Director, Network and Land Use Planning

Marketing Statement

A career at TransLink and our family of companies means working with people with a wide range of skills and perspectives, all teaming up towards a common goal: preserving and enhancing the region’s world-envied quality of life. Together, we connect the region and enhance its livability by providing a sustainable transit and transportation network, embraced by our communities and people.

At TransLink we are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace, recognizing the unique value and skills every individual brings.

Looking for a great place to work where your contributions are valued and you can make a difference in a vibrant city? At TransLink, one of BC’s Top Employers, you’ll help make Metro Vancouver a better place to live, built on transportation excellence. Put your future in motion!

Responsibilities

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Provides strategic leadership for long range transportation network and regional growth management/land use planning, major corridor and infrastructure studies, with a primary focus on shaping and advancing major transportation investments from concepts through business cases. Leads a multi-disciplinary team to undertake strategic network planning and studies for investments on the Major Transit Network and Regional Road Network, including defining investment rationale, options, benefits, costs, risks and delivery considerations. for transit expansion and other region-shaping initiatives. Applies TransLink’s business case framework and structured decision framework to complex and high-risk planning initiatives. Ensures a consistent, comprehensive, and evidence-based approach to investment evaluation and land use integration, including supportive policy agreements that enable project outcomes and help shape future land use patterns to support transportation performance. Builds strong partnerships with First Nations, municipalities, provincial agencies, and other key partners, and represents TransLink at senior levels internally and externally.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Leads longer-term (10-30+ year) strategy for network and land use planning, major studies, and the transit-oriented communities’ program, defining critical paths that integrate technical requirements, consultation processes, political considerations, and interdependent initiatives.
• Ensures planning and investment work is aligned to enterprise objectives through an integrated, cross-divisional approach, while maintaining clear boundaries between major investment planning/business cases and ongoing service planning and system standards functions.
• Directs project scoping, options development, and business case preparation for major transportation investments, working collaboratively with other enterprise divisions and external partners, including First Nations, municipalities, Metro Vancouver, and Ministry of Transportation and Transit. Oversee the development and execution of investment-related studies and plans, manage strategic risks and ensure governance change management are applied throughout the investment lifecycle from early concept through recommendation to achieve TransLink Enterprise objectives.
• Provides expert advice to TransLink Board, Mayors’ Council, municipalities, Metro Vancouver Regional District on land use and growth decisions that will align with major transportation investment and advance transit-oriented communities, consistent with the Regional Transportation Strategy and other policy guidance. Develops, implements and monitors Supportive Policy Agreements to ensure that conditions required to achieve project outcomes are delivered.
• Defines effective governance, decision-making structures, analytical frameworks, and evaluation processes to support project planning and implementation.
• Provides strategic direction across assigned portfolios (long-range network planning, major studies, TOC, and investment business cases), establishing clear objectives, roles, and decision points, and ensuring coordination with complementary enterprise functions (e.g. service planning, standards, and programs delivery) to enable timely, coherent recommendations.
• Drives rigorous performance management by establishing, monitoring, and recalibrating targets for budgets, timelines, resource deployment, customer impact and risk mitigation, proactively adopting plans to address evolving business needs and challenges.
• Provides strategic guidance to senior leadership and project stakeholders, including delivering presentations to the Executive Team and Board, participating in committees, and maintaining continuous consultation. Lead decisions and senior management team, informing executive leadership and Board of significant project challenges and key decisions, and offering recommendations on risk management strategies. Serves as TransLink’s representative during discussions with the TransLink Board, Mayors’ Council, municipal councils, and other interested parties.
• Assists the VP, Transportation Planning & Policy, in integrating strategic goals into operational plans, setting targets and metrics, and providing regular progress updates. Prepares status reports for planning initiatives and flags critical issues. Serves on the division leadership team with shared accountability and helps deliver executive-level presentations with the VP.
• Develops and manages critical relationships with key stakeholders, senior industry peers, and government officials, managing expectations and overseeing actions taken on complex and politically sensitive project issues. Leads negotiation of key agreements with external partners and oversee procurement processes for major consultant contracts. Additionally, fosters trusted, respectful relationships and highly responsive interactions with both internal and external stakeholders across all reporting areas.
• Leads cross-functional matrix-teams from multiple agencies and departments, coordinating resources and managing risks to achieve project milestones on schedule and within budget.
• Seeks to understand the lived experience and transportation needs of Metro Vancouver’s diverse residents and businesses, particularly equity-deserving and marginalized groups. Apply these perspectives to the department’s initiatives and actively coaches’ others to integrate equity-informed approaches into their work.
• Provides leadership for reporting staff across all reporting areas, including selection, training, coaching, development, performance management and all other people management practices. Manages staff, consultants and contractors.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The requirements for this job are acquired through completion of a graduate degree (or commensurate experience) in planning, engineering or a related discipline. Minimum ten (10) years of progressive management experience in transportation or planning agencies, with a proven track record of leading complex projects. Combination of education and experience will be considered.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Deep expertise in transportation, public policy, and urban planning, with specialized knowledge in transit, transportation infrastructure, and project development will be considered an asset.
• Advanced business acumen, including strategic planning, policy development, organization culture transformation, change management, and fostering innovation.
• Thorough understanding of TransLink’s vision, mission and values, long term and strategic priorities; with experience aligning organizational structure and processes to support these goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to provide expert guidance, influence stakeholders, and lead high-profile external engagements.
• Strong critical and integrated thinking skills, with a capacity for complex problem-solving and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion, with experience integrating these principles into transportation planning and team leadership.

Other Information

Recruitment Process: An applicant will be required to demonstrate their suitability for this position by meeting the minimum level of qualifications and experience in order to be invited into the selection process. A standard interview format will be used including general, scenario and behavioural descriptive interview questions.

Work Schedule

37.5 hours per week.

Work Designation

Hybrid – This position offers the flexibility of working both on-site and remotely within B.C.

Rate of Pay

The salary for this position ranges from $149,680 – $224,520 per annum. Actual salary offered will be based on education, experience, skills, and qualifications as they relate to the role.

We aim to provide competitive pay that reflects your professional background and expertise. We want to ensure our offer will align with your strengths considering experience, skills, and internal equity to offer a fair and equitable salary. The Total Compensation Package, which includes Extended Health, Dental, Transit Pass and enrollment in the Public Service Pension Plan as well as other employment offerings will be discussed in detail as your application progresses.

How to Apply

Please visit our Career Page to apply for this position.

INSTRUCTIONS: Please save your (1) cover letter, and your (2) resume as one PDF document prior to uploading your application on-line.

Closing Date: Open until filled

Plee note that only those short listed will be contacted.

Having trouble applying?Please view the System Requirements & FAQ’s page.

If you have questions, please connect with us at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Equal Employment Opportunity

TransLink is committed to employment equity and building a diverse workforce, representative of the customers we serve and the many communities in the Metro Vancouver region. We welcome and encourage Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, 2SLGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities to apply.Learn more about TransLink’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, simply email us at View email address on click.appcast.io.