Senior Planner

Position Details:

Current Rate of Pay: Min = $61.22/hr Max = $70.97/hr

Employment type: Full-Time, Contract

Duration of employment: 1-Year Contract

Hours of work: 35 hrs/week

Work location: Head Office

Division: Development & Engineering Services

Business unit: Development Planning and Permits

Travel: 5%

Remote Work: Hybrid

About TRCA:

With more than 60 years of experience, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario, created to safeguard and enhance the health and well-being of watershed communities through the protection and restoration of the natural environment and the ecological services the environment provides.

TRCA is considered the provincial leader in conserving, restoring, and managing natural resources to advance safe and sustainable development.

To apply to this posting, click on the “Apply” icon. Please submit your resume and cover letter in one PDF or Word file prior to midnight on August 23, 2024.

How you will contribute as part of the TRCA team:

The Senior Planner oversees complex land use planning applications and initiatives within TRCA’s Vaughan Review Area. The Senior Planner ensures policy, regulations and technical recommendations and requirements are addressed in accordance with legislated roles and responsibilities.

Major Responsibilities:

• Leads a professional team of planners in daily duties, ensuring that staff understand priorities and expectations.
• Provides effective management and service delivery of technically complex and politically sensitive files submitted for review through the Planning Act and the Conservation Authorities Act and its regulation.
• Provides professional planning recommendations, and legislative/regulatory guidance, to staff, clients and applicants.
• Undertakes negotiations utilizing a solutions-oriented approach with stakeholders.
• Prepares and presents staff reports to the TRCA’s Board of Directors and defends recommendations before the Ontario Lands Tribunal.
• Mentors and supports the professional development of team members.
• Supports a culture of workplace equity and inclusion that celebrates diversity.
• Supports onboarding, provides on-the-job training performance evaluations of staff.
• Support of environment of improvement identifying and addressing improvements to training, resources, and/or procedures.

What will you need to succeed:

Education (degree/diploma/certifications/licenses)

• University degree in Planning, Environmental Studies, Urban Studies, Geography, or a related field

• Registered Professional Planner designation with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, and membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners (or equivalent).
• Valid Ontario Class G driver's license.

Experience

• 5+ years of municipal, environmental, or related planning experience
• 2+ years of progressive managerial, supervisory or project management experience

Knowledge/Skill/Ability - Competencies

• Extensive knowledge of the Provincial Policy Statement, the Planning Act, and the Conservation Authorities Act as it relates to TRCA and more generally with regard to conservation authorities and their regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and solve problems in a timely manner.
• General understanding of contributing technical disciplines (e.g., ecology, water resource engineering, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, etc.)
• Extensive experience in the review of plans/drawing and recognizing pertinent policy document, legislation, and policy instruments.

• Comprehension of technical and scientific documents.
• Experience in the application of best management practices, and up-to-date knowledge of mitigation and controls, as well as safe work procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as a team member to coach staff and work with stakeholders (internally and externally) and negotiate project variance/timelines; ability to deal tactfully and courteously with stakeholders, public officials.
• Influential communicator able to facilitate discussions between parties with different perspectives of competing interests and resolve conflicts, excellent written communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite, Adobe Acrobat, MS Teams and SharePoint.  Familiarity with Arc GIS and online collaboration software such as Zoom, and WebEx an asset.

What TRCA has to offer you:

As part of a progressive team, you will have the opportunity to make a positive impact to preserving and protecting nature, while maintaining a balance between the natural environment and built environment. Working with experts within our field, you will join a team of colleagues that are committed to TRCA’s core values by demonstrating the following behaviours; integrity, collaboration, accountability, respect, and excellence (icare). 

You will be part of a diverse and inclusive organization that:

• Makes a positive difference in the communities we serve.
• Fosters high performance and collaborative teams.
• Provides continuous learning and development opportunities.
• Offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits program (including Defined Benefit Pension Plan – OMERS/OTPP).
• Pregnancy & Parental Leave Top-Up Program.
• Provides unique TRCA Perks.
• Provides flexible work arrangements.
• Offers potential for career growth and advancement.

While Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) thanks all applicants for their interest, only those under consideration will be contacted for interviews.  Please be advised successful incumbent(s) may be required to undergo a vulnerable sector screening and/or driver's abstract check as a part of the final step in the hiring process.

TRCA is an equal opportunity employer.  We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace.  Our goal is to attract, develop and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and TRCA Policies, accommodation will be provided at any point throughout the hiring process, provided the candidate makes their accommodation needs known to TRCA.  We welcome applications from all qualified persons.  Personal information you provide through the TRCA recruitment, selection and onboarding process in collected under the authority of the Conservation Authorities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.27.  Collection of this personal information is necessary for the proper administration of this recruitment process for employment and volunteer positions with TRCA. Personal information is protected from disclosure pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Any questions regarding this collection activity should be directed to the Manager of Records Information, 101 Exchange Avenue, Vaughan. Ontario, L4K 5R6, (437) 880-2308.