Director, Strategy, Innovation and Communication

The District Municipality of Muskoka is currently recruiting for a

Director, Strategy, Innovation and Communications

**Posting Date**: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
**Starting Rate**: $123,501 annually
**Salary Range**: $123,501 - $144,478 annually
**Hours of Work**: 37.5 hours per week
**Classification**: Management
**Status**: Permanent full-time

**The District**:
Muskoka is a great place to live and play, and the District is a four-season municipality passionate about
protecting, servicing and caring for this community. We have opportunities that will allow you to learn, grow and
build your career amongst other ambitious leaders and innovators. We offer a competitive compensation
package and are committed to promoting diversity, accessibility and inclusion. **It’s what we do**

**The Opportunity**:
Reporting directly to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), this newly created leadership role will manage and
coordinate the corporate strategic planning process and oversee the performance measurement framework to
support the delivery of strategic planning commitments. The Director, Strategy, Innovation and
Communications will lead development and implementation of the corporate communications and customer
service strategies and provide leadership in the development and delivery of strategic initiatives, as well as
administrative and inter-municipal projects that align with the District’s strategic and emerging priorities through
continuous improvement and innovation projects.

**What you will do**:

- Provide leadership, direction, and technical support to divisional staff, which includes Communications,

Continuous Improvement, Corporate Strategic Planning and Customer Service consistent with District
values, policies and procedures, including strategic planning, recruiting, development and performance
evaluation.
- Manage development and implementation of Council’s corporate strategic plan and associated action

plans.
- Manage and oversee corporate strategic plan performance measurement process including developing

measures, reporting, status updating, corrective action and continuous improvement.
- Lead the development of a multi‐year, multi-media communications strategy that addresses internal and

external communications strategies, and provide leadership for its implementation
- Lead various corporate initiatives that drive continuous improvement and innovation throughout the

organization, including managing research into municipal best practices, leading organizational reviews
and recommending organizational changes to policy and practice.
- Develop a corporate-wide approach to community engagement. Evaluate and report on accomplishments.
- Oversee and lead special projects that may involve utilizing cross-functional work teams, confirming and

securing funding and commitment from corporate sponsors, and consultation with external partners.
- Provide oversight of the District’s Customer Service Strategy and Service Excellence objectives in

Council’s Strategic Plan and make recommendations for enhancement and implementation strategies.
- Acts as a strategic advisor to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the District Strategic Leadership

Team (DSLT) on a broad range of issues. Provide research and analysis on pertinent issues, develop
policy, memorandums of understanding, or contracts, or make recommendations for appropriate action to
the CAO, DSLT, Committee or Council.
- Develop systems and processes to identify and inform the CAO of emerging issues that may require further

attention or action.
- Develop, recommend and implement annual capital and operating budgets and potential funding sources;
monitor and administer approved departmental budgets and report on same, authorize payment of
invoices.
**What you will need**:

- Minimum 4-year university degree in Communications, Business, Planning, Public Administration, or other

related program.
- Seven to 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including experience leading communications

in a large public or private sector organization, as well as progressively responsible management
experience.
- Experience in the leadership and management of complex strategic projects, including oversight of multi
- disciplinary professionals and project teams.
- Thorough understanding of municipal government structure, programs, services, priorities and issues,

stakeholder needs and interests and government, community and business trends and issues.
- Proven ability in leadership, strategic planning, designing or implementing change and achieving

performance objectives.
- Strong communication, organizational, analytical, interpersonal, teambuilding and coaching skills.

**What we are offering**:
The District is proud to offer the following benefits with this job:

- Health benefits
- Paid vacation
- Paid leaves
- OMERS pension
- Work-life flexibility
- Perks and discounts
- Wellness programs
- Fostering and fun environment
- Professional