Description

Powered by Passion. United by Purpose. Build for Impact. 

 

At Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership (MLSE), we exist to deliver the ultimate fan experience by lifting trophies, spirits, and communities – united as one. 

 

We’re more than a workplace. We are a team of passionate people, boldly building the future of sport and entertainment, together. We believe in the power of play, the strength of collaboration, and the energy that comes from showing up with purpose. 

 

From the ice to the pitch, the hardwood to the digital arena, we’re proud to be the driving force behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), the Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL) and development teams with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), Raptors 905 (NBA G League), Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro League) and Raptors Uprising Gaming Club, the Toronto Raptors Esports franchise in the NBA 2K League.  

 

We bring these teams – and world-class entertainment – to life at our iconic venues, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground, and OVO Athletic Centre. Off the field, we serve up elevated dining at e11even, Real Sports, and our signature club spaces like Hot Stove Club, ScotiaClub, and Platinum Club. 

 

Through MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad, we use the power of sport to help youth facing barriers reach their full potential. Since 2009, we’ve invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities — and we’re just getting started.  

 

This is what it means to be One MLSE: a culture where everyone plays a role, everyone belongs, and everyone contributes to something bigger than themselves. 

 

So, if you’re ready to play with purpose, grow with passion, and win as one, we’d love to have you on our team. 

** We know that great candidates come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Even if you do not meet every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. Your unique perspective, transferable skills, and lived experience may be exactly what we’re looking for. **

Job Description

MLSE LaunchPad is a 42,000 sq. ft. Sport for Development facility where youth facing barriers use sport to recognize and reach their potential. Supported by MLSE’s professional sports teams—the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC—it is the first facility of its kind in North America. As a collaborative space promoting social change by leveraging sport, education and research, programming is focused on four pillars: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Ready for School and Ready for Work. To learn more visit MLSELaunchPad.org. 

As the organization expands into a new community facility in Weston, we are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Project & Operations Lead to serve as the single point of accountability for delivering this new location on time, on budget, and in alignment with community and organizational values. 

In this inaugural role, the Project & Operations Lead will own the whole system—integrating capital project oversight, financial management, operational planning, community engagement, and staffing. This person will serve as the primary connector between the community, local organizations, LaunchPad teams, and construction partners—championing partnerships, strengthening reputation, and ensuring the Weston site reflects community priorities while maintaining disciplined project delivery. 

‘The successful candidate will be a strategic relationship-builder with experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects. They will excel in dynamic environments, navigate political nuance with ease, and thrive on building initiatives from the ground up. 
 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Capital Project & Construction Oversight 

  • Serve as LaunchPad’s primary liaison with MLSE Capital Projects, architects, engineers, and builders to coordinate activities across design, construction, and pre-opening phases to ensure on-time, on-scope delivery  

  • Design and lead ongoing community design consultations with partners, construction professionals, and political stakeholders  

  • Translate program and youth safety requirements into functional design inputs  

  • Participate in design reviews, value engineering, and change order decisions  

  • Support project schedule, identify risks, and dependencies to maintain project governance and escalation pathways 

  • Prepare materials for senior leadership and board updates summarizing progress, feedback, and outcomes of project activities 
     

Financial Management 

  • Own combined capital and operating budget, tracking construction costs, change orders, and forecasts 

  • Manage project documentation, budget tracking, while supporting RFP evaluations, and procurement coordination 

  • Prepare monthly financial reports and executive reporting for leadership 

  • Support funder and internal financial reporting in collaboration with central finance 

 

Community Engagement & Partnerships 

  • Build strong relationships with youth-serving organizations, neighbourhood leaders, and community stakeholders to shape LaunchPad Weston’s operating model 

  • Champion the development of collaborative partnerships aligned with LaunchPad’s Theory of Change 

  • Act as the primary liaison between MLSE LaunchPad, community partners, and municipal stakeholders, ensuring community voice informs decisions 

  • Support engagement opportunities for various stakeholder groups, including community members, donors, and MLSE staff 

  • Develop systems to share insights and feedback from community engagement with internal teams to inform programming and research 
     

Operational Planning & Systems Design 

  • Collaboratively design the operating model for the new site (hours, supervision, safety, access) informed by community and stakeholder input 

  • Adapt standard operating procedures from the existing LaunchPad location 

  • Oversee selection and implementation of systems (registration, data, incident reporting) 

  • Lead commissioning, readiness checks, and site walkthroughs to ensure seamless integration with the first LaunchPad location 

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with sport, research, and operations teams to develop program curriculum, scheduling, and evaluation frameworks 

  • Design staffing structure and hiring sequence for new location, and upon approval, hire and manage all site staff (with HR support). 

  • Lead onboarding and training strategy 

  • Establish culture, standards, and performance expectations in line with current MLSE LaunchPad standards, to ensure a fully trained team is ready before opening 

  • Remain current on new research and best practices that enhance Sport for Development programming and operational excellence  

 

Reputation & Impact 

  • Represent MLSE LaunchPad with professionalism, authenticity, and cultural sensitivity 

  • Amplify LaunchPad’s reputation as a leader in Sport For Development and equitable, community-centered youth development 

  • Track, measure, and report on engagement and project impact to ensure transparency and accountability 

 

QUALIFICATIONS 

  • 8+ years in complex project or operations leadership, with demonstrated experience in scaling complex projects 

  • Strong understanding of York-Weston and/or Neighbourhood Improvement Areas 

  • Experience managing capital projects, facility launches, or multi-phase capital/program development 

  • Proven ability to build trust and partnerships with diverse communities, youth-serving organizations, and local leaders 

  • Experience with community consultation and operational planning in community, non-profit, municipal, or sport/recreation settings 

  • Strong financial literacy including budgets, forecasts, reporting, and administrative management 

  • Proven people leadership experience with the ability to motivate diverse staff teams 

  • Strong oral and written communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills 

  • Knowledge of Sport for Development principles, community infrastructure, and current issues affecting the community services sector (especially youth and the Weston area) 

  • Calm, decisive, and systems-oriented, while having the ability to be flexible, adaptive, and collaborative, within face-paced, changing environments 

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools 

  • Post-secondary degree in Project Management, Community Development, Social Impact, Recreation, or a related field; equivalent experience considered 

  • Commitment to MLSE standards, including Health & Safety and compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act 

 

 

Please apply by: Sunday, March 1st at 11:59 pm.

 

Job Posting Compensation Range/Rate:

$90,000-100,000 per year, plus vacation, competitive benefits, and many exciting perks. 

We’re glad you’re here. Once you apply, we’ll follow up by email, and you can track everything in your Candidate Portal. Want instant updates? Opt-in for SMS notifications to stay in the loop. 

 

At MLSE, we are committed to building an equitable, diverse and inclusive organization. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. MLSE will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in the job application process. If you have difficulty using our online application system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email accommodations@mlse.com. This email is only for accommodation requests. Resumes sent to this email address will not be considered.