Director, Health, Safety and Emergency Management in Toronto

The Director, Health, Safety and Emergency Management provides strategic leadership and oversight for a safe, secure and healthy learning and working environment across George Brown Polytechnic. The role leads the Polytechnic’s occupational health and safety, security services, emergency management, business continuity, employee wellness and related enterprise programs. The Director develops institution-wide strategies, policies, management systems and governance frameworks that support regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, hazard identification, workplace violence prevention, safety education, risk mitigation and employee well-being. Working collaboratively with academic and administrative leaders, the Director serves as a senior advisor on complex safety, security, emergency management and business continuity matters affecting the Polytechnic community.

Key Responsibilities

• Direction of Health, Safety, Security and Emergency Management Operations: Provides strategic leadership for health, safety, security, emergency management and wellness operations, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, legislative requirements, risk management, innovation and operational efficiency. Develops and maintains department policies, procedures, KPIs, performance measures and reporting frameworks that support compliance and continuous improvement. Manages the department's operating and capital budgets, including planning, reporting, proposals, security-service costs, emergency-planning costs and capital-project investment. Oversees complex security-service contracts, vendor selection, procurement processes, service levels, quality assurance and collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Security Strategy and Operating Plan: Develops and implements GBP's security strategy, governance, procedures and operating plan in support of institutional priorities. Oversees security technology, incident management, evidence collection, access management, emergency communications, crime prevention and physical security assessments. Monitors external and internal risk trends, liaises with police and first responders, and advises senior leaders on coordinated security and safety planning.
• Emergency Management Program and Business Continuity Planning: Leads the design, development and governance of the Polytechnic's Emergency Management Program, emergency response policies and Business Continuity Program. Serves as a senior advisor and 24/7 escalation lead during major emergencies, threats and incidents, providing direction on evacuation, lockdown, hold‑and‑secure, shelter‑in‑place and recovery decisions. Oversees emergency planning, training, communications and preparedness activities across multiple sites and complex urban facilities. Leads HIRA processes and ensures emergency management, public health, environmental, workplace safety and business continuity risks are identified, communicated and mitigated.
• Health and Safety Leadership: Leads long-term physical and psychological health and safety strategies, including workplace violence prevention, hazard identification, risk assessment and safety culture initiatives. Oversees Joint Health and Safety Committees, governance structures, incident investigations, corrective actions, regulatory reporting, audits and compliance reviews. Develops safety metrics, monitors organizational trends and collaborates with Facilities, Human Resources, Academic Divisions and Student Affairs to support integrated safety outcomes.
• People Leadership: Recruits, develops, motivates, evaluates and supports staff to maintain high performance across health, safety, security, emergency management and wellness functions. Builds team capability through professional development, performance management, training standards and identification of program‑level skill gaps. Promotes continuous improvement, evidence‑based decision making and a collaborative team culture aligned with GBP values.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• Four-year degree in Business Administration, Public Safety, Justice Studies, Occupational Health and Safety, Emergency Management or a directly relevant field; equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Master's degree related to Public Safety, Emergency Management or Occupational Health and Safety preferred.
• Emergency Management Ontario IMS 200-300 and Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP - DRI Canada) training/certification are preferred.
• Certification in Risk or Violence Threat Assessment is preferred; Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation or equivalent and advanced occupational health and safety training are considered assets.
• Minimum of nine years of progressive experience in departmental-level management, including managing managers in a large, complex organization.
• At least four years of progressive leadership and management experience related to human, fiscal and other resources, including operations, budget management, business process improvement, project management, assessment and analytics.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide occupational health and safety programs, Joint Health and Safety Committees, Ministry of Labour inspections, regulatory compliance, hazard assessment and safety culture initiatives.
• Experience managing complex emergency situations across mitigation, prevention/preparedness, response and recovery, conducting complex investigations and working in unionized environments.
• Strategic and working knowledge of emergency management, business continuity, occupational health and safety, security operations and enterprise risk management.
• Knowledge of Ontario and Canadian legislation and standards relevant to the role, including OHSA, Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, Private Security and Investigative Services Act, FIPPA, AODA, Human Rights, WSIA prevention/reporting requirements and psychological health and safety standards.

Skills and Attributes

• Broad leadership skills managing diverse multidisciplinary teams and contractor/service-provider relationships.
• Superior communication, collaboration, relationship-building and advisory skills, with the ability to think clearly, communicate concisely and act effectively with senior leaders, unions and stakeholders in high‑stress, time‑sensitive emergency, conflict, crisis and de‑escalation situations.
• Sound judgement, discretion and tact when handling confidential information, sensitive investigations, competing rights, legal/regulatory considerations and reputational risk.
• Demonstrated skill in policy development, governance, performance measurement, safety education, change leadership, evidence‑based decision making and upholding the polytechnic's priorities on equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization (EDII).

Interview process may consist of a practical skills component.

The Polytechnic requires proof of degrees, credentials, or equivalencies from accredited regional or federal post-secondary institutions and/or their international equivalents. Credentials may require validation at the time of interviews or offer.

About Us: George Brown Polytechnic prides itself on educating students through real‑world learning, in the heart of Toronto. Our faculty and employees make this vision a reality, and we support them by making George Brown a great place to work. See why we are consistently ranked as one of GTA’s top employers. George Brown Polytechnic offers hybrid work opportunities, a competitive pension plan, generous holiday and vacation time, a tuition assistance program, discounted rates for employees taking Continuing Education courses, and an equitable work environment where everyone matters. George Brown Polytechnic is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Candidates who require accommodation in the hiring process may contact TalentAcquisition@georgebrown.ca confidentially.