Recreation Strategy Liaison Job Listing at City of Edmonton in Edmonton, AB (Job ID 50103)

Description

The City of Edmonton is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to lead the implementation and ongoing updates to the Approach to Community Recreation Facility Planning. The Approach is the City's overarching plan to meet community recreation facility planning in Edmonton. This strategic role will coordinate the Community Recreation and Culture Branch's commitment to providing exceptional recreation services to Edmontonians in a manner that is consistent with the facility planning method outlined in the Approach.

We are seeking a professional who has solid knowledge and experience in sport and recreation research and planning, capital projects, project management, relationship management, community engagement, strategic planning, and process development. Adding to our high performing team, the candidate will have a strong understanding of the City of Edmonton's district planning approach, strong business acumen, an ability to assess and evaluate creative opportunities and projects, and a passion for advancing recreation opportunities for our city aligned to the City's district plans.

Your success will be measured by your ability to achieve timely results in the context of a respectful, inclusive and service-minded style. With a focus on the City of Edmonton's Cultural Commitments of Safe, Helpful, Accountable, Integrated and Excellent, you will use your expertise in the following areas:

Key Responsibilities:

Research and Local Needs Assessments

• Provide strategic support to Branch Engagement and Research teams to coordinate ongoing research and engagement related to: public preferences and values related to recreation programming and amenities, determining utilization data, etc. for all publicly supported programs and amenities
• Analyze recreation participation trends locally and nationally as well as trends in facility design and operation that may impact City of Edmonton recreation facilities and amenities
• Work closely with the Sport Partnership team and other areas within the Community Recreation and Culture Branch and third party vendors  to collect and keep up to date information on Park and Facility needs for sport and recreation from a City wide perspective
• Work closely with the leadership group in Community Recreation and Culture to identify and prioritize recreation needs through research and results from planned public engagement efforts. Prepare leaders with reports and recommendations

Planning for Recreation Needs

• Participate in the 15 District planning exercises being led by Urban Planning to ensure that Recreation Facility development needs are considered and appropriately addressed during the development of District Plans, Area Structure Plans and any amendments to those plans
• Work closely with other Departments within the City to inform planning efforts so that appropriate land is being designated in newly developing areas to allow for the development of future recreation facilities and Recreation amenities in Parks
• Work closely with Infrastructure Planning and Design on District Park planning exercises including leading the strategy deliverables such as scope statements, stakeholder lists and risk registries that are required to initiate design development for funded Park sports/ recreation amenities on District Parks (such as tennis courts and shared partner amenities)

Amenity Strategy Development

• Recommend strategy regarding the overall capital plan for groupings of recreation facilities (i.e. arenas, outdoor pools) as improvements are considered, development of new and potential closure / replacement of existing facilities
• Develop business plans, strategies and plans that will direct and inform priorities and activities related to amenity strategies for those currently in scope of the Approach (pools, arenas, leisure and community centres and sportsfields)
• Act as primary liaison with other City Departments in the development and implementation of amenity plans and the planning of specific amenity capital projects related to the Approach
• Lead activities related to amenity strategy development including: ascertain the rates of utilization of amenities; identify and research recreation participation trends; assess financial accessibility of proposed recreation amenities; verify social inclusion and accessibility of proposed amenities; determining current supply of comparable amenities; benchmarking; forecasting trends; confirm preferences of reaction amenities; work closely with other teams in the City such as Event Attraction to ensure hosting opportunities are considered with amenity planning

Business Case Development to Support Amenity Needs

• Assist the Branch in capital and operating budget planning exercises by ensuring that the relevant information is available and prepared in a Business Case format
• Research available grant opportunities that would support infrastructure projects