Manager, Planning (26-207)

Job Title: Manager, Planning
Bargaining Unit: Non-Union
Language Requirement: English Essential
Vacancy Status: New position

Cornwall is a beautiful community with a population of 47,000 situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. The city offers a wide array of urban amenities, making it an excellent place for a career and raising a family. With a growing economy, expanding population and fantastic quality of life, there has never been a better time to start the next phase of your career with the City of Cornwall! Cornwall is a diverse and progressive community where residents and partners feel safe, welcomed, and enjoy a high quality of life supported by access to financially responsible and sustainable municipal services and infrastructure. 

Position Summary  
The Manager, Planning leads the Planning team’s efforts to deliver innovative and sustainable planning solutions and approvals for the municipality. This role is responsible for overseeing departmental operations, managing projects, and ensuring compliance with municipal and provincial regulations. The Manager plays a key role in policy development, strategic planning, and fostering collaboration across teams and with the community. 

Compensation
The current salary range for this position is $122,972 to $138,487 annually. This position is currently undergoing a compensation review, and the salary range may be revised as a result of the review.

Responsibilities  

• Develop and implement planning strategies that balance growth with environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and community well-being. 
• Lead a team of planning professionals, mentoring and empowering them to excel while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. 
• Oversee key projects such as Official Plan reviews and Zoning By-law amendments, secondary plans, development applications such as site plan approvals, minor variances, zoning by-laws, and urban design standards. 
• Engage with community members, developers, and other key interest-holders, facilitating public consultations and transforming feedback into actionable planning policies. 
• Monitor and forecast trends in urban development to position the municipality as a leader in progressive planning practices. 
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure planning initiatives align with economic development, transportation, infrastructure, and environmental strategies. 
• Provide expert advice, reports, and recommendations to Council and senior leadership on major planning decisions and initiatives. 
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to municipal planning, development, and land use. 
• Foster strong relationships with external agencies, organizations, and government bodies to support municipal planning goals. 
• Promote continuous improvement in planning processes, policies, and practices to enhance service delivery. 
• Prepare and manage the department budget, monitoring departmental expenditures and providing regular financial reports to the General Manager and Financial Services. 

Leadership of Others 

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure team alignment with organizational goals, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high performance. 
• Develop team capacity by coaching, mentoring, and identifying professional development opportunities, ensuring alignment with operational and organizational priorities. 
• Guide and support team members to meet operational objectives, ensuring compliance with organizational standards, policies, and procedures while fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment. 
• Play an active role in the recruitment process by participating in candidate screening, interviews, and hiring decisions while ensuring candidates have a positive experience. 
• Facilitate the successful onboarding of newly hired employees by delivering comprehensive training and continuous development, ensuring alignment between their role, organizational objectives, and the municipality’s culture. 
• Provides leadership and direction to staff and committee members as it relates to the operation of key committees supported by the department such as Planning Advisory Committee, Committee of Adjustment and Heritage Committee.

Position Requirements 
Education & Certifications 

• Degree in Urban Planning, Geography, or a related field 
• Full member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and hold the designation of Registered Professional Planner (RPP). 

Experience 

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in municipal planning or a related field, with a minimum of 3 years in a managerial role. 

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Strategic Planning: Strong ability to develop, implement, and monitor strategic and operational plans. 
• Municipal Planning Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of municipal planning legislation, policies, and processes. 
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience in managing, motivating, and developing teams to achieve operational goals. 
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with GIS software and other tools used in land-use planning and analysis. 
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reports, presentations, and interest-holder engagement. 
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and decision-making skills to address operational challenges effectively. 
• Interest-Holder Engagement: Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with diverse teams, external parties and agencies, and community members. 
• Legal Acumen: Knowledge of municipal and provincial regulations, ensuring compliance with legal requirements related to planning, development, and land use, as well as proficiency in preparing and reviewing legal documentation and contracts, representing the municipality in legal proceedings, hearings, and appeals. 
• Financial Acumen: Experience managing budgets and optimizing resource allocation. 
• Adaptability: Ability to navigate evolving legislation, emerging trends, and complex development environments. 

Working Conditions 

• Work is primarily performed in an office, with periodic travel for site visits, attendance at public meetings or consultations, training, professional development events, and inter-municipal meetings. 
• Standard business hours, Monday to Friday, with occasional evening or weekend work required to support municipal activities or events. 
• Cognitive demands include balancing competing interests while ensuring long-term community benefit and evaluating complex development proposals and planning issues. 
• Physical demands include extended periods of sitting and looking at a computer screen.

If selected for this role, you will need to provide:

• Successful reference check (two work-related references, with a minimum of one being a direct supervisor)
• Satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
• Proof of certifications

Additional Information:
The Corporation of The City of Cornwall strives to promote and demonstrate the values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We are committed to reflecting the diversity of the community we serve and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted. Information collected will be handled in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The City of Cornwall is an equal-opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the City, we respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity. The City of Cornwall is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Please save a copy of this posting for your records. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how you meet each of the required qualifications. Please note, selection for further consideration will be based on the information you provide in your application. Interviews may be conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams or in-person.

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