Engagement Specialist

Public Works – Operations Support

Contract Full-Time; 13 Months

Pay Band: $89,469 - $111,834 per annum

Work mode: Hybrid *see below for more details about this work mode. 

Location: 2 Copper Road, Brampton

Hours of work: 35 hours per week

The Role:

The Engagement Specialist reports to the Manager of Education Programs and Services. This position will ensure that the GE Booth wastewater plant and the Arthur P Kennedy water treatment plant are well represented in the South Peel community due to plans for significant residential and business growth from Lakeview Community Village.

The Engagement Specialist will be integrated into daily Plant operations and be familiar with on-going plant construction so that they can become a subject matter expert on Plant activity. They will be the main plant liaison and will provide support to Marketing and Communications, while being the lead for community engagement and stakeholder relations.

The Engagement Specialist is responsible for building positive relationships with target audiences and key local stakeholders. The role may include troubleshooting any problems between the target audiences and the Region of Peel and must work to understand the unique perspective of the target audiences, and their wants, needs, and priorities, in order to improve their experience with and the reputation of the Region of Peel.  Part of this relationship building will include educating the community about the importance and function of the plants and water and wastewater services.

The Engagement Specialist oversees the necessary strategic workplans and comprehensive research to support the communication plan and develop effective community engagement and issues resolution.

In this role you will:

• Oversee and action the GE Booth Strategic Communication plan:
  • The GE Booth Strategic Communication plan has been designed to guide engagement, outreach and communications work within the vicinity of the GE Booth wastewater treatment plant for the next 10 years. This role manages the communication strategy document to ensure timely implementation and develops and leads the implementation of related outreach programs.
  • The Engagement Specialist will identify and use tools designed to develop and maintain cooperative, collaborative and strategic relationships between the Region of Peel, local residents, businesses and stakeholders. They will collect, monitor, identify and analyze data to determine the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement techniques, identify risks, and recommend opportunities to enhance the Strategic Communication plan and measures.
  • They will collaborate closely with Peel and OCWA’s water and wastewater plant staff, Regulatory Compliance, Marketing and Communications staff and Education, Programs and Services teams.
  • As a key member of the staff team at the water and wastewater treatment plants and a strategic liaison, this role will identify ideas for positive news stories about innovation, sustainability and upgrades related to plant operations, and support ongoing two-way information sharing with the community and as a direct support to Marketing and Communications team.
• In Person Community Outreach:
  • One-on-One and face-to-face interaction is a necessary part of community engagement and may form the basis of many aspects of this role. For example, the Specialist will actively support the South Peel community engagement and outreach activities through in person outreach at the Lakeview Village Discovery Centre and other community events, as identified. They will act as a key representative from the Region for the lakeview village project.
• Research and Provide Strategic Input:
  • With the new GE Booth Strategic Communications plan, ongoing research is required to ensure best practices are considered and implemented. Specific research activities will involve:
  • Ongoing environmental scan of North American wastewater treatment plants to assess any new information related to communication engagement best practices.
  • Monitor social media to identify impacts and opportunity to support the positive reputation of the plants.
  • Research local influencers and key stakeholders and develop positive relationships with them to support effective communication.
  • Ongoing annual South Peel community and stakeholder survey to support strategic decision making about engagement needs.
• Provide Program Support:
  • The Specialist provides support to water and wastewater plant programs including advice and guidance related to community impact and engagement needs. There are significant current and future operational and capital programs in this work area. This role researches and develops engagement plans to support plant programs where needed and ensures the necessary communication support is developed so the community is aware of any potential impacts of plant construction operations (be it noise, aesthetics, traffic or odour). For example, this role can lead the development of the rollout of new odour monitoring program at GE Booth.
• Work with External Agencies and Conservation Authorities:
  • The Specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining partnerships with community agencies, local municipalities, key stakeholders such as Lakeview Partners, Real Estate Agents, local BIA’s, etc. This role would identify existing outreach and education programs, in South Peel, close to Lakeview Community Village, to identify where partnerships would be beneficial to the community and the Region of Peel and to ensure key program information is highlighted and supported. Ultimately the Specialist is the key point of contact for external community agencies.
• Other Operational and Reporting Duties:
  • The Specialist will also support writing of Council reports to update Council on community engagement related to Lakeview Community Village, as well as writing and reviewing of other related staff reports as needed. Any procurement documents related to the GE Booth Communications Strategy for future goods and services is coordinated by this role.

What the role requires:

• A university degree related to science, environment, engineering, teaching or communications field with a combined minimum of five-years’ experience, with a strong focus on community engagement and outreach.
• Project Management, research and analytical skills.
• Proven experience in strategic program planning and ability to work independently.
• Extensive experience coordinating and leading projects.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills for delivering presentations, communicating with stakeholders, and participating on project teams.
• Strong written communication and report writing skills.
• Proficient computer skills, particularly with MS Office products.
• Working knowledge of current Public Works programs, practices and principles an asset.

Perks @ Peel and why you will love working for us: 

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, Vision benefit plan including psychological health.
• Automatic enrolment into OMERS pension plan.
• Accrue Vacation on a monthly basis up to 3 weeks per annum. 
• 3 Paid personal days and floating holidays.
• Annual performance review and merit increases based on performance. 
• Supportive leadership and a culture of respect and inclusion.

Work Mode & Job Location: In this role, you'll enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement. This means you'll have the ability to work off-site and on-site as needed, depending on operational needs at the 2 Copper Road, Brampton worksite. The frequency of on-site work may vary from week to week, depending on operational demands, which can evolve over time.

It's important to note that your off-site work location must be within the province of Ontario. This ensures that we're compliant with all regulations and policies.

Interview: Our recruitment process will include video conference technology. 

Kindly ensure to regularly monitor your spam and junk email folders, as important communications regarding your application may be directed there.

At Peel Region, we value being open and transparent with our community. Peel Region will not be dissolved. The Ontario government has updated legislation to recalibrate the scope of the Transition Board to seek recommendations on land use planning, water & wastewater, regional roads, and waste management. Peel remains committed to providing uninterrupted services to our residents and businesses through the review. Skilled and qualified professionals are and will be needed to deliver services to the Peel community regardless of the governance model. For information about our transition and how we continue delivering services, visit peelregion.ca/transition.

Join our diverse team and be a part of our vision. Think big. Channel your creativity. Seize the moment. At Peel Region we can make a lasting impact together. If this opportunity matches your qualifications and experience, please apply on-line. 

Peel Region consists of the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the town of Caledon.  Peel Region delivers essential services to more than 1.5 million residents and approximately 200,000 businesses.

We’re working to create a community that is safe, inclusive, and accessible.  A place where everyone feels they belong and can access the services they need to thrive throughout each stage of life.

Our workforce is 6,700 strong and since 1974, we’ve been delivering a wide range of resident focused services. Our services include paramedic services, health programs, long-term care and services for seniors, child care support, garbage collection and recycling, waste water and water treatment, road maintenance, financial assistance, and housing support. 

Recognized by Canada's Healthy Workplace Month® with the Great Employer Award presented by Excellence Canada, Peel Region is a place where everyone feels they belong. We strive to develop a workplace that values and respects diversity, practices inclusion, recognizes the unique contributions and abilities of all people and facilitates innovative thinking. At Peel Region, people come first. Each employee has an important role within our community and when we work together, it’s impactful. We encourage you to join us in delivering essential services and programs to our diverse community. You won't find a better opportunity than Peel Region.

Peel Region is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is respected and valued for their contributions, and where everyone is treated fairly and has opportunity to grow and develop. As one of the most diverse regions in Canada, we are committed to establishing a qualified workforce that is reflective of the population we serve.

Peel Region is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process, upon request. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs. Accessible formats and communication supports are available. Please contact zzg-hrtalentacquisition@peelregion.ca 

Please be advised, Peel Region uses email to communicate with applicants for open job competitions and does not use AI technology in any part of the recruitment process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time sensitive correspondence via email (i.e., testing bookings, interview dates), it is imperative that applicants check their email regularly. If we do not hear back from applicants, we will assume that you are no longer interested in the position and your application will be removed from the competition.