Planner 2 (Poverty Reduction)
Top Benefits
About the role
Planner 2 (Poverty Reduction)
The City of Richmond is committed to be the most appealing, livable, well-managed community in Canada, a vision that is only made possible by developing our most valuable asset – our people. This is a great opportunity to join our team and shape our community. The City of Richmond offers competitive pay programs, comprehensive benefits and attractive incentives. If you are looking to make a difference, and to share our vision, then please apply.
Overview
Reporting directly to the Program Manager, Social Development, the Poverty Reduction Planner 2 in Community Social Development provides leadership and subject matter expertise in poverty reduction and prevention to City Council and other City Departments as they relate to policy planning, strategic development, service delivery and community engagement.
The incumbent is responsible for leading the implementation of the City’s 2021–2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond; co-chairing the City’s Community Poverty Reduction and Prevention Table; developing and implementing existing and new policies and initiatives aimed at furthering poverty reduction and prevention; establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with social service non-profits in the community; providing subject matter expertise to City policies, practices and strategies; liaising with provincial and federal partners to ensure local poverty reduction and prevention initiatives are adequately resourced; analyzing and interpreting a variety of qualitative and quantitative data to support the understanding of complex and diverse social issues that impact experiences of poverty; and researching, applying for and managing government grants related to poverty reduction and prevention.
The incumbent interacts with City Council, various City departments, external agencies and staff from senior levels of government; and prepares reports, memos and presentations to Council and the City’s senior management team. The incumbent provides direction to Planner 1 and Planning Assistant positions by assigning and delegating work, coaching and mentoring, and ensuring quality and service standards are met and supervises the Planning Assistant, Accessibility. The work is distinguished from that of Planner 1, in that more complex tasks of considerable scope and magnitude are performed. The incumbent is expected to exercise considerable initiative and are permitted considerable independent judgement in developing, completing and administering programs and projects.
Examples of key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provides subject matter expertise in poverty reduction and prevention issues to City Council and City departments.
- Provides complex, specialized information, options and recommendations to City Council, the City’s senior management team and other City departments on poverty reduction and prevention issues; and in the development and implementation of city-wide strategies, policies, projects and programs related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Leads the implementation of the 2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond.
- Prepares reports for presentation to the City’s senior management team and City Council.
- Provides a first point of contact for tactical and strategic response to complex issues related to poverty reduction and prevention occurring within the section and/or community.
- Provides subject matter expertise and process expertise to enhance the City's capacity to collaborate with key stakeholders and work towards advancing poverty reduction and prevention in Richmond.
- Represents the City on various internal and external committees, including co-leading the Community Poverty Reduction and Prevention Table, joint planning tables and inter-governmental bodies; and serves as the City's representative on various external committees and planning tables, comprising of community organizations, other municipalities and senior levels of government.
- Participates in internal cross-departmental working groups and provides a poverty reduction and prevention lens in the development and implementation of city-wide strategies, policies and projects; liaises with multidisciplinary internal and external stakeholders, such as staff from other City departments, senior levels of government, community agencies, societies, associations, other municipalities, elected officials and staff of other government organizations, businesses and the general public.
- Functions as a key contact for individuals and groups who are at risk of or living in poverty and engages with the community on an ongoing basis.
- Provides direction to Planner 1 and Planning Assistant positions by assigning and delegating work and coaching and mentoring; ensures that quality and service standards are met and provides input into performance reviews and hiring; develops and monitors individual work plans for advancing poverty reduction and prevention goals and objectives including specific actions to oversee, develop, or support the development and implementation of City policies, practices and strategies, such as the 2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond, the Social Development Strategy; and defines City priorities for leading collaborative poverty reduction and prevention initiatives with external stakeholders.
- Oversees the work of contractors, volunteers and practicum students on research and analysis, processes, initiatives, events, community engagement and projects related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Researches, applies for and manages government grants related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Prepares, manages and forecasts revenues and expenses for grant budgets and oversees budgets for programs and initiatives aimed at poverty reduction and prevention including consultant expenses.
- Prepares comprehensive planning reports for submission to superiors, boards and commissions, and the City Council.
- Performs related work as required.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, policies, theories, objects and philosophy of community development, social planning and equity approaches and how they can be applied to advance poverty reduction and prevention and build community capacity.
- Considerable knowledge of social issues and systemic barriers facing groups and individuals in an urban setting and the best practices for mitigating those issues in a municipal context.
- Considerable knowledge of the Canadian and BC community planning theory, practice and trends.
- Considerable knowledge of analytical and research techniques and methodology used in the work performed.
- Considerable knowledge of the economics, municipal finance, sociology and the current trends and developments applicable to municipal planning.
- Considerable knowledge of the social structure, social problems and social service network of the City.
- Ability to identify, analyze and prioritize poverty reduction and prevention issues in the City and to develop and implement action plans to address these problems and issues.
- Ability to prepare reports and make recommendations to government agencies and elected officials.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, government agencies, clients and the public with courtesy, tact and discretion.
- Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
- Ability to coordinate and provide a wide range of poverty reduction and prevention related planning policy research, analysis, options and recommendations, with minimal supervision, in a matrix management system.
- Ability to use REDMS or a similar Records Management System.
- Ability to successfully pass a Police Information Check.
Qualifications and Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years’ experience related to addressing social issues, including poverty reduction and prevention policy and planning, working with diverse stakeholders, project management and strategic planning.
- A Bachelor's Degree in Social Planning, Community Development, Sociology, Social Work or a related discipline.
- A Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
- Membership or eligibility for membership in the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) or the Canadian Institute of Planners is desirable.
Additional Information:
Employee Group:
CUPE Local 718
Position Status:
Temporary Full-Time
Duration of Appointment:
13 months
Salary Range:
$58.09 - $68.72/hr
Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday 8:15am - 5:00pm, compressed work week.
Application Posted:
7/15/25
External Closing Date:
PCC#:
1511
Planner 2 (Poverty Reduction)
Top Benefits
About the role
Planner 2 (Poverty Reduction)
The City of Richmond is committed to be the most appealing, livable, well-managed community in Canada, a vision that is only made possible by developing our most valuable asset – our people. This is a great opportunity to join our team and shape our community. The City of Richmond offers competitive pay programs, comprehensive benefits and attractive incentives. If you are looking to make a difference, and to share our vision, then please apply.
Overview
Reporting directly to the Program Manager, Social Development, the Poverty Reduction Planner 2 in Community Social Development provides leadership and subject matter expertise in poverty reduction and prevention to City Council and other City Departments as they relate to policy planning, strategic development, service delivery and community engagement.
The incumbent is responsible for leading the implementation of the City’s 2021–2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond; co-chairing the City’s Community Poverty Reduction and Prevention Table; developing and implementing existing and new policies and initiatives aimed at furthering poverty reduction and prevention; establishing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with social service non-profits in the community; providing subject matter expertise to City policies, practices and strategies; liaising with provincial and federal partners to ensure local poverty reduction and prevention initiatives are adequately resourced; analyzing and interpreting a variety of qualitative and quantitative data to support the understanding of complex and diverse social issues that impact experiences of poverty; and researching, applying for and managing government grants related to poverty reduction and prevention.
The incumbent interacts with City Council, various City departments, external agencies and staff from senior levels of government; and prepares reports, memos and presentations to Council and the City’s senior management team. The incumbent provides direction to Planner 1 and Planning Assistant positions by assigning and delegating work, coaching and mentoring, and ensuring quality and service standards are met and supervises the Planning Assistant, Accessibility. The work is distinguished from that of Planner 1, in that more complex tasks of considerable scope and magnitude are performed. The incumbent is expected to exercise considerable initiative and are permitted considerable independent judgement in developing, completing and administering programs and projects.
Examples of key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provides subject matter expertise in poverty reduction and prevention issues to City Council and City departments.
- Provides complex, specialized information, options and recommendations to City Council, the City’s senior management team and other City departments on poverty reduction and prevention issues; and in the development and implementation of city-wide strategies, policies, projects and programs related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Leads the implementation of the 2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond.
- Prepares reports for presentation to the City’s senior management team and City Council.
- Provides a first point of contact for tactical and strategic response to complex issues related to poverty reduction and prevention occurring within the section and/or community.
- Provides subject matter expertise and process expertise to enhance the City's capacity to collaborate with key stakeholders and work towards advancing poverty reduction and prevention in Richmond.
- Represents the City on various internal and external committees, including co-leading the Community Poverty Reduction and Prevention Table, joint planning tables and inter-governmental bodies; and serves as the City's representative on various external committees and planning tables, comprising of community organizations, other municipalities and senior levels of government.
- Participates in internal cross-departmental working groups and provides a poverty reduction and prevention lens in the development and implementation of city-wide strategies, policies and projects; liaises with multidisciplinary internal and external stakeholders, such as staff from other City departments, senior levels of government, community agencies, societies, associations, other municipalities, elected officials and staff of other government organizations, businesses and the general public.
- Functions as a key contact for individuals and groups who are at risk of or living in poverty and engages with the community on an ongoing basis.
- Provides direction to Planner 1 and Planning Assistant positions by assigning and delegating work and coaching and mentoring; ensures that quality and service standards are met and provides input into performance reviews and hiring; develops and monitors individual work plans for advancing poverty reduction and prevention goals and objectives including specific actions to oversee, develop, or support the development and implementation of City policies, practices and strategies, such as the 2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond, the Social Development Strategy; and defines City priorities for leading collaborative poverty reduction and prevention initiatives with external stakeholders.
- Oversees the work of contractors, volunteers and practicum students on research and analysis, processes, initiatives, events, community engagement and projects related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Researches, applies for and manages government grants related to poverty reduction and prevention.
- Prepares, manages and forecasts revenues and expenses for grant budgets and oversees budgets for programs and initiatives aimed at poverty reduction and prevention including consultant expenses.
- Prepares comprehensive planning reports for submission to superiors, boards and commissions, and the City Council.
- Performs related work as required.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, policies, theories, objects and philosophy of community development, social planning and equity approaches and how they can be applied to advance poverty reduction and prevention and build community capacity.
- Considerable knowledge of social issues and systemic barriers facing groups and individuals in an urban setting and the best practices for mitigating those issues in a municipal context.
- Considerable knowledge of the Canadian and BC community planning theory, practice and trends.
- Considerable knowledge of analytical and research techniques and methodology used in the work performed.
- Considerable knowledge of the economics, municipal finance, sociology and the current trends and developments applicable to municipal planning.
- Considerable knowledge of the social structure, social problems and social service network of the City.
- Ability to identify, analyze and prioritize poverty reduction and prevention issues in the City and to develop and implement action plans to address these problems and issues.
- Ability to prepare reports and make recommendations to government agencies and elected officials.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, government agencies, clients and the public with courtesy, tact and discretion.
- Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
- Ability to coordinate and provide a wide range of poverty reduction and prevention related planning policy research, analysis, options and recommendations, with minimal supervision, in a matrix management system.
- Ability to use REDMS or a similar Records Management System.
- Ability to successfully pass a Police Information Check.
Qualifications and Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years’ experience related to addressing social issues, including poverty reduction and prevention policy and planning, working with diverse stakeholders, project management and strategic planning.
- A Bachelor's Degree in Social Planning, Community Development, Sociology, Social Work or a related discipline.
- A Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
- Membership or eligibility for membership in the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) or the Canadian Institute of Planners is desirable.
Additional Information:
Employee Group:
CUPE Local 718
Position Status:
Temporary Full-Time
Duration of Appointment:
13 months
Salary Range:
$58.09 - $68.72/hr
Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday 8:15am - 5:00pm, compressed work week.
Application Posted:
7/15/25
External Closing Date:
PCC#:
1511