Job Description

DEPARTMENT: CAPD -Planning
STATUS: Regular Full Time
NO. OF POSITIONS: One
UNION: CUPE, Local 387
HOURS OF WORK: 35 hours per week
SALARY: $54.44 – $64.43 per hour + a comprehensive benefits package

Imagine you are walking past Sapperton Park, and you overhear a little girl say to her friend, “did you know that I designed this playground?” She tells you about how one day last summer, a big tent appeared in the park. In the tent were people who said they worked for the city and needed her help to design a new playground. She said they had tables set up with playdough, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks and bits of paper. As she worked to build a model of her new playground, she told them about what the new playground ought to be. She said, “see, that’s what they built.” This is a true story and speaks to the efforts our city staff take to create amenities that meet the needs of people and our community.

There has never been a more exciting time to be a land use planner for the City of New Westminster. Urban planning and housing policy decisions are at the confluence of complex issues that will shape the community for generations to come. The need for creative and innovative long range planning has never been greater. As a compact urban city, implementing land use policy and facilitating redevelopment comes with added opportunities and challenges. Equitable access to housing and community amenities for all is vital. Housing policy decisions need to evolve to support the development of a resilient and adaptive community. In addition, New Westminster City Council proclaimed A Year of Truth and we are learning how to respect and honour the generations who came before us including those who have lived and cared for these lands from time immemorial. This is a challenging list for sure, but we absolutely believe that there are creative solutions and that we have the responsibility and ability to create a better community for the future. Council is also committed to tackling these issues head on with unprecedented growth in staffing the Planning Department.

If you are hired, you will be joining a team of committed and passionate professionals who care deeply about the community they serve who thrive on variety and enjoy the challenge that comes with emergent and sometimes chaotic work. As the City’s Senior Land Use Planner, you will lead innovative policy projects for the land use group in the Planning division. With the support of a Land Use Planner, you will prepare neighborhood plans, design guidelines and draft land use policy. Your responsibilities will include:
• Providing leadership and encouraging creativity in advancing practices, policies, and regulations within a team environment.
• Formulating, modifying, and implementing land use policy, practices, and regulations at all levels of complexity, including:
o collecting and analyzing data
o designing and facilitating community consultation
o liasing with other City departments and stakeholders
o advising senior staff and Council on an appropriate role for the City on social issues relative to other government and non-profit partners
o drafting reports and making presentations to community groups, City committees and Council
o writing policy documents
o creating guides, web content and other related material
• Liasing with internal and external contacts on matters related to the land use planning group’s work, including serving as the City’s representative to external agencies.
• Ensuring all land use policy projects and processes are consistent with Council’s strategic priorities and the City’s overall objectives, including those related to housing, community planning, economin development, climtate action, equity, and reconciliation.

If you have many of these attributes, we want to hear from you:
• A Master’s Degree in urban planning or a related discipline, with five years of related work experience in policy planning, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Ability to lead project teams, including work planning, budgeting, and assigning work.
• Strong knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques, methods, procedures, and legislation applicable to municipal planning.
• Experience in the development and implementation of land use or related policy.
• Ability to express ideas effectively verbally, visually, and in writing to various audiences.
• Strong understanding of best practices and tools applicable to the creation of land use policy for complex urban areas, including considerations for growth, climate action, and equity.
• Interdisciplinary knowledge of fields related to planning, such as housing, urban design, social science, law, economics, and municipal finance.
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate engaging community consultation events and activities and effectively represent the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
• Political acumen as demonstrated by participating in Council or committee meetings.
• Strong organizational skills, proven ability to problem solve, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver results.
• Cultural awareness of Indigenous and diverse communities.
• Knowledge of the municipal development review process.

New Westminster is at the “sweet spot” when it comes to employer size – you will have a team to support you along with the diversity and variety of work to be challenged and growing every day. We offer a fun and rewarding culture where staff take their work seriously but not themselves.

If this opportunity appeals to you and you possess many of the attributes and skills outlined, we would love to hear from you!

Submit your cover letter and resume in one PDF document online at www.newwestcity.ca/employment by March 14, 2024

To support a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community; women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversity of our workforce, are encouraged to express their interest.
New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halq’eméylem-speaking peoples. ` It is acknowledged by the City that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.
We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This position is only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada.

Required languages: English

Education level: See Above

Required skills: See Above

Closest intersection: 6th Street & Royal Ave