Grant & Incentive Program Manager

Job Description Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Urban Design, the Grant and Incentive Program Manager is responsible for managing the delivery and ongoing business functions related to the Region’s complex, and politically sensitive Regional grant and incentive programs.

• University Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and qualifications may be considered.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible, relevant municipal experience.
• Experience in the delivery of grant and incentive programs.
• Experience in dealing with highly sensitive or confidential information.
• Sound knowledge of the Municipal Act, Planning Act and Regulations, Development Charges Act, Provincial policies, plans and guidelines, Regional Official Plan, Community Improvement Plans, budgeting practices.
• Knowledge of project management practices, including project development, scheduling, monitoring, and control systems.
• Ability to lead the procurement of consultants, management of consultant’s work and staff, and financial accountability for project budget for consultant assignment.
• Computer applications experience with MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Power Point), MS Outlook, MS Project or other project management software.
• Registered Professional Planner and a full member in good standing with both the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and Canadian Institute of Planners is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reviews grant and incentive program applications for alignment with program requirements.
• Makes recommendations for approval of grant and incentive applications.
• Leads and oversees the integration of economic development, finance, and development planning teams in the application review process.
• Manages all adjudication processes for approval of grant and incentive applications.
• Defines problems and identifies viable solutions in the review of grant and incentive program applications.
• Mitigates financial, legal and political risks in program implementation, through effective program management and on-going program review.
• Assists legal counsel in the preparation and execution of legal agreements.
• Provides technical expertise, advice and guidance to senior leadership, and committees of Regional Council, on complex grant and incentive program applications requiring Council approval.
• Makes recommendations on the alignment of local grant and incentive programs with Regional programs.
• Leads the development and implementation of a communication and marketing strategy for grant and incentive programs.

• Analyzes the effectiveness including return on investment of grant and incentive programs through the development of performance measures.
• Researches and analyzes emerging directions in economic incentives and makes recommendations on new programs and how to adopt new approaches.
• Reviews programs and provides recommendations on the implementation of risk management measures.
• Makes recommendations for continuous improvements for grant and incentive programs.
• Ensures program changes are aligned with legislative requirements (e.g. Municipal Act).
• Develops, manages, and administers work programs and implementation plans for reviews.
• Manages specialized external consulting teams.
• Prepares and presents reports to senior management, committees of Regional Council, interested parties and the public on program changes.
• Develops and implements consultation and engagement plans for reviews of grant and incentive programs.
• Coordinates the activities and performance of project staff, providing work direction, assigning tasks, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems, and ensuring project deliverables are achieved and timelines are met.

• Builds and maintains a network of relationships with Regional and Local Councilors, the development community, local municipal staff, and staff in other Regional divisions/departments (Finance, Legal services, Niagara Regional Housing, Development Planning, Economic Development).
• Leads, facilitates and plans meetings with interested parties on grant and incentive programs.
• Participates in and represents the department at pre-consultation meetings.
• Identifies, manages and addresses inquiries, issues and conflict raised by interested parties.
• Represents the Department on grant program matters before committees of Regional Council, local area municipalities, the Province of Ontario, external and internal working groups, and interested parties.
• Effectively manages and engages interested parties in complex issues.

Administers and approves the acquisition of goods and services for their direct reports in accordance with the procurement (10% of time)

• Works closely with staff in Finance to analyze quarterly forecasts from local municipalities for grant and incentive programs.
• Provides regular and ad-hoc updates and reports on grant and incentive programs.
• Provides work direction to the Administrative Assistant and Students in the processing of grant and incentive program applications and invoices.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.

• Must maintain ability to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.