Division

Infrastructure Planning and Development

Important Notices & Amendments

This position currently falls within our hybrid model**, allowing the employee to** typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

About Us

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

We welcome all applicants! For more information about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Niagara Region, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Niagara Region, Ontarioor email related questions to diversity@niagararegion.ca. To send input on reducing barriers in the current hiring process, please email myhr@niagararegion.ca

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.

Don’t have every qualification?

You may be hesitant to apply if you do not have every qualification listed in the posting. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience and education to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Please note that for unionized roles, we must follow collective agreement requirements. However, we encourage all interested candidates to submit their applications. We believe success in a role can extend beyond meeting every single requirement.

Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager, the Senior Planner is responsible for project management leadership, for a wide range of planning and policy issues, responsible for leading the pre-consultation and development application review processes with municipalities and developers; reviewing, researching, analyzing, resolving conflict and preparing coordinated comments and reports on a wide range of more complex and politically sensitive development applications in both an urban and rural context, preparing reports on a wide range of more complex and politically sensitive projects, issues and proposals. Leads and supports a variety of corporate strategic initiatives related to Council’s Strategic Priorities. Provides independent expert opinion evidence and testimony at tribunals.

Education

• Post-secondary degree (4 year) in a Planning accredited program or related field of study.
• Master’s degree in Planning from a CIP accredited planning program is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and qualifications may be considered.

Knowledge

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible, relevant experience in land use policy and/or development planning, in an urban and/or rural context.
• Knowledge and experience in any of the following is considered an asset: archaeology, land use compatibility, noise impact assessment, agricultural impact assessment, traffic impact studies, site servicing studies, minimum distance separation from agricultural operations, hydrogeological studies, environment and natural heritage.
• Registered Professional Planner and a full member in good standing with both the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and Canadian Institute of Planners.
• Advanced knowledge of the Planning Act and Regulations, Provincial policies, plans and guidelines, Municipal Official Plans, infrastructure planning and environmental assessments, local planning policies and other related legislation/regulations.
• Knowledge of project management practices, including project development, scheduling, monitoring, and control systems.
• Ability to lead the procurement of consultant services, management of consultant’s work responsible for financial accountability for project budget for assignment.
• Qualified as an expert in planning to provide independent professional opinion before tribunals is preferred.
• Computer applications experience with MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Power Point and Outlook), application tracking systems (e.g. CityView) MS Project or other Project Tracking Systems and GIS based mapping systems.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage the review of complex and politically sensitive development applications and/or planning studies, including research, commenting on environmental assessments, secondary plans, community improvement plans and infrastructure planning, to determine compliance with applicable planning legislation and providing defendable recommendations or advice to local area municipalities (LAM’s) pursuant to planning service agreements or to Regional Council related to Regional interests, while meeting legislative and service level timelines. (70% of time)

• Prepare for and participate in pre-consultation with developers, area municipalities, agencies and other interested parties, to clearly identify and discuss Provincial and Regional issues and required technical studies early in the process.
• Research and analyze planning issues and/or development applications, identifying anomalies, issues and conflicts, based on: current legislation including the Planning Act and Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and relevant regulations, Provincial and Regional Plans and policies (such as the Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan, NPCA policy and regulation), guidelines (such as, MECP Noise, MDS, MECP D-Series and Archaeology).
• Coordinate, analyze, summarize and incorporate comments and requirements on all projects/studies and/or development applications from all Regional staff (e.g. engineering/technical, environmental, urban design, transportation, housing etc.), the Province and agencies, identifying, defining and resolving conflicting directions/requirements.
• Ensure data captured and generated in the development tracking system (e.g. CityView) is accurate and up to date on development application status.
• Provide planning or technical advice and guidance to other departments.
• Initiate discussions on issues and offer alternative solutions and advice to customers, balancing the needs of multiple interests with legislative requirements and policies.
• Prepare and manage defensible positions (response letters) to municipalities summarizing analysis, recommendations and conditions of approval resulting in an independent professional opinion document.
• Prepare and present reports to Committee and Council for approval and implementation resulting in an independent professional opinion and advice reports.
• Prepare and give evidence at tribunal or other types of quasi-judicial hearings. Participate in review meetings with Region’s legal counsel to provide background information on litigations, attending case management conferences and other legal hearings, resulting from planning studies and applications as required. Provides advice to legal counsel during hearing.
• Provide coordinated comments on policy projects from an implementation viewpoint (e.g. transportation, environmental, servicing, land use).
• Lead and/or participate in internal and external teams with respect to special planning studies (new legislation, development policy, community improvement plans, secondary and master plans, etc.) integrating Regional and Provincial interests.
• Lead or support the development and/or review of specialized projects, policies, guidelines and standards, to ensure conformity with Provincial legislation, policies and guidelines.
• Establish and maintain relationships with area planners and relevant agencies.
• Provide functional guidance to staff and consultants, providing work direction, assigning tasks/projects, determining methods and procedures to be used, resolving problems and ensuring results are achieved.
• Provide guidance and support to internal staff related to development matters.

Lead communication with project teams, Councils, interested parties, agencies, special interest groups and the public. (20% of the time)

• Participate in project and planning meetings and presentations to Local Area Municipalities, Councils and/or committees, other departments within the Region, interested parties, agencies, and the public.
• Develop project charter and appropriate project scope, as required.
• Communicate and present project-related and development information at Regional and local Councils and special interest groups.
• Coordinate with utility companies, area municipalities, regulatory agencies, Indigenous communities and First Nations, railways and other levels of government or elsewhere as required.
• Conduct public meetings and open houses, analyzes input, identifies and recommends revisions/changes/updates.
• Resolve conflicts encountered on projects, involving consultants, external agencies or government representatives, developers, Regional engineering, the public, and other interested parties, etc.
• Develop and responsible for project updates (budget, schedule, risks and issues).
• Develop consultation and engagement plans for review of proposed policy with internal/external stakeholders, area planners, community organizations, and other agencies.
• Recommend measures to be taken to address Provincial interests and requirements.
• Undertake a customer focused liaison role throughout the local planning exercise.

Contribute to continuous improvement of processes and service delivery. (5% of time)

• Implements best practices with respect to development review and ensures the Development Review procedures manual is kept up to date.
• Develops, researches and recommends new work processes and systems with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Remains current on new techniques, issues, and legislation affecting community development, providing advice and recommendations on strategies.
• Assists in the management of efficient and effective development review.
• Prepares development guidelines and standards.

Educate, coach and mentor Planners and Planning Students on all aspects of project work and/or development review, including consultation as appropriate. (5% of the time)

Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.

Special Requirements

• Must maintain the ability to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons.
• May be required to support emergency operations under the incident management structure, at the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre Director.
• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

• Email: myhr@niagararegion.ca
• Phone: 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
• Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
• In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department