AccessHR is excited to partner with the City of Airdrie for the recruitment of a full-time, permanent, Director, Community Infrastructure. This opportunity is due to an upcoming retirement and offers transition time with the current Director. 

 

Position Description

 

The Director, Community Infrastructure, reports directly to the City Manager, is a key member of the 5-member Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and is responsible for defining and driving the strategic vision and direction of the City’s infrastructure portfolio. As part of the ELT, the Director also contributes to shaping organizational culture and ensuring operational excellence. 

 

The Director leads a team of capable and dedicated managers who bring expertise and genuine care to their work across a broad portfolio including Engineering, Capital Projects, Roads, Parks, Water Services, Waste & Recycling, Fleet, Building Maintenance, and Asset Management.

 

This role requires a technology-forward, data-driven leader who uses metrics, analytics, and innovation to guide infrastructure planning and performance. They will regularly interact with Council and regional partners to ensure strategic alignment.

 

Success in this role requires a focus on evidence-based decision-making, digital transformation, and performance data to drive continuous improvement and infrastructure resilience, along with project and change management expertise to advance key community infrastructure initiatives.

 

A clear differentiator for this role is that the successful candidate will join a dynamic, people-focused municipality experiencing significant growth, with a substantial number of new projects, both planned and underway, to support a diverse and rapidly evolving community. 

 

 Key Deliverables 

• Strategic Infrastructure Planning: Lead the development and implementation of long-term infrastructure strategies and projects.

• Service Delivery Optimization: Ensure coordinated service delivery by synthesizing priorities, leveraging partnerships, leading strategic negotiations, and using technology and data.

• Capital Project Oversight: Provide leadership and direction for the planning, budgeting, design, and execution of capital infrastructure projects.

• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation; establish policies that safeguard public funds and minimize organizational risk.

• Public Speaking and Communication: Prepare and deliver clear, impactful reports, briefing notes, and presentations to Council and Council Committees.

• Leadership and Development: Foster a corporate culture that supports team growth and organizational success through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: Cultivate partnerships with internal teams and external stakeholders, lead strategic negotiations, and advocate for municipal interests.

 Qualifications

• Leadership: Self-assured and emotionally intelligent leader who Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: Ability to integrate information from diverse perspectives to make high-impact decisions, navigate public scrutiny, and implement effective solutions.

• Financial Management: Proven ability to effectively allocate resources to achieve strategic goals, ensure financial sustainability, and align financial decisions with community priorities.

• Project Management: Extensive experience leading and overseeing the planning, execution, and delivery of complex infrastructure projects while managing risk & stakeholder expectations.

• Technology and Innovation: Keen interest in and knowledge of global trends and emerging technologies in municipal infrastructure management; ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders to identify and implement new solutions to enhance service delivery.

• Emotional Intelligence: Asks open-ended questions, actively listens, celebrates shared success, ensures a psychologically safe work environment, and remains composed under pressure.

• Political Acumen: Ability to skillfully navigate political dynamics, balance competing stakeholder interests, and use effective messaging, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.

• Personal Attributes: Enthusiastic, intelligent, and thoughtful; a genuine desire to help others succeed.

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Environmental Science, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

• 10+ years’ experience leading similar size and scope infrastructure and/or engineering teams.

• Experience with municipalities of similar size, complexity, and growth level either as an employee or consultant.

• Experience interacting with boards of directors and/or municipal councils.

Assets

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, or related field.

• Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) designation.

• Six Sigma or Lean Training.

• Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership or similar certification.

• Certification in asset management and/or infrastructure planning.

• Personal network of municipal leaders at cities with populations of +150K.