MANAGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

City of Toronto • $126K — $176K *

Toronto, ON M3C 0E3In-Person

Education, Government & Non-Profit

5 - 7 years of experience

Today

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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

Post-secondary education in business or economic development plus relevant management experience.
Extensive experience with Business Improvement Areas or non-profits.
Considerable experience leading diverse teams and managing in unionized settings.
Strong stakeholder engagement skills, especially with community organizations and political figures.
Experience in business improvement initiatives, ideally related to economic development best practices.
Proficient in budgeting and financial management.
Knowledgeable in change management strategies for organizational transformation.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategic plans for the BIA Office aligned with departmental goals.
Manage and mentor staff, fostering teamwork and innovation.
Oversee daily operations and performance evaluations for unit staff.
Administer annual budgets, ensuring adherence to financial constraints.
Improve program delivery through continuous evaluation and adaptation.
Support partnerships with stakeholders for issue resolution and service improvement.
Lead the implementation of growth strategies and accountability models for BIAs.

Benefits

Full-time permanent position with stability.
Opportunity to lead and influence Economic Development initiatives.
Work in a dynamic environment with a focus on community engagement.
Engage with various stakeholders, enhancing networking opportunities.
Promote the growth and vibrancy of local economic development.

Full Job Description

Job ID: 65488
Job Category: Economic Development, Arts & Culture
Division & Section: Economic Development & Culture, Economic Development
Work Location: City Hall
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, 1 Permanent Vacancy
Salary Range: $126,000.00 - $176,140.00
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 09-SEP-2026 to 30-SEP-2026

Job Summary:

The Manager, Economic Development will lead the Business Improvement Area (BIA) Office in the Economic Development & Culture division.

Toronto is the birthplace of BIAs and is home to the largest number of BIAs of any city in North America. They are a critical component to Toronto's local economy and yet are facing incredible challenges and encountering increasingly complex issues. The 10-year Action Plan for Toronto's Economy has identified 'Strong Main Streets' as a priority for the City and specifically sets an ambitious goal of growing the number of BIAs from 85 to 125 by 2035. We are looking for a Manager to lead the BIA office team through this period of change and growth, including the implementation of a new growth plan and accountability model that will support the sector to navigate historic and emerging issues.

The successful candidate will provide leadership in the areas of:

People leadership: You are a seasoned people leader with an ability to motivate a group of professionals within a unionized environment. You are a champion of creating a culture that supports teamwork, innovation, and service excellence.
Political acumen: You have a strong ability to navigate and understand complex political contexts and power dynamics. You are as comfortable in front of members of Council as you are speaking with small business owners.
Emotional intelligence & conflict resolution: You collaborate well with diverse audiences and excel at bringing together differing opinions towards a common goal. You have empathy for the BIAs and are not afraid to roll up your sleeves to help solve a problem.
Relationship-building and communication: You communicate well with diverse audiences, with an ability to clarify complex processes and build relationships with business owners, BIAs, elected officials and senior leadership.
Governance: Your experience of working with BIAs or other non-profit board of directors gives you an strong grasp of board governance.
Change management: You lead teams through change effectively, bringing people together around a common vision, helping them navigate new priorities, processes, and ways of working. You build trust, foster buy-in, and support teams and stakeholders through periods of transition to support successful outcomes.

Major Responsibilities:

Develops and implements detailed plans and recommends policies regarding program- specific requirements. Develops BIA Offices goals and objectives to align with the overall strategic planning of the Section and Division.
Manages, motivates and trains the unit's staff, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, and continuous learning; and encourages innovation in others.
Manages the day to day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work. Authorizes and controls vacation and overtime requests. Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments and recommends disciplinary action when necessary.
Develops, recommends and administers the annual budgets for the unit, and ensures that the unit's expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
Cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the Unit, evaluating program delivery on an ongoing basis in consultation with staff, senior management, service users and partners, and implementing and managing change to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Improves the operating performance of contracted and other service partners by providing professional advice, conflict resolution, administrative support, issue management, and leadership.
Provides leadership on and develops strategies for the implementation of a new growth plan and accountability model that will support the sector to navigate historic and emerging issues.
Ensures excellent customer service is provided to both internal and external customers.
Ensures that programs and services are current and relevant, by conducting periodic reviews of program goals and objectives, operating procedures and annual budgets.
Develops and manages requests for proposals in accordance with the City's policies and procedures and manages evaluation and selection processes and contracts with suppliers.
Supports revenue-generating programs (e.g. grants, sponsorship, fees), where applicable, to achieve budget goals within City guidelines.
Participates collaboratively with management in the Division and other Divisions in advancing relevant Divisional and Corporate strategies. Provides leadership and advice to senior management on economic development issues, equity and inclusion, and operations.
Manages and resolves emerging issues and councillor inquiries. Represents the Division and builds positive relationships with Councillors and senior staff from the City and external organizations to facilitate the development of partnerships, leverage resources, and build support for the unit's mandate and programs.
Acts as an advocate on issues impacting BIAs including opportunities and challenges related to policies, programs, performance, service delivery, and other City Divisions and City Council.
Engages and consults with City Divisions, programs, agencies, and boards on priorities, policies and service delivery impacting BIAs.
Manages the development and administration of programs, services, and grants designed to enhance the vibrancy and economic well-being of main streets and the BIAs sector.
Develops and implements detailed project plans and links with appropriate internal and external partners regarding program specific requirements, ensuring program support for the project. Defines resources required for project implementation and service delivery and works with senior management and partners to source and secure requirements.
Drives initiatives to expand the reach, impact, and effectiveness of Toronto's BIAs through, sector modernization and innovation, and the implementation of strategic growth and accountability initiatives.
Develops and implements sector-specific strategies for strengthening main streets, supporting local economic development, improving organizational sustainability, and enhancing the capacity of BIAs to serve their members and communities.
Manages the facilitation of new business improvement areas, by providing advice and guidance, facilitating information meetings, ensuring proper notification, reporting on feasibility, and (where applicable) coordinating statutory polling and by-law preparation.
Negotiates and enters into funding partnerships with the private sector and other orders of government.
Provides leadership to the Division by providing advice to Senior Management on economic development issues, inclusivity and equity, and operations.
Represents the division at Community Councils, Standing Committees, and City Council, and at adjudicative bodies, on specific projects, policy issues and administrative issues relating to Economic Development.
Manages, supports, and represents the Division on inter-divisional and inter-agency working groups, committees and projects. Works with various partners to develop City policy on matters related to BIAs and main streets, providing an economic development perspective and comments to other City Divisions on their policy and program development activities.
Builds effective relationships with other orders of governments and funders to encourage support for main street initiatives and the BIA sector.
Monitors and reports on program results, the economic state BIAs, and the regional / national / international positioning of Toronto businesses and clusters.
Identifies trends impacting small business and the BIA sector through the gathering of field intelligence and provides input to new policies and programs supporting the economic growth of the City and builds consensus and partnerships to ensure implementation.
Develops and implements BIA-specific economic development strategies in partnership with BIAs, businesses and sector partners.
Monitors policy, program and regulatory changes at all levels of government for impact on BIAs and the sector and initiates appropriate municipal response.
Ensures compliance, including by partners and associations, with applicable City and Provincial policies related to unit programs and services
Monitors Standing Committee agendas to identify items which might impact the BIA sector.
Prepares reports for City Council and Committees.
Represents the City/Division by participating in local, national and international Economic Development conferences and events impacting the BIA sector.

Key Qualifications:

Post-secondary education in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function (e.g. Business, Economic Development, etc.) combined with relevant management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive experience working with Business Improvement Areas, community organizations or non-profit organizations.
Considerable experience leading, motivating, and building effective, diverse work teams to meet high performance and quality standards. Experience leading in a unionized environment is considered an asset.
Extensive experience working with stakeholders, including senior management, community organizations, political staff (e.g. City Council) to build strategic alliances, and navigate complex political landscapes.
Considerable experience in the planning, developing and implementation of business improvement initiatives (e.g. the Action Plan for Toronto's Economy), using best practices and opportunities to support change, innovation, and service delivery.
Considerable experience managing budgets and cashflow.
Considerable experience applying change management principles and practices to lead organizational transformation and service improvement initiatives with a both a staff team and other interested parties including City partner divisions, Councillors, BIAs, and other stakeholders.
Political acumen, strategic judgement and strong communication skills to effectively engage with all organizational levels, media and a diverse community stakeholder.
Strong problem solving, negotiation and conflict resolution skills to analyze complex issues, develop strategic solutions, forge strong relationships and facilitate consensus among diverse stakeholders.
Fundamental knowledge of municipal government responsibilities, services, issues, and legislation.
Ability to work well under pressure and deliver projects within precise constraints.
Effective decision making and sound judgement handling labour and public relations.
High accountability, adaptability and customer service orientation skills to address client needs while balancing corporate policies, goals and stakeholder interests.
Knowledge of relevant legislation and public policy shaping investment decisions, business operations, and community economic development.
Familiarity with government legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.
Economic Development Certification would be an asset in this position.

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