Planner II

JOB SUMMARY

The Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development department is responsible for the planning and delivery of growth activities, including long range land use planning, the City’s long-term infrastructure plan, the management of capital investments, development approvals, delivering on major city-building projects and identifying opportunities to foster economic prosperity.

You lead or undertake a wide variety of assigned complex, professional planning services or projects in the unit’s area of expertise (e.g. Development Review, Community Planning, Urban Design, Research and Forecasting, Natural Systems, Rural Affairs, Economic Development, Heritage Planning, Zoning Studies).

At the Planner 2 level, these projects or services exhibit one or all of the following characteristics:

• require resolution of multiple technical and policy issues, and public and private interests;
• require the involvement of multiple stakeholder groups including unorganized and organized public and private interest groups, other government agencies (provincial and federal), other professionals (e.g. architects, landscape architects, engineers), and politicians; and/or
• are politically sensitive, high profile and/or significant in terms of impact relative to the natural, built, social, and/or economic environments, and/or the achievement of orderly design and development for the City.

You: participate in the development of the City’s Official Plan, Master Plan, and Zoning By-law policies, working closely with stakeholders from across the corporation and from other agencies and the community; conduct research and analysis; participate on assigned projects; manage projects done by consultants; represent the City, department, branch or unit on various committees, working groups and project teams; and contribute to the achievement of departmental and City planning objectives.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4 year university degree in urban and regional planning, a field related to planning or the unit’s area of expertise (such as landscape architecture, architecture, urban design, urban geography, engineering, environmental planning)

Minimum of 5 years of related and progressively responsible, professional experience in the unit’s area of expertise

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENCES

KNOWLEDGE

• Applicable legislation, policies, and processes (for example: the Planning Act, the Municipal Act, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Conservation Authorities Act, the Heritage Act, the City’s Official Plan and Master Plans, Zoning By-Law, and related policies, the Development Approvals process, and Environmental Management Systems)
• Global, national and local initiatives, agreements and agencies related to the unit’s area of expertise
• Municipal planning principles and practices
• Theories, concepts, methodologies, principles and/or practices relating to the unit’s area of expertise
• Public consultation practices
• Project management principles and practices
• Available computer technology and tools related to unit’s area of expertise

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Work effectively as a leader and team member within a multi-disciplinary and technical environment
• Monitor and synthesize information from a variety of sources to establish future directions, research and data collection needs, environmental trends, program elements and resources
• Understand technological tools available to assist in efficient and cost-effective program delivery
• Understand, initiate and conduct assignments with minimal supervision
• Negotiate with representatives from other departments and outside agencies to identify and achieve common objectives through joint initiatives and contributions
• Establish and deliver effective public consultation processes
• Communicate effectively and tactfully (orally and in writing) with elected officials, City staff, external agencies, private sector and members of the public
• Prepare and make effective and persuasive presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to influence others and work effectively with people representing a wide range of interests
• Commitment to service excellence
• Exceptional problem solving skills
• Positive, inclusive approach to project development and implementation
• Ability to deal with multiple demands and shifting priorities
• Client-focused