Planner I - Park Board

Requisition ID: 46439 

Organization

Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Recognized among BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver is seeking colleagues who can help advance our core commitments to exceptional public service, sustainability, equity, and an outstanding quality of life for all residents.

With a strong commitment to being a City of Reconciliation, we invite you to join our dedicated team and become part of an innovative, inclusive, and engaging workplace. A career with the City of Vancouver and within the broader public service, offers meaningful work where you play a key role in ensuring equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and supporting the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose and Function
This position contributes to the development and coordination of major projects, strategic planning efforts, policy initiatives, comprehensive plans or master plans that guide the overall development and delivery of the City’s parks, recreation and natural systems. 

Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Ensures the integration of recreation and parks interests, strategies, priorities and policies in the development of community plans, official development plans, large-site redevelopments, rezonings, development permits and other city-wide planning initiatives, and rezoning and development permit review processes.
• Investigates problems and identifies issues, supports creation of studies and strategies, assists in the development review process, conducts research and surveys, analyzes results, evaluates studies, and writes reports summarizing moderately complex issues and assists in formulating policies and recommendations and preparing reports for presentation to senior management and the Park Board.
• Works with Planner II and/or Planner III on complex projects including organizing and developing project terms of reference, scope and requests for proposals, oversees consultant teams and supervises professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged on project and administers budget.
• Under supervision of Planner II and/or Planner III, designs and conducts consultation with the public, interest-holders and other departments and agencies on matters related to assignments and answers enquiries from the public
• Represents parks and recreation interests at various cross-departmental staff technical teams, working groups and internal and external committees.
• Attends Park Board, City Council and staff meetings as required, and other civic and outside meetings to represent the department and make presentations and answer questions. (including weekday evenings and weekends).
• Coordinates project communication channels internally and externally (web, written etc.)
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Position Requirements
Education and Experience:
• A degree in planning or a related field such as landscape architecture, and a preferred minimum of two years professional experience in the municipal parks and recreation planning or planning field, some supervisory experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Experience with work in interdisciplinary project teams, facilitation, evaluating proposals, communicating complex ideas and making sound recommendations. 
• Experience assisting in the development of a range of engagement processes to include a broad range of public and interest-holder groups.
• Desirable: eligibility for membership in the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects or the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Considerable knowledge of park planning, landscape architecture, urban planning; policy development; municipal parks and recreation trends; municipal planning and development processes; municipal capital development processes; and environmental planning and urban sustainability initiatives.
• Good knowledge of planning and social research methodologies, and of community recreation resources and programs.
• Ability to achieve multiple program objectives within defined timelines, work on complex projects, budgets and consultant teams effectively within the municipal environment.
• Ability to communicate ideas effectively, both orally and in writing including excellent report writing skills.
• Ability to perform moderately complex technical research and prepare reports independently.
• Ability to supervise technical staff. 
• Ability to communicate ideas and make recommendations on park and recreation. 
• Ability to work effectively within the Park Board and with City officials and other interested groups including citizen groups. 

Business Unit/Department : Board of Parks & Recreation 

Affiliation: CUPE 15 Parks 

Employment Type: Regular Full Time 

Position Start Date: August, 2026

Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-029: $55.12 to $65.17 per hour

Application Close: July 19, 2026

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process.   Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion . 

The City of Vancouver acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). More about unceded traditional territories

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.