Job Description

Employment Status: Regular Full-Time





? Pension ? Dental Insurance ? Disability Insurance ? Health Insurance ? Life Insurance


? Weekdays

Deputy Commissioner, Strategy & Innovation

Competition Number:

18769

Primary Work Location:

Waterloo City Hall

Posting Status:

Internal / External Job Posting

Salary Range:

$159,263 - $199,094(Band: AB)

Number of Positions:

1

Employment Group:

Management

Job Status:

Regular, Full Time

Posting Release Date:

August 8, 2025

Hours of Work:

35 hours / week

Posting Closing Date:

September 7, 2025

Why work with us:

The City of Waterloo is a rewarding place to work. Each day, you will support and/or participate in the delivery of services that impact residents of this city, making it a great place to live, work and play for everyone.



Home to two world-class universities, a top-ranked college, a tech ecosystem, entrepreneurs and small businesses, there is a readiness to do things differently in Waterloo. We are a community of builders with a vision to be a leader in sustainability and to build a future-ready community for all. We are committed to workplace wellbeing and providing an inclusive, safe and enjoyable work environment.



For more information about the City of Waterloo's

Strategic Plan, Vision, Values & Guiding Principles,

please click here:

City of Waterloo 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

.

What we offer:

Supportive and caring organization that promotes respect, inclusivity, health, safety and wellness; Dedication to the organization's commitment for Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion through ongoing training and access to related programs and workshops, opportunities to connect with others around topics of social justice and equity, and opportunities to be involved with the initiatives that guide this corporate journey; Certification as a Living Wage Champion; Fulsome employer-paid benefits package (extended health and dental care), including paid sick days, long-term disability, life insurance, Employee and Family Assistance Program and Maternity/Parental Leave Top-Up; Defined Benefit Pension Plan (OMERS) eligibility for all employees; Flexible work schedules, paid vacation, personal days and management lieu time; Substantial internal and external training and development opportunities; Opportunities to get involved and give back to the community; Employee-wide events, activities, site visits, BBQs, etc. Complimentary FitPass for City of Waterloo employees and family members for leisure, swim, and fitness drop-in programs; and, So much more!

What you will do:

The Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Innovation is responsible for providing high-level vision, direction and oversight to the City's strategic planning process, and to assist in identifying solutions to address complex community challenges. Through strategic leadership and technical expertise, the Deputy Commissioner will lead the City's approach to Sustainability and the Climate Emergency; provide strategic direction to further develop/implement a city-wide Lean Six Sigma program; lead advocacy efforts with government and agency representatives; and work closely with key strategic partners, NGOs and members of the community. The Deputy Commissioner will play a central role in monitoring and assessing municipal policies, standards, legislation, and best practices as well as oversight of the READI (Reconciliation Equity Accessibility Diversity and Inclusion) Division and the Economic Development Division.



Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) your primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy

Assist Council in leading and providing oversight and monitoring to the City's strategic planning process. Actively communicate with all levels of employees on an ongoing basis using a variety of methods to build awareness and enthusiasm for the strategic work and achievements. Support the corporate management team (CMT) in establishing a long-term vision and goals for strategic outcomes based on input from the community, Council and staff. Lead business plan projects and deliver outcomes in support of the City's strategic plan. Develop and maintain reporting system with key performance indicators to measure progress and support staff in delivering on the strategic plan. Build and sustain effective liaisons with key external strategic partners, including area municipalities and the post-secondary institutions. Ensure that the City's Vision, Mission and Values are reflected in all projects and represented at all levels of interaction with internal and external partners. Build trusting relationships and create a safe environment within the organization for open and honest discussion about service performance, breaking down barriers, challenging the status quo, and taking calculated risks in collaboratively developing new corporate and community opportunities. Monitor, assess and track key legislation that applies to local government including the introduction of new laws and regulations that are relevant to the City of Waterloo and its operations.

Economic Development

Provide strategic oversight to the Economic Development Division, supporting investment attraction, business retention and expansion programs, strategic land development, and targeted sector growth. Foster a thriving Arts and Creative Sector ecosystem by cultivating strategic partnerships and collaborative opportunities with arts and cultural community, businesses, institutions, and government agencies. Identify and leverage emerging economic trends, including cleantech, health-tech, and creative industries, to support diverse and resilient economic growth. Maintain awareness about the issues of importance to the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) and provide support to the CAO on BIA-related matters.

READI, Corporate Initiatives, Special Projects

Build operational excellence and integrity by recommending policy, goals, objectives and best practices to the CAO, management and project teams. Lead corporate initiatives and special projects to advance the CAO's strategic agenda and support the CAO's shared mandate with Council. Collaborate with senior staff on policy and program development to enable innovative services and programs within the organization and for the community. Lead and collaborative with the City's Reconciliation Equity Accessibility Diversity and Inclusion Division in support of a diverse and inclusive workplace and community. Coordinate/facilitate joint service and collaborative initiatives with other municipal partners. Represent the Office of the CAO on corporate projects/initiatives/committees.

Environmental Sustainability and Resilience

Lead the Sustainability team in monitoring the City's environmental impact and supporting actions to drive toward our corporate targets. Lead the Corporate Climate Action Plan development and implementation along with monitoring the Corporate Adaptation Plan implementation. Research and present best practices for impactful sustainability engagement programs to support a continued culture shift toward a conservation mindset. Work with various internal divisions to incorporate sustainability practices and set climate change goals. Oversee sustainability engagement initiatives and support education, events, services and programs for partners to engage in sustainability initiatives. Develop, manage and track environmental KPIs across the Corporation and provide regular updates on performance.

Governance and Service Excellence

Champion a culture of leadership, performance, and accountability for results. Design, develop and manage complex organization-wide initiatives to improve governance and organizational service excellence from the perspective of continuous improvement, based on CMT direction and employee input and feedback. Lead the tracking/monitoring of legislative changes, policies and trends affecting municipal operations, providing analysis and recommendations; and active participation in related advocacy. Active participation and coordination with Government Relations staff in grant applications and overall relationship management with other levels of government, institutions and related partners.

Division Leadership

Directly supervise and provide direction to the internal Environmental Sustainability Team (EST); the READI team and the Economic Development division. On a day-to-day basis manage, support and mentor Sustainability staff, including informal support for the Executive Officer role in the CAO office. Lead a high-functioning team in designing and delivering strategies and service reviews to ensure effective and efficient city services that are environmentally sustainable and aligned with strategic DEI initiatives and values. Annual work planning, priority setting and business plan development in addition to budget development and financial monitoring. Participate actively as a member of various cross-functional teams including; Extended Corporate Management Team and the Corporate Management Team. Other duties as assigned.

What you will bring:

Four (4) year degree in a related field with a minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. Professional designation or master's degree in a related field such as Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Municipal Officer (CMO) through the AMCTO or a related designation. Completion of the Municipal Administration Program and/or Emergency Management Systems Training would be considered an asset. Expert knowledge in Municipal, Regional, Provincial and Federal Governments, applicable Legislations and awareness of current social, economic and political priorities. Demonstrated success in developing and implementing shared vision, strategies and business plans with wide-ranging interests and impacts. Ability to translate vision and direction into action and drive results. Demonstrated project management skills, and ability to bring people together internally and externally to manage numerous projects and deadlines concurrently. Proficient with management of consulting services and multi-disciplinary teams. Comprehensive and thorough knowledge of sustainability principles, particularly as related to mitigation and adaptation to climate change within the region of waterloo context. Deep knowledge of and connection to issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity and related intersections with climate mitigation/adaptation and a keen understanding of the barriers faced by marginalized and under-represented populations. Passion for helping to create a more inclusive community for everyone particularly through the work of the READI team. Commitment to outstanding customer service with the ability to lead, motivate, influence and work collaboratively and effectively with the public, internal customers and other key strategic partners. Solid communication and interpersonal skills to effectively cultivate relationships internally and externally and foster a high-performing work environment. Demonstrated leadership, coaching and human relations skills to effectively counsel, advise, coach, train and develop staff. Effective organizational and time management skills. Ability to weigh competing demands, set priorities and goals and achieve objectives and results in a timely manner.

What we will require:

A Police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check satisfactory to the City Proof of your current and valid certificate(s), licenses and/or educational qualifications, if applicable

Be You @ Waterloo (Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging):

The City of Waterloo acknowledges that our work takes place on the land traditionally cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Chonnonton Peoples, and is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. The City is dedicated to advancing the organization's commitment to Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion and to reducing barriers to employment opportunities. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups, including Black, Indigenous, racialized communities, women, persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ are encouraged for positions at all levels within the organization. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to self-identify in their application.



Accommodations are available throughout all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code and other applicable legislation. We encourage applicants to access support(s) that may be needed. To request accommodation during the application process, please email recruitment@waterloo.ca, quoting the position and competition number. Applicants advancing to the next stages of the recruitment process will be provided with additional opportunities to make their needs known.