Program Manager, Infrastructure Planning

Department: Liquid Waste Services
Employee Group: Exempt
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: Management / Leadership, Level 3A ($145,679.67 - $171,441.26 annually)

Our Liquid Waste Services Department is seeking a Program Manager, Infrastructure Planning who will lead a technical team to envision the future of liquid waste services to serve the growing communities in Metro Vancouver. This involves forecasting demands and assessing supply capacities to determine required capital projects to be compiled and delivered in infrastructure plans.

You are: a life-long student of leadership, already demonstrating the behaviours and attributes of the following six leadership competencies: Accountability, Adaptability, Building and Nurturing Relationships, Communication, Continuous Learning, and Strategic Thinking and Action. You embrace change and continuous improvement, can quickly simplify highly complex technical issues, can influence others to take action, and can create a psychologically safe, learning team environment.

The Program Manager, Infrastructure Planning reports to the Director, Policy Planning and Analysis.

This role:

• Leads a team of professional and technical staff in the analysis of wastewater demands and supply capacities to assess against set criteria; undertakes Basic Service Criteria assessments and determines when capacity expansions are required; determines and adapts the scope of proposed projects to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant regulations and requirements.
• Provides leadership and oversight for the development and application of criteria for growth expansions to Liquid Waste Services facilities; delivers infrastructure capital plans to achieve the strategic goals of the Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP).
• Accountable for budget preparation, reporting and resource allocations; monitors and controls spending ensuring the effective and efficient expenditure of allocated funds. Works closely with the Director to determine overall priorities and establish work plans for the Infrastructure Planning Team. Provides strategic thinking towards the preparation of long range financial plans for the division and department.
• Delivers new analytical methodologies and tools to identify optimal value in the efficient deployment of public municipal and regional resources to target reduction of flows and loadings at the source to extend the useful life of facilities. Works to minimize non-compliance incidents, defer capital expenditures, lower sewer levies and gain system-wide efficiencies.
• Liaises with other Metro Vancouver departments, Liquid Waste Services divisions, and member municipalities to address challenges, achieve goals, and contribute to the strategic direction of regional and municipal sewerage infrastructure.
• Hires, supervises, directs and develops staff, monitoring performance in accordance with goals and objectives. Ensures adherence to corporate policies and collective agreements. Leads, coaches, and mentors staff recognizing the importance of leadership, supervisory and technical training. Develops and sustains a flexible workforce encouraging staff to pursue opportunities that complement their skills and experience. Oversees and provides guidance for staff that supervise and direct the work of contractors.
• Works collaboratively to resolve complex technical or interpersonal issues staff encounter while doing their work. Facilitates information sharing to transfer knowledge and experience and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the team. Establishes effective working relationships with various outside agencies as well as other internal departments. Works collaboratively to deliver on strategic initiatives.
• Upholds Metro Vancouver’s reputation through positive and forthright dealings with member jurisdictions, other governments and organizations, and members of the public. Works to create a positive organizational culture and a learning environment to attain work objectives.
• Performs other related duties as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Engineering. 8-10 years of recent related experience following professional registration; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Membership or eligibility for immediate membership as a registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC).
• Considerable technical expertise and experience in water or wastewater engineering, specializing in infrastructure planning. Considerable knowledge and technical expertise related to relevant regulations, reporting requirements and scientific and engineering principles associated with the work.
• Sound budgeting and financial management skills. Ability to monitor budgets, meet financial objectives and ensure the effective and efficient expenditure of allocated funds.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to effectively listen, persuade others and communicate complex technical requirements and implications to diverse audiences. Well-developed report writing and presentation skills; skilled in presenting data in a usable format to facilitate analysis and understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships. Skill in dealing openly, tactfully and sensitively in a variety of situations, including where broad regional interests may be at odds with those of one or more member jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to use judgment to resolve complex problems with diverse implications and provide direction for critical and urgent matter. Ability to develop new procedures and adapt plans to address evolving problems and improve efficiencies considering the long-term implications of decisions and actions. Seeks to involve staff in decisions that will impact them; works cooperatively to resolve differences of opinion.
• Ability to manage a complex and diverse portfolio of work while promoting team action to achieve ambitious and challenging goals. Demonstrates persistence in overcoming obstacles and exercises good judgement in prioritizing and balancing work tasks and objectives.
• A thirst for self-improvement and sound ability to supervise, coach and guide others while enhancing individual and team effectiveness. Ability to mentor and foster the development of direct reports and responds to changing priorities.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License.