VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

CreateTO is shaping Toronto’s future through impactful real estate solutions. A City of Toronto agency, CreateTO works collaboratively with internal stakeholders, external partners and community members to create more livable, sustainable and inclusive communities. CreateTO is here to increase the social, cultural and economic value of our city’s $27-billion real estate portfolio, ensuring positive impacts for residents and a bright future for Toronto. If you’re passionate about contributing to the best use of one of North America’s largest and most valuable real estate portfolios, we’d love to have you on the team.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President, Corporate & Strategic Initiatives is a trusted senior leader, empowered deputy and strategic partner who ensures the CEO’s vision and priorities are consistently advanced inside and outside the organization.

This role acts as a key representative of the CEO in high-profile external engagements, city-building initiatives, intergovernmental negotiations, and stakeholder partnerships, while also ensuring seamless internal operations and alignment across CreateTO’s executive and corporate functions.

This role makes executive-level decisions consistent with the CEO’s intent, resolves complex issues, and drives execution of strategic and governance priorities, building trust and credibility across the organization and with key external partners.

PRINCIPAL FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Acts as the primary strategic integrator and ensures organizational priorities are aligned with the CEO’s direction and Board mandates.
• Serves as the CEO’s official representative in high-profile external projects, negotiations, and intergovernmental discussions as delegated.
• Makes day-to-day operational and policy decisions on behalf of the CEO where appropriate, maintaining alignment with the CEO’s vision and CreateTO’s mandate.
• Identifies, frames and resolves critical issues, removing barriers and ensuring proactive risk management for both internal operations and external engagements.
• Builds alignment and accountability within the Senior Executive Team and provides guidance on complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Represents CreateTO and CEO in meetings with City Counsellors, the Mayor’s Office, governments, partners, stakeholders, and the public.
• Negotiates and advocates on behalf of the CEO to advance key city-building projects, partnerships and Council-directed initiatives.
• Builds and maintains high-trust relationships externally to ensure the CEO’s positions and organizational priorities are well understood and supported.
• Serves as a credible spokesperson for CreateTO on sensitive or strategic matters when delegated.
• Oversees the daily workflow of the CEO’s office, ensuring effective internal communications, briefing preparation and action tracking.
• Chairs or co-chairs internal working groups and task forces to accelerate delivery of priority projects.
• Monitors execution of corporate plans, strategic initiatives and Council directions, ensuring accountability and timely reporting to the CEO and Board.
• Coaches senior leaders to align operations with the CEO’s standards and organizational goals.
• Leads the development and tracking of business plans, frameworks and performance measures.
• Ensures strategic direction remains aligned with Council mandates and City’s real estate model.
• Advises the CEO on policy trends, governance risks, and political considerations, and recommends proactive strategies.
• Oversees preparation of high-quality reports, Board materials and public communications.
• Anticipates emerging risks or challenges, and takes decisive action to resolve them in consultation with the CEO or independently where delegated.
• Exercises sound judgment and political acuity in handling sensitive issues.
• Acts as the final escalation point for cross-functional problems requiring CEO-level resolution.

CANDIDATE ATTRIBUTES

• Post-secondary education in business administration, public policy, political science, public administration or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum 10+ years of senior leadership experience, including significant experience representing a CEO or senior executive in external negotiations and governance forums.

• Proven record of success in high-level stakeholder engagement, government relations, and public sector or corporate strategy.

• Deep understanding of municipal governance, political context, and intergovernmental dynamics.

• Exceptional leadership presence and influence, with the credibility to represent the CEO externally.

• Superior oral and written communication skills, with experience preparing and delivering executive-level briefings, presentations and public statements.

• Strong strategic thinking and proven ability to align big-picture direction with operational execution.

• High level of discretion, political acuity, and decisiveness under pressure.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related executive tools.

With a highly engaged team, CreateTO scores well above benchmarked organizations in terms of its employees’ passion, commitment, diversity and pride. As part of the organization’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027, “Inspire internal success” was named as one of five priority objectives.

CreateTO wants its team to reflect the city we represent, and we strive to provide an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective, all of which are proven to build better companies. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work and be themselves.

We provide equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure barrier-free employment in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Candidates can request accommodation related to the protected grounds at any stage of the hiring process.

Interested and qualified candidates are required to submit their resume and cover letter. This posting is for an existing vacancy. Submissions that don’t include the requirements noted above will not be considered. Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. No agencies at this time please.

For more information on CreateTO, please visit our website at www.createto.ca.

Please note that this is a hybrid working environment.