Project Manager

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Project Manager (Cowan Recreation Centre)

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time

Hours of Work: 35

Job location: City Hall

Pay: $46.15 To $57.69 Hourly

Grade/Band: 09

Job Posting Start Date: 1/15/26

Job Posting End Date: 1/29/26

Job Description:

Overview

We're building something extraordinary for our community and beyond - the Cowan Recreation Centre (CRC), a state-of-the-art destination for sport, fitness, and community connection.

Opening late 2026, this $174-million, all-season multi-use complex will feature an impressive lineup of amenities: a large aquatics centre with two stainless steel pools, a FIFA-sized indoor turf field, a versatile quad gymnasium, an indoor walking track, two dedicated cricket practice nets, and four multi-purpose rooms for community programs and events.

This isn't just big - it's groundbreaking. Designed to be one of Canada's greenest and most energy-efficient recreation centres, it will feature advanced geothermal heating and cooling and the largest solar array ever installed by the City, taking our environmental commitment to the next level. It will also be the most accessible facility in the region.

Built with sport tourism in mind, the Cowan Recreation Complex will attract provincial and national tournaments, welcome high-performance athletes from across Ontario, and generate significant tourism dollars - positioning Kitchener as a premier destination for sport and recreation.

We are looking for a creative and talented individual with proven project management experience to join the Community Services team in readying the CRC for the anticipated opening in late 2026. Reporting to the Manager, Customer Experience and Solutions, the Project Manager will work closely with the core project team, members of the senior management team, and key staff across the organization to lead projects and strategies supporting the operation and opening of the CRC facility.

You might be interested in this role if you're a skilled project manager with:

• experience ensuring the needs and priorities of the community are heard and met
• a background in sports, recreation particularly from the perspective of operations and facilities management
• demonstrated success in bringing alignment to a set of project outcomes where a broad range of perspectives are presented
• experience managing multiple, varied projects at the same time

Responsibilities

• Provides expert project management skills to lead the development of major projects and strategies related to the operations and opening of the Cowan Recreation Centre (CRC). Examples of projects/strategies may include, but are not limited to:
• Planning and support for the hiring, onboarding and training of CRC facility staff
• Facility opening event logistics and support
• The implementation of a technology strategy focused on the customer experience
• The coordination and development of standard operation procedures and handover plan for the facility
• Develops, tracks and manages projects, including budgets, scope and timelines.
• Provides regular updates against approved project milestones, and makes recommendations when changes are required to stay on time and on budget.
• Establishes and manages a regular cycle of project committee meetings, ensuring necessary documents and information are developed and shared with members in advance of meeting to facilitate productive meetings.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with staff across a diversity of departments and divisions to gather requirements, input and feedback while developing strategies related to the operations of the KIRC facility.
• Maintains positive working relationships with external stakeholders and consultants where needed.
• Conducts research on industry best practices related to operational and programming strategies for large-scale multi-sport facilities.
• Writes staff reports, caucus reports and presentations related to the operations and opening of the facility for City Council as directed.
• Supports the execution of projects being led by the Project Manager of Customer
• Experience within the Community Services Department.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education

• 3-year degree or diploma

Experience

• Minimum 4 years' experience managing complex projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to design and execute a project plan that collaboratively engages a wide variety of stakeholders while ensuring project timelines are met.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and maintain relationships with external stakeholders and consultants
• An understanding of municipal facility rental practices and revenue generating strategies
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Planning, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to track and manage project milestones and timelines and provide regular progress reports.
• Ability to interact professionally and diplomatically with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Superior written, oral and presentation communication skills.
• Skill in the use of a personal computer using software packages such as Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint.
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Department: CSD-Community Services Department

Division: CSD-Corporate Customer Service Division

Union Code: C.U.P.E. Local 791

Req Id: 673

Job Code: 1523

Number of Openings: 1

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