Research Officer - Urban Planning

Date Posted: 10/17/2024
Req ID: 40219
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: School of Cities
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00055757

Description:

About us:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs.

We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

Your opportunity:

The School of Cities’ mission is to convene urban-focused researchers, educators, students,
practitioners, institutions and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities, urban regions and communities more sustainable, prosperous and just. It is a place where diverse communities can come together to spark new insights and design creative ways for cities, communities and their citizens to thrive. It seeks meaningful collaborations with its partners, recognizing that communities and their members are not sites or objects of research, but actors and collaborators in knowledge-making projects. Using a team-based approach that spans disciplines at the University of Toronto and involves external partners, the School of Cities will tackle the most vexing urban challenges by seeking to understand the fundamental components of a city and how they interact.

The Infrastructure Institute is a training, advisory, and interdisciplinary research hub based at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. The Infrastructure Institute mission is to build local and global expertise in planning for civil and social infrastructure and we seek to refine collaboration between public, private, and the not-for-profit sectors and become Canada’s hub for infrastructure training and interdisciplinary knowledge.

We are seeking an urban planner with in-depth knowledge of affordable housing development and social purpose real estate (SPRE) to support research, planning studies, and program activities for our Groundwork program, an initiativefocused on capacity building and network development for SPRE. This position will also work with our Creative Mixed-Use team on advisory projects. Under the supervision of the Director and taking day-to-day guidance from the SPRE and Planning & Design Leads, the Urban Planner will provide site-specific advice for clients and organizations participating in training programs on requirements for their future development applications, potential mix of uses on their proposed real estate project, and support with curriculum development and coordinate training and mentorship opportunities. The ideal candidate must have excellent communication, analytical, client, and stakeholder management skills.


Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating meeting schedules, agendas, materials, action and follow-up items
• Drafting documents for knowledge translation purposes
• Conducting analysis on research trends and other information to strengthen proposals
• Conducting systematic literature reviews
• Formatting research results to be presentable and easily comprehensible
• Drafting presentation materials
• Delivering presentations to promote programs, opportunities and/or initiatives
• Advising on research project design

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Urban Planning.
• Minimum three (3) years minimum or equivalent work and relevant academic experience in urban planning and real estate development.
• Knowledge of real estate development, technical urban planning expertise, and partnerships support
• Experience with land use planning, municipal approval process, drafting planning rationales for development applications, proposal writing and responding to Request for Proposals
• Experience with both private and public sector-led urban development projects desired
• Experience facilitating training and education programs
• Knowledge of affordable housing development processes and financing, development charges, environmental regulations, and land use limitations
• Research background in housing policy
• Experience with data collection, methods, and developing keyproject milestones

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Accountable
• Communicator
• Decisive
• Diligent
• Diplomatic
• Resourceful
• Self-directed

Notes:

• This is a full-time term position ending October 2025.
• This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.

Closing Date: 10/28/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:

Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.