Located within the traditional land of the Anishnaabek, Haudenosaunee and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples, the Town of The Blue Mountains is a four-season community with stunning natural features, including the Niagara Escarpment, Beaver Valley and the Georgian Bay shoreline. Internationally recognized as a four-season tourism destination, The Blue Mountains offers a high-quality lifestyle that caters to families looking to build a solid foundation, adventurers looking to go off the beaten path and relaxation seekers taking in and experiencing the very best the area has to offer.
The Town is looking for people with a shared commitment to building a sustainable community, as well as shared values of Accountability & Transparency, Leadership, Stewardship, Respect and Collaboration.
Come gain a unique experience in the 2nd fastest growing municipality in Canada!
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Director of Operations is a key member of the Senior Management Team and the Town’s Emergency Management Control Group. The role provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and technical expertise across the Town’s core infrastructure and public works functions, supporting informed decision-making, sustainable service delivery, and long-term asset management.
The Director is accountable for the leadership and performance of the Operations Department, including roads, bridges, stormwater management, potable water, wastewater, transportation systems, solid waste services, environmental initiatives, and the delivery of infrastructure renewal programs through the Roads & Drainage, Solid Waste and Water/Wastewater divisions. The role ensures effective planning, delivery, and maintenance of municipal infrastructure while advancing operational efficiency, continuous improvement, and alignment with the Town’s strategic priorities.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Corporate Contributions
- Provide overall leadership, management, and representation of the Operations Department, ensuring alignment with the Town’s strategic priorities and operational objectives.
- Provide strategic advice, operational insight, and technical expertise to the CAO, Council, and Senior Management Team to support corporate priorities, infrastructure planning, and decision-making.
- Contribute as an active member of the Senior Management Team, supporting corporate initiatives, program reviews, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Lead and/or participate in cross-departmental initiatives and corporate projects, ensuring coordination and alignment across the organization.
- Champion the Town’s mission, vision, and values, fostering a high-performing, collaborative organizational culture.
Department Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
- Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to departmental staff, including workforce planning, performance management, training and development, and succession planning.
- Assess staffing requirements and recommend organizational design changes to support evolving operational needs.
- Provide strategic direction and oversight to the department managers and Project Managers responsible for the delivery of infrastructure renewal initiatives.
- Participate in recruitment and selection processes and authorize hiring recommendations in accordance with corporate policies.
- Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements and corporate policies.
Infrastructure Planning, Operations, and Asset Management
- Oversee the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and renewal of municipal infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water, wastewater, stormwater management, and solid waste services.
- Ensure long-term infrastructure planning, asset management, lifecycle renewal, and service level optimization aligned with corporate and community needs.
- Ensure Project Managers are effectively utilized to support the planning, procurement, contract administration, construction, and completion of infrastructure renewal projects.
- Oversee technical studies, engineering analysis, and infrastructure proposals, and provide recommendations to Council as required.
- Support the execution of development agreements related to site plans, subdivisions, and condominiums, with considerations for operations and maintenance and municipal assumption processes.
Financial Management and Operational Oversight
- Lead the preparation, review, and implementation of annual operating and capital budgets, forecasts, and funding strategies.
- Monitor and administer approved departmental budgets, ensuring effective financial management and reporting.
- Work collaboratively with the Director of Corporate and Financial Services/Treasurer to establish and maintain effective fiscal controls, long-range financial planning, capital forecasting, budget reporting, and financial accountability for departmental operations and infrastructure programs.
- Provide corporate-level review and evaluation of infrastructure-related budgets prior to submission to Committee and Council.
- Authorize expenditures and payments in accordance with corporate policies and delegated authority.
Stakeholder Relations and Service Delivery
- Liaise with internal departments, external agencies, utilities, contractors, and other levels of government on infrastructure and public works matters.
- Collaborate with the Director of Strategic Initiatives to support proactive communication and public engagement, including presentations to community and ratepayer groups.
- Collaborate with the Director of Planning and Growth Management in the delivery of growth-related capital projects and in the review of development applications.
- Promote and ensure a high standard of customer service for internal and external stakeholders.
- Attend and participate in Committee and Council meetings, providing technical advice and recommendations as required.
Legislative Compliance and Governance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, standards, and corporate policies related to municipal infrastructure and operations.
- Maintain awareness of legislative changes and industry practices to support effective and compliant service delivery.
Emergency Management and Corporate Responsibilities
- Participate as a member of the Town’s Emergency Management Control Group in accordance with the Emergency Plan.
- Provide leadership and support during emergency situations and contribute to business continuity and response planning.
Other
- Performs other duties as assigned in support of corporate objectives.
What you will need:
- University degree in Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, Environmental Studies, Infrastructure Management, or a related discipline.
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or eligibility for registration would be considered an asset.
- A Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Engineering, or a related discipline would be considered an asset.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five (5) years in a senior management role within a municipal public works, engineering, infrastructure, utilities, or related municipal environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing capital and operating budgets, infrastructure portfolios, and multi-year capital planning programs.
- Demonstrated experience leading infrastructure operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, renewal, and capital project delivery programs.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, including managers, professional staff, technical staff, consultants, and contractors.
- Demonstrated experience in procurement, contract administration, infrastructure planning, and project delivery in a municipal environment.
- Proven experience developing and implementing strategic plans, business plans, operational improvements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong working knowledge of applicable legislation, including the Municipal Act, Drainage Act, Public Utilities Act, Highway Traffic Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and other legislation relevant to municipal infrastructure and operations.
- Broad knowledge of civil engineering disciplines, municipal operations, asset management, infrastructure planning, procurement, contract administration, and service delivery.
- Strong understanding of municipal infrastructure lifecycle management, asset management principles, infrastructure funding strategies, and long-term capital planning.
- Demonstrated understanding of municipal operational challenges, infrastructure renewal requirements, and industry trends, with the ability to anticipate risks and opportunities affecting service delivery.
- Knowledge of municipal budgeting practices, fiscal controls, financial reporting, and capital program management.
- General understanding of strategic planning, governance practices, and public sector accountability frameworks.
- Proven leadership skills, including the ability to lead, coach, develop, and mentor management-level staff while fostering a high-performance and accountable culture.
- Strong financial, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, supported by sound professional judgment and business acumen.
- Highly developed communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with Council, senior leadership, staff, agencies, contractors, and community stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across departments, including Finance, Planning & Growth Management, and Corporate Services, to support organizational objectives.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands in a complex and dynamic environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, foster innovation, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Demonstrated political acuity and the ability to provide strategic advice and recommendations to Council and senior leadership on complex infrastructure and operational matters.
- High level of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
- High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office and other corporate systems.
What we offer:
This is a full-time permanent opportunity to fill a vacancy at the Town. The annual salary range for this role is $155,931.98 – $182,436.05 (2026 Rate). The Town also offers the following to our employees:
- Perks & Discounts
- Wellness Programs
- Health & Dental Benefits
- OMERS
- Work / Life Flexibility
- Professional Development & Education Opportunities
The submission deadline for applications is Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Application Process: To explore this opportunity please apply via email with a covering letter and resume by October 4th, 2026 or sooner to
[email protected] quoting project TBM-DIR-OPS
Should you wish to speak to our Executive Recruiter or to receive a detailed position description and information package please contact Amy Oliveira at 416-214-9299 x4,
[email protected], or Jon Stungevicius at 416-214-9299 x1,
[email protected].
Please note: Qualified candidates may be considered in advance of the closing date.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), please advise the Human Resources Department to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process. Personal information provided by the applicants is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 and will be used for the purpose of candidate selection.
