Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Samantha Fraser P.Eng

Director Of Public Works
Vaughan,ON

Summary

Experienced municipal executive with a deep commitment to public service and a proven track record of leading complex, multi-departmental operations. Eager to return to the City of Toronto to lead the Parks & Recreation division into its next chapter—leveraging my foundational experience with the City and the strategic insights gained from senior leadership roles in other municipalities. I bring a forward-thinking, equity-driven approach to service delivery, infrastructure planning, and community engagement, with a focus on building resilient, inclusive, and accessible public spaces that reflect the evolving needs of all Torontonians.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Public Works

Township of King
King City, ON
01.2021 - Current
  • Provided executive leadership across six key municipal departments: Parks & Forestry, Road Operations, Corporate Asset Management, Environmental Services, Fleet Services, and Corporate Infrastructure Planning & Capital Programs—ensuring integrated service delivery and operational excellence.
  • Transformed the division through performance management and strategic recruitment, building a high-performing leadership team aligned with organizational values and service excellence.
  • Standardized service delivery across all departments by developing and implementing Council-approved Levels of Service, and reported to council using a Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework.
  • Maintained a balanced operating budget for four consecutive years, demonstrating strong fiscal discipline and strategic resource management.
  • Led a diverse workforce of unionized and non-unionized staff, including navigating a unionization application to the Ontario Labour Board (OLB) and representing the municipality with legal counsel at the OLB hearing.
  • Championed the development and implementation of the Corporate Strategic Plan as Project Sponsor, aligning departmental goals with long-term municipal priorities and performance outcomes.
  • Developed a comprehensive Stormwater Management Policy and successfully collaborated with Council to secure approval for a new dedicated tax to fund critical storm infrastructure improvements.
  • Developed and secured Council approval for the full implementation of the Corporate Asset Management Plan, ensuring compliance with O. Reg 588/17 and obtaining authorization for a 2% dedicated tax increase to sustainably fund all corporate assets.
  • Served as Project Sponsor for major strategic initiatives, including the revision of Park Design Guidelines to embed accessibility standards, Tree Compensation pilot policy for new developments and the development of a Green Fleet Strategy to advance municipal sustainability goals
  • Actively represent the division at all Council meetings, regularly presenting to elected officials on policy and operational matters; serve as a spokesperson to local media on emergent issues, and directly engage with residents to resolve escalated concerns and maintain public trust.
  • Improved safety standards for workers and the public by building comprehensive work place health & safety training and consistently enforcing compliance with provincial regulations.

Manager Don River & Central Waterfront Unit

Toronto - Engineering & Construction Services
Toronto, Ontario
02.2015 - 01.2021
  • Managed the Don River & Central Waterfront Unit (DR&CW) and Water Treatment Plants Unit, overseeing 18 direct reports and the delivery of over $2.5B in complex, multi-stakeholder water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure projects.
  • Directed major capital projects including the $1.5B DR&CW Wet Weather Flow System, Integrated Pumping Station at Ashbridges Bay, and $70M Rosehill & St. Clair Reservoir rehabilitation with integrated park redevelopment.
  • Led strategic planning, budgeting, and performance management, achieving five consecutive years of KPI success across spending, project schedule, procurement, and customer service.
  • Engaged extensively with stakeholders, including City Council, regulatory agencies, and the public, while coordinating across departments and leading public consultations for environmental assessments and capital works.

Senior Project Manager

Toronto - Engineering & Construction Services
Toronto, Ontario
10.2010 - 02.2015
  • Lead a diverse cross section of complex projects including: Basement Flooding Group 2 & 3, Billy Bishop Airport Pedestrian Tunnel, Coatsworth Cut Conveyance Controls, and others.

Sales Manager

GE Water & Process Technologies
Oakville , Ontario
10.2006 - 10.2010
  • Managed regional sales operations for membrane-based water and wastewater treatment technologies across municipal and industrial markets, with full accountability for sales targets and profit margins.
  • Led technical sales strategy, delivering presentations to consultants and municipalities to secure major infrastructure projects.

Project Engineer

GE Water & Process Technologies
Oakville, ON
09.2002 - 10.2006

Education

Bachelor of Applied Science - Engineering

Queen's University
Kingston, ON
05.2001 -

Skills

Executive Leadership & Labour Relations

Strategic & Operational Planning

Innovation & Change Management

Financial Stewardship

Political & Community Engagement

Building New Leaders

Timeline

Director of Public Works

Township of King
01.2021 - Current

Manager Don River & Central Waterfront Unit

Toronto - Engineering & Construction Services
02.2015 - 01.2021

Senior Project Manager

Toronto - Engineering & Construction Services
10.2010 - 02.2015

Sales Manager

GE Water & Process Technologies
10.2006 - 10.2010

Project Engineer

GE Water & Process Technologies
09.2002 - 10.2006

Bachelor of Applied Science - Engineering

Queen's University
05.2001 -

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Samantha Fraser P.EngDirector Of Public Works