Urban Planner (Waterloo)

Strong communities don’t just happen—they’re creatively imagined, collaboratively planned, and readied to face tomorrow with optimism. At Stantec, we’re driving the future of Community Development. Our experts lead their fields, collaborating on projects that are as technically challenging as they are impactful, creative, and fulfilling. We’re a place where you can apply your passion—and find endless opportunities to help make communities more equitable, resilient, and livable.

Your Opportunity

As an Urban Planner for Stantec’s SW Ontario Community Development Team you will have the opportunity to coordinate a range of community-building projects for public and private sector clients. Projects include – developing plans for new communities, mixed-use redevelopment, entitlements (e.g., site plans, zoning and official plan amendments), support to municipalities (e.g., parks and recreation master plans, secondary plans, specialized zoning studies and Community Improvement Plans), public consultation, as well as planning support for major transit, public space, urban design and infrastructure projects.

As a member of the Planning team, you will have an opportunity to be a part of a global practice within Stantec Urban Places Sector that focuses on tackling complex urban challenges and creating exceptional urban places. Urban Places is an interdisciplinary hub comprising planners, urban designers, landscape architects, architects, engineers, climate resiliency specialists – and more – who have extensive experience working together and collaborating to reinvent and reimagine urban places. Everywhere we work — in cities and suburbs alike — we hear from our clients that they need a new approach to the challenges they face — one that’s integrated, innovative and inspired — and our Urban Places team provides just that.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Act as an Urban Planner on complex and challenging planning assignments.
• Support multi-disciplinary teams of planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, engineers
• Manage the processing and approval of development applications; including Official Plan Amendments, Zoning Bylaw Amendments, Site Plan Applications, minor variances and consent applications, and Plans of Subdivision.
• Utilize your knowledge of provincial and local planning policy in the preparation and management of planning policy studies for public sector clients.
• Prepare comprehensive plans and coordinate complex design projects.
• Collaborate with practitioners in other disciplines within Stantec, and/or externally, to deliver high quality deliverables.
• Maintain and strengthen client relationships and play a key role in client management and satisfaction.
• Manage and organize public consultation programs including making recommendations of key findings to the client.
• Plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate the technical aspects of projects for the team.
• Coordinate with clients, agencies and others to obtain and determine project requirements and approvals.
• Travel between southwestern Ontario offices and communities for project coordination, client meetings, team meetings, and other responsibilities.
• Act as a mentor to junior level planners and support their career development.
• Assist senior leadership in managing and maintaining team workload/backlog, staffing expectations, collaboration with other disciplines and achieving financial performance indicators; and
• Lead marketing initiatives including strategic planning, opportunity identification, proposal pursuit and preparation, client liaison, preparation of on-line marketing content and social media monitoring.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• A design thinker, who can support Stantec’s Community Development Team
• Highly effective in building and maintaining client relationships and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams on complex projects.
• Experience leading, coaching, and mentoring junior staff.
• In-depth knowledge of planning policies and processes in Ontario.
• A combination of experience undertaking development approvals; developing municipal planning policy and/or leading community design projects in Ontario.
• Additional technical background in areas related to urban design, land economics, transportation planning and/or public engagement considered an asset.
• Experience presenting before Planning Committees, Councils, Committees of Adjustment, and preferably appeals bodies (i.e. Ontario Land Tribunal)
• Demonstrated ability to readily identify potential problems on a project.
• Efficient project and team management of multiple concurrent projects.
• A strong aptitude for collaboration, particularly across disciplines such as Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Architecture; and
• Demonstrated ability to lead responses to RFPs and support business development opportunities.

Education and Experience

A relevant Urban Planning degree (Masters-level an asset) and Full or Candidate Membership in the OPPI (or eligibility to apply) and industry planning experience of a minimum of 7 years. Exceptional candidates with less than 7 years’ experience may also be considered.

Other Details

The primary work location will be determined in consultation with the Successful Applicant but is expected to be based out of Stantec’s Waterloo Office.

Some travel will be required, such as delivering plans or documents to reviewing agencies or clients or to attend meetings. You may occasionally visit study areas, construction sites and/or be exposed to outside elements and inclement weather conditions.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.