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Job Description / Duties

Reporting to the General Manager and working alongside three other Department Managers, the Manager of Community Safety plays a critical role in ensuring Sankofa Square remains a safe, welcoming, and responsive space. The Manager will be responsible for cultivating a strong culture of safety and security throughout the Square’s daily operations, public events, and strategic planning, and is also responsible for both preventative and emergency response strategies and providing oversight over third-party contracted safety staff. Other areas of responsibility include conducting site-wide risk assessments, developing and updating safety protocols, providing briefings to event clients, and ensuring alignment with provincial health and safety regulations. The Manager will establish crisis management structures and emergency action plans, deliver regular staff training and safety drills, and coordinate post-incident recovery processes. They will also represent and advocate on behalf of Sankofa Square in community safety forums and related discussions, strengthening relationships with local partners and advancing shared priorities.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Among the qualifications being sought in candidates, the incoming leader must have a deep and abiding commitment to advancing reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all its forms and must believe, intrinsically, in the importance of leading with curiosity and welcoming ideas that can later be synthesized and turned into possibility. While all candidates are encouraged to apply and, in so doing, share how they see themselves adding value to the Sankofa Square environment, the following credentials and/or experiences are seen as possible markers of the candidates most likely to realize success in the role:-

A. a degree, diploma, or certificate in Law Enforcement, Health & Safety, or Emergency Management—or equivalent experience in security and public safety environments;
B. a practical understanding of complex social and systemic issues affecting community safety, particularly through a lens of harm reduction, de-escalation, and equity;
C. experience with security and emergency management in high-traffic public spaces, particularly outdoor festivals and events, including working knowledge of the Trespass to Property Act and the Criminal Code of Canada;
D. certifications in First Aid/CPR and Naloxone (Narcan) administration, along with strong knowledge of emergency response protocols, fire/life safety systems, contractor management, and public safety infrastructure (e.g., portable radios, CCTV, access control systems), and;
E. demonstrated integrity, resilience, and calm in high-stress situations where cultural awareness is at the forefront.

Additional Information

Sankofa Square is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents they serve.

Sankofa Square is partnering with BES Executive Search, a firm committed to ensuring every search mandate engages a pluralistic, inclusive, and intersectional range of candidates. Applicants are guided through what BES calls ‘The BES Experience’—a thoughtful, candidate-centred process that meets candidates with support and care at every point of the search process.

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), applicants living with a disability will be provided with accommodation throughout the search process. Should accommodations be required, please make Melissa Sumnauth aware by emailing msumnauth@bessearch.com.

BES is deeply grateful to all who express interest in this opportunity and recognize the time and effort that goes into submitting an expression of interest. While only those most closely aligned with the position requirements will be contacted for an interview, all applications are reviewed with thoughtfulness and will receive correspondence from the firm as part of our commitment to delivering a respectful and inclusive candidate experience.

Salary: Range $80,000 to $90,000

Contact Information

All interested applicants are encouraged to apply by clicking here: https://app.loxo.co/job/NjQ3MS03d3NwdmdsM2dmdTgzcGU2/form?source_type=app

Employer Profile

Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) stands as a dynamic cultural site in the heart of Downtown Toronto, drawing together millions of residents, tourists, artists, businesses, and community members each calendar year. With its central location and open, accessible design, the Square hosts an array of events—from concerts and community festivals to theatrical performances and public activations—capturing the pulse and energy of one of the world’s vibrant cities. An agency of the City of Toronto, and governed by a Board of Management, Sankofa Square plays a vital role in enriching Toronto’s downtown life by launching, promoting, and managing the space as both a civic gathering place and a thriving commercial destination. Rooted in community passion and energized by strong commercial engagement, Sankofa Square operates on foundational principles of safety, accessibility, and cleanliness—each essential to fostering a welcoming atmosphere and positive public experience. Within this context, Sankofa Square is seeking nominations and applications for the role of Manager of Community Safety—a key position responsible for strengthening community trust and shaping the safety culture at one of Toronto’s most prominent public spaces.