Manager of Policy Planning

Why Guelph

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What We Offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.
  
  

Position Overview

Resumes are being accepted for the position of Manager of Policy Planning within Planning Services. Reporting to the General Manager, Planning and Building Services, the successful candidate will provide dynamic leadership and strategic direction to staff in the development of planning policy related to various land use, environmental protection, heritage, and urban design with a focus on quality customer service.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Guide the City’s overall growth strategy and contribute to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of the Guelph community.
• Provide planning recommendations and advice to the department head, Council, and the public on a wide variety of planning matters.
• Manage official plan and zoning by-law reviews.
• Provide evidence at Ontario Land Tribunal hearings and other tribunals.
• Facilitate public consultation and liaison in a positive and inclusive manner.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with other city departments, divisions and the public.
• Write reports and make presentations as required both internally and to the public, as well as to council and committees.
• Identify and achieve corporate policies and objectives in support of the City’s strategic plan.
• Actively participate and contribute to the goals and objectives of the Planning, Building, Environmental Services division.
• Develop divisional work plans to achieve the goals and objectives of the Policy Planning division.
• Develop and monitor operating and capital budgets for the division.
• Provide leadership to professional staff and consultants responsible for policy planning activities, special projects, information/research and data management.
• Guide and advise staff on project management matters, priorities, and the approach to be taken on policy planning and urban design initiatives.
• Develop and nurture a work environment that is inclusive, respectful and motivating for staff.
• Champion and facilitate change in a team-based working environment.
• Apply policies, procedures and collective agreements consistently where applicable.
• Evaluate performance and establish objectives for staff; monitor results and provide coaching, training and development opportunities as needed.
  
  

Qualifications And Requirements

• Extensive experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a university degree in Planning, Urban Studies or a related field; combined with senior level policy planning experience in a municipal environment and several years’ experience at a management level. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Registered Professional Planner with CIP or OPPI.
• Thorough knowledge of the Ontario Planning Act and experience at the Ontario Land Tribunal or other tribunals.
• Leadership skills acquired through considerable experience supervising, leading and motivating staff, preferably in a unionized environment.
• Ability to successfully manage budgets and achieve performance targets.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders including the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Project management experience with excellent organizational skills to guide special projects and direct research.
• Ability to set priorities, solve problems and meet deadlines under pressure and with minimum supervision.
• Ability to direct the establishment of innovative planning policy and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, public facilitation and conflict resolution skills
• Proficient in MS Office applications and computer-based planning software
• Experience in environmental planning and heritage planning would be an asset.
  
  

Hours of work

35 hours per week Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.

Pay/Salary

Non-union Grade: 8: $117,673.92- $147,092.40

How To Apply

Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by January 29, 2025. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered.

Please visit the job posting listed on our City of Guelph careers page and click on the “Apply for this job” button. Instructions will follow.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.