Regional Planner II

Department: Regional Planning & Housing Services
Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: PG T33 $4,475.43 - $5,303.38 bi-weekly

Our Regional Planning & Housing Services Department is seeking a Regional Planner II who will lead advanced professional planning work involving research, policy development and implementation, and engagement with municipal and other agency partners. An incumbent plays a project management role in developing, coordinating and completing major strategy and planning policy projects that contribute to the implementation of Metro 2050, the regional growth strategy. This includes supervising the work of assigned professional, technical staff and consultants, coordinating the input of internal and external professional and technical resources, building and strengthening relationships with member jurisdiction staff and stakeholders, and writing reports and presenting information in a clear and concise manner. An incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment and action in developing research methodology and policy formulation and implementation phases of all assignments. This position will be primarily focused on growth management in urban areas, employment and industrial lands, and municipal financing (e.g., development cost charges); however, the role must also have general planning knowledge of other areas applicable to regional growth, such as transportation planning, rural development, environmental protection, social equity, agriculture, hazard and resilience planning, and climate change.

You are: A planning professional who has a passion for growth management, urban development, commercial and industrial land use planning, and transit/transportation planning. You bring years of experience managing complex planning projects with significant experience in policy planning and/or a Master’s Degree in Regional, Urban Planning or a related discipline. You are knowledgeable in factors affecting regional growth and development, in particular, urban development, employment and industrial lands, municipal financing and development cost charges, land economics, and relevant legislation. You are a highly organized leader with considerable independent judgement, experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and projects, and working with diverse stakeholders. You are motivated to deliver significant and meaningful projects that will make a difference to residents across the region.

This role:

• Determines and develops approach and research methodology for major policy and planning projects; develops policy proposals in areas such as regional development, land use and transportation, residential, industrial and commercial development, agricultural land, open space, regional parks system, land conservation, environmental management, resource and demand management, economics and municipal finance; provides input on strategic direction.
• Plans, supervises and participates in the work of one or more subordinates engaged in professional and technical work; directs the work of consultants.
• Presents and defends policy analysis and proposals before superiors, other staff and represents the department at various committees as required; and arranges for consultation and clearance of policy proposals with municipalities and provincial agencies.
• Processes the necessary steps for implementation of concepts and prepares and presents complex reports.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with staff and external contacts at various levels within government agencies, municipalities and committees; coordinates various activities, programs and projects, and relieves a superior at various meetings as required.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• University graduation in Regional, Urban, Environmental or Transportation Planning at the Masters level, with considerable related professional planning experience; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques, methods and procedures applicable to local and regional planning and development.
• Thorough knowledge of the policies, rules and regulations, by-laws and legislation governing departmental operations.
• Considerable knowledge of areas such as regional development, land use and transportation, residential, commercial and industrial development, open space, regional parks system planning, land conservation, environmental and resource management, and of the current literature, trends and developments in these fields.
• Considerable knowledge of modeling principles, practices, techniques and current technological developments in computer software.
• Ability to develop and prepare policy proposals, define problem areas, determine research methods, analyze and evaluate data and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Ability to plan, assign, supervise and participate in the work of a small group of subordinates engaged in related planning work, to direct the work of consultants and to coordinate input and information from various internal and external sources.
• Ability to perform all duties under minimal supervision.
• Ability to coordinate activities, programs and projects and relieve a superior during absences or unavailability of same within defined limits.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts and represent the District on a variety of committees, task forces and working groups.