An unusual advertisement appeared recently on the website of Councillor Jamaal Myers, the new Chair of the TTC Board. Myers seeks, in effect, an assistant to the Chair with the title “Director of Transit Policy”. The position would be within his Councillor’s Office at City Hall, not within the TTC organization.
Updated Sept. 18, 2023: Although the job title in the linked advertisement is “Director of Transit Policy”, the title in Councillor Myers’ tweet and the main link on his website says “TTC Policy”.
The Director of Transit Policy will support the Chair in managing corporate, operational and administrative duties and functions, and in triaging, addressing and navigating contentious issues toward the achievement of the Chair’s priorities and the TTC’s mandate.
Key accountabilities in this role include building highly effective relationships with TTC management and employees, TTC Board members, City Councillors, public servants and TTC riders; representing the Chair in meetings as required; and leading and/or participating in high profile and sensitive projects and initiatives.
An extensive list of qualifications and experience suggests that Myers seeks someone with deep history in the municipal bureaucracy, and it is hard to avoid thinking that this is tailor-made for someone who has been here before.
Functionally, this is not a new position. Various people have acted as the Chair’s “go to” person for transit over the years. However, the formal title and the implication that this role will be hands-on in coordination and direction of the Chair’s initiatives is a definite change.
The challenge will be how to fit within existing structures including both TTC and City management, not to mention the political context of the TTC Board, Council and the Mayor’s Office.
Depending on the ambitions of whoever is chosen, there could be leadership tension between the new Policy Director and the Chair, or even confusion of who speaks for the Chair’s Office, let alone for the TTC overall. The job title alone could provoke confusion.
Chair Myers will have to manage expectations for this role including the degree to which the proposed Director can “freelance” in parallel to the existing organizations and processes. The Chair may wish to advance a policy, but cannot implement change on his own, much less have commitments made in his name by a staffer.
For all the responsibility involved, the proposed salary is $70-80K, a level fitting within a Councillor’s office budget, but hardly top-of-the-line for a key position. Who this might attract, and whether they will be taken seriously, remains to be seen. Building trusting relationships within the TTC and City Hall, and equally importantly with the wider community, will not happen overnight.
And, dear readers, don’t even think of suggesting that I apply. I have been happily retired for 15 years and have no interest in sticking my head in that lion’s mouth.
Steve Munro 