Advisor Regional and Community Engagement

Date: January 29, 2026

Location: Toronto, ON 

Requisition ID: 20821

Status: Temporary

Business Unit: Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy

Grade/Band: MP4

Annual Pay Range: For standard 35-hour work week

The successful candidate will be placed at the appropriate step within the salary grade/band, based on relevant years of experience and other applicable considerations.

Why join us?

The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario’s electricity system meets the province’s needs today and into the future. We are charged with purpose, delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for homes, businesses, and communities across the province. We are energized to grow, embracing opportunities to shape the future of a dynamic and evolving energy sector while advancing our careers. We are powered by teamwork, supported by diverse and passionate colleagues who foster respect, celebrate successes, and thrive on shared achievements. At the IESO, it’s not just what we do—it’s who we are! 

Who we are

Our central role includes managing the provincial power grid in real-time, overseeing and evolving Ontario’s electricity market, engaging with government, municipalities and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario’s future electricity needs. Our employees play a key role in driving grid innovation, protecting the system from threats, advancing the province’s energy conservation programs, and forecasting and procuring the electricity resources we’ll need in the decades to come. 

The Advisor, Regional and Community Engagement is responsible for developing and managing strong business relationships with various stakeholders and members of communities across Ontario. This includes municipalities, third party sector organizations, small business consumers and community-supported associations, chambers and boards of trade with an objective to understanding needs and characteristics associated with community energy planning. These relationships are critical to informing the IESO’s regional planning initiatives that expand over 21 regions across the province.

This is a unionized position that falls within the Regional & Community Engagement Departments of the Corporate Relations, Engagement and Strategy Business Unit.

What makes this role exciting

The energy sector is rapidly evolving, offering exciting new opportunities for those who want to make a difference. The Advisor will establish positive relationships and act as a liaison, with municipalities, community organizations and broader stakeholder groups with regards to regional planning. The Advisor will ensure that the implementation of engagement initiatives positively builds the IESO’s visibility, presence and reputation with communities, municipalities and stakeholders. You will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure diverse perspectives inform energy planning and decision-making. Your work will directly contribute to driving positive outcomes for Ontarians and advancing initiatives to ensure the province has the energy it needs to power a more competitive, self-reliant and resilient economy - energy that is affordable, secure, reliable and clean.

What you’ll do

In this role, you’ll make a meaningful impact by contributing to the IESO team and supporting the electricity needs of the province through:

• Support the development and implementation of strategic outreach and engagement plans in accordance with IESO’s External Relations Engagement Framework to support regional electricity planning and other IESO projects;
• Lead the execution of plans including the design and development  of tools, presentation materials, FAQs and other resources, and facilitation of engagement activities such as webinars, workshops and targeted outreach meetings and ;
• Build and maintain effective relationships with municipalities, communities and their representatives, including  consumers, chambers of commerce, and boards of trades and other key influencers by acting as single point of contact, building educational capacity about the IESO’s  core functions and responsibilities, such as electricity planning;
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the specific community and stakeholder issues within certain regions and support their resolution within the IESO

In a typical day, you will:

• Support  the development and  implementation of comprehensive outreach and engagement plans tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of a specific region, ensuring key influencers and all interested parties are informed and involved.
• Consult and collaborate with subject matter experts and leadership across various teams to develop these  plans, complete with methods and tools to meet the unique needs of a region and maximize purposeful engagement and input;
• Host webinars, briefings, and targeted outreach meetings designed to build understanding of the IESO and its regional electricity planning activities, address community‑specific issues, and provide accessible opportunities for two‑way dialogue and to provide input into the process.
• Analyze and consolidate feedback received through outreach and engagement activities, and lead the development of strategic responses that align with IESO objectives, and promote transparent decision‑making, working with subject matter experts .
• Analyze and manage issues arising within municipalities and community stakeholders in a specific region, working with subject matter experts to determine the best course for response and resolution
• Attend conferences and events to build and strengthen relationships with municipalities and communities while promoting awareness of IESO initiatives and engagement opportunities.

Recently, this position was part of the completion of a regional electricity plan for the City of Toronto that included a suite of recommendations have been developed that address the specific needs of each part of the city. The recommendations include building and upgrading transmission infrastructure, battery energy storage facilities, and launching more energy-efficiency programs targeted to Toronto electricity consumers

Role Requirements

 
Our team consists of experts from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique perspectives and skills. 
To succeed in this role, you’ll need: 

The education required to complete the responsibilities associated with the position is typically obtained through 4 years of university training

• • Demonstrated experience in successfully developing, managing and executing stakeholder engagement plans and programs
  • Superior communications skills – written oral and presentation, with strong diplomatic skills and the ability interact with all levels of the organization and with stakeholders
  • Proven contract and vendor management experience for projects related to stakeholder, public and community relations and communication support
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze issue, consolidate feedback, develop hypotheses and/or strategic responses, consistent with corporate objectives
  • A positive, energetic individual with the demonstrated ability to lead activities, with and without direct positional authority
  • Demonstrated ability to problem solve and to manage groups with divergent views
  • Demonstrated research and writing skills
  • Detail oriented; attention to accuracy
  • Ability to build relationships; excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong leadership skills coupled with a passion for stakeholder outreach and public affairs
  • Ability to respond to fast paced environment, where priorities can shift quickly
  • General understanding of the IESO’s structure and functional areas
  • Experience in dealing with customers (internal and external to the IESO) in a professional and service focused environment. Experience to effectively deal with complex inquiries as well as escalated and sensitive situations
  • Excellent project management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
  • Exceptional organizational skills and time management skills
  • Influence and negotiation skills; ability to persuade or influence others to adopt or accept a point of view or take a course of action
  • Self-motivated; ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and as a team player and/or team leader 

   

•  
• The minimum level of experience for the incumbent to perform at a satisfactory level of proficiency is 6-8 years including the period of adjustment on the job itself

How We Support You

From a comprehensive total rewards program to dynamic learning and development opportunities—including job rotations to broaden your expertise—we empower you to define and shape your own success. When you join the IESO, here’s what you can expect:

• Best-in-class benefits and long-term support in the form of a defined benefit pension plan. 
• Work in a dynamic and evolving sector that offers exciting opportunities and the chance to explore new career paths.
• Leadership that values meaningful discussions, welcomes feedback, and prioritizes career development. 
• A strong, inclusive culture and a collaborative team environment with a shared passion for impactful work.
• Compensation packages that are regularly reviewed to remain competitive and to best accommodate the diverse needs of our employees. 

Deadline

February 19, 2026. For future reference, please save a copy of the job posting as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

Thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that the successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to applicable background checks. 

IESO will not conduct interviews or offer positions via online, text, chat or social media platforms. We will not gather personal information directly from candidates or potential candidates. Selected candidates will work with our Talent Acquisition team to ensure their application is processed.

The IESO will be transitioning to a 3-day in-office work week effective January 2026. Over the course of 2026, the IESO will advance plans to acquire additional office space to accommodate more in-office time. While the timeline for moving to a full 5-day in-office model has not yet been established, we are committed to keeping employees and candidates informed as plans progress and give them as much advance notice as possible to prepare for any changes.

We believe in opportunities for everyone. 

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing, and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment—one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. We’re proud to say we’ve been recognized as a supportive, inclusive employer. 

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.