cultural organizations to foster international connections and profile for Toronto as a creative city
- Leads intra- and/or inter-divisional staff teams on special projects. Oversees the work of outside consultants
- Participates on internal or external work teams, steering committees, etc. Contributes content and reviews report drafts for congruence with City objectives.
- Works with other City Divisions to ensure that cultural and creative objectives are properly aligned with corporate initiatives (e.g. developing recommendations with Affordable Housing Office for Artists Affordable Housing in the City’s Housing Plan 2008)
- Represents the City’s interest on committees for national and provincial projects such as CADAC: Canadian Arts Database des Arts Canadienne; and the OMBI Culture Indicators Expert Panel
- Maintains the tracking database of organizations receiving guarantees for annual reporting purposes
- Acts as a point of contact for external and internal inquires providing information related to cultural initiatives
Key Qualifications:
- Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:
- Experience delivering complex planning and strategic assignments from inception through to implementation while balancing political, divisional and stakeholder interests combined with a thorough understanding of the Culture Sector.
- Experience in preparing comprehensive reports and the application of relevant statistical information to support analysis and decision making.
Post secondary education in a discipline pertinent to the job function with relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
You must also have:
- Well developed project management skills including the ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently and lead teams.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to organize work of a multidisciplinary group of technical and professional staff both in-house and contract.
- Excellent research and analytical skills to support policy development activities; ability to conceptualize and develop options and recommendations to support decision-making.
- Well developed communication skills, both written and oral with a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at a professional level with senior staff, consultants, staff and officials from across the organization and external stakeholders.
- Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
- Sound judgment and ability to handle matters of a confidential nature.
