Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Development Services, 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.

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

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

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.

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

Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reports, presentations, and interest-holder engagement.

Problem-Solving: Robust analytical and decision-making skills to address operational challenges

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

Adaptability: Ability to navigate evolving legislation, emerging trends, and complex development environments.

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📌 Manager, Planning (Ontario)
🏢 Town of Milton
📍 Ontario