Summary of Duties

Reporting to the Director, Community Development and Grants, the Manager, Special Events is responsible for supporting event organizers and community partners to execute successful and safe events, year-round, on City of London properties across the city. This position coordinates with internal and external service providers to permit access to municipal space for events or film productions that raise London’s profile and support the City’s Strategic Plan.  

Work Performed

• Provide leadership in the delivery and coordination of city-wide special events and neighbourhood events on City of London properties, guided by the Special Events Policy and Procedures Manual and other related policies.


• Work with partners to support film production on City of London properties. Provide assistance in a variety of ways to ensure a hassle-free environment for third party productions to take place.


• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with event organizers, community partners, and other parties who book events or film productions on City of London property.


• Provide leadership in the execution and delivery of services and programs in the following areas of accountability:
  
  • Oversee the issuing of special event and film permits within the City of London and development of corresponding agreements and program arrangements.
  
  
  • Manage major outdoor event facilities, oversee event set up/take down and ongoing event monitoring to ensure compliance with applicable bylaws, municipal, provincial, and federal policies, statutes, regulations, and safety standards.
  
  
  • Facilitate and coordinate the use of City services and properties for organizers of special events and related activities.
  
  
  • Support organizers throughout planning processes regarding city services.
  
  
  • Effectively communicate with affected municipal service areas and outside agencies directly impacted by the implementation of events including the City’s emergency management response team.
  
  
  • Manage negotiations and mediation among event organizers, community partners, agencies, and residents.
  
  
  • Liaise with Tourism London, Culture Services and various community groups and committees regarding hosting large-scale or signature sporting, cultural and athletic events in the city.
  
  
  • Oversee consistent rental practices for outdoor City facilities including Bandshells, mobile stage and other amenities.
  
  
  
  


• Demonstrate commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights through interactions with stakeholders, employees and individuals and implementation of policies, programs and protocols that reflect this commitment.


• Demonstrate commitment and adherence to Health and Safety legislation and programs; and actively promote a culture of safety with direct reports.


• Responsible for managing employees including hiring, coaching, administration, and performance aspects of reporting employees. Respond to sensitive and confidential human resource issues as required.


• Encourage and support employee participation and commitment to divisional and organizational objectives. Actively mentor, provide development opportunities and build team performance with direct reports.


• Provide updates, information and recommendations to the Director, Community Development and Grants on priorities with responsibility to operationalize identified goals and strategies.


• Identify and recommend internal controls, special event guidelines and procedures in relation to special event, neighbourhood event and film support services and operations; ensure internal and external controls, policies and procedures are implemented, monitored, and reported on specific to the Division to aid in effective operations of special events and related activities.


• Liaise with unions on issues that affect bargaining unit employees as required.


• Promote and foster working relationships with employees and bargaining units and ensure consistent application of the collective agreements.


• Fairly and consistently administer provisions of various collective agreements to promote resolution of grievances.


• Provide representation at mediation and arbitration proceedings as required.

• Build and support employee commitment to a high level of performance in all areas of customer service, employee and public safety and delivery of individual goals and objectives.


• Engage in opportunities to work across Divisions and Service Areas in support of enterprise-wide collaboration.


• Prepare reports for Council and various Committees as required.


• Identify, recommend, adapt, and implement innovative and effective work practices and procedures to improve service delivery and the business responsibilities of the team.


• Recommend and develop processes and tools needed to increase efficiencies and improve the effectiveness of services provided by the Unit.


• Implement strategies to track performance measures for Unit deliverables, using appropriate data collection and analytics.


• Adhere to the Procurement of Goods and Services Policy; includes the responsibility of delegation of procurement initiation approval authority and delegation of approval authority for professional consulting services as per policy amounts.


• Provide input to the development of the annual operation budget for Community Development and Grants.


• Represent the Service Area at Standing Committees and Council meetings as required.


• Represent the City of London and Service Area in legal proceedings as required.


• Prepare a response to inquiries from elected officials, media and the public as requested by the Director or Deputy City Manager of the Service Area.


• Represent the Division on the various boards and committees of external organizations, associations, and government partners to promote the City of London as a leader, share best practices, build relationships, and recommend solutions as required.

Qualifications/Experience

• Completion of an Undergraduate degree in Event Management or other related disciplines or equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience.


• Five to seven years related experience in event and film management or a relevant experience including management responsibilities.

Skills and abilities in the following areas are necessary:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the above identified areas of accountability with an understanding of the area’s policies, programs, and services and how the work of the area aligns with the objectives of the City and Division.


• Demonstrated analytical and business planning skills with a proven track record for effectively implementing and monitoring programs and services.


• Sound knowledge of community development principles and strategic community-based project management an asset.


• Demonstrated positive and proactive leadership capabilities, adept at leading a group of employees, contracted services, and consultants; demonstrated commitment to developing high performance teams.


• Demonstrated ability to inspire the people they lead through productive and honest dialogue, with personal integrity and actions.


• Ability to be a trusted advisor and/or advocate in sensitive and/or emotionally charged situations.


• Demonstrated perseverance and resilience in addressing and escalating as required, challenges and emergent issues.


• Proven knowledge and commitment to the safety of employees and public attending events including a working knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations as it relates to the position.


• Ability to provide a high level of attention to detail, make sense of data and solve problems.


• Highly developed interpersonal and customer services skills, including conflict resolution and problem solving; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with diverse populations within the community; experience working collaboratively with organizations, clients, and other stake holders. Political acumen to identify and manage issues.


• Ability to understand the importance of service delivery; implement initiatives that support the section’s customers in a timely and effective way.


• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, and related software and database applications. 

Compensation and Other Information

$96,723 to $126,632

Required to work a range of hours including evenings and weekends, and when on call, respond to emergency situations in the city of London, in person, within 30 minutes of being called.

Our hiring process is in accordance with the Mandatory Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Administrative Policy

As an inclusive employer, we are committed to providing a fully accessible recruitment process. Please contact us at any time during the recruitment process and let us know what accessible supports you may need.