Located within the traditional land of the Anishnaabek, Haudenosaunee and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples, the Town of The Blue Mountains is a four-season community with stunning natural features, including the Niagara Escarpment, Beaver Valley and the Georgian Bay shoreline. Internationally recognized as a four-season tourism destination, The Blue Mountains offers a high-quality lifestyle that caters to families looking to build a solid foundation, adventurers looking to go off the beaten path and relaxation seekers taking in and experiencing the very best the area has to offer.

The Town is looking for people with a shared commitment to building a sustainable community, as well as shared values of Accountability & Transparency, Leadership, Stewardship, Respect and Collaboration.

Come gain a unique experience in the 2nd fastest growing municipality in Canada!

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Director of Planning & Growth Management is a member of the Senior Management Team and Emergency Management Control Group. The Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Town's planning, growth management, engineering, and building services functions, ensuring alignment with the municipality's strategic priorities and long-term growth objectives. The Director is accountable for all activities within the Planning & Growth Management Department, including land use planning, engineering, growth-related infrastructure planning, development approvals, building services, and the integration of development requirements with municipal servicing strategies, infrastructure planning, and long-range capital planning. The Director ensures that growth and development are managed in a fiscally responsible, sustainable, and coordinated manner while maintaining delegated authorities provided by Council and compliance with applicable legislation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Corporate Contributions

- Provide overall leadership, management, and representation of the Planning & Growth Management Department, ensuring alignment with the Town’s strategic priorities, growth objectives, and service delivery goals.
- Provide strategic planning and growth management advice to the CAO, Council, and Senior Management Team to support informed decision-making and corporate priorities.
- Contribute as an active member of the Senior Management Team, supporting corporate initiatives, program reviews, continuous improvement efforts, and cross-departmental collaboration.
- Lead and/or participate in corporate projects and strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment between growth management, infrastructure planning, and municipal priorities.
- Champion the Town’s mission, vision, and values, fostering a high-performing, customer-focused, and collaborative culture.

Department Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

- Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to departmental staff, including workforce planning, performance management, training and development, succession planning, and employee engagement.
- Assess staffing requirements and recommend organizational design changes to support evolving departmental and corporate needs.
- Participate in recruitment and selection processes and authorize hiring recommendations in accordance with corporate policies.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with Occupational Health and Safety requirements and corporate policies.

Planning, Growth Management and Engineering

- Oversee all planning, engineering, and building services functions, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, municipal policies, and Council direction.
- Oversee the delivery of timely and coordinated engineering and planning comments, for matters such as official plan amendments, plans of subdivision, condominium applications, site plans, easements, and road allowance acquisitions to ensure sustainable and coordinated growth.
- Administer Development Agreements for subdivision, condominium, and site plan developments, including agreement preparation, construction drawing approvals, construction monitoring, security reductions, milestone certifications, and municipal assumption recommendations.
- Ensure long-term planning and coordination of land use planning, engineering and infrastructure planning functions, including oversight of technical studies, servicing reviews, growth forecasts, staff reports, development agreements,



and planning initiatives that support sustainable community development.
- Provide strategic oversight and direction for growth-related infrastructure planning activities, ensuring development approvals are aligned with municipal servicing capacity, infrastructure priorities, and long-range planning objectives.
- Oversee the integration of engineering requirements into municipal capital planning, servicing strategies, infrastructure studies, asset management planning, and development charge initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with the Building Code Act, Ontario Building Code, applicable provincial legislation, regulations, and Town by-laws.
- Develop, maintain, and standardize departmental policies, procedures, service levels, and standards to support effective service delivery and sustainable growth.

Financial Management and Operational Oversight

- Lead the preparation, review, and implementation of annual operating and capital budgets, forecasts, and funding strategies.
- Monitor and administer approved departmental budgets, ensuring effective financial management, accountability, and reporting.
- Collaborate with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services/Treasurer to support sustainable growth planning, development forecasting, development charge planning, infrastructure funding strategies, and long-range financial planning associated with growth.
- Authorize expenditures and payments in accordance with corporate policies and delegated authority.
- Negotiate planning and development-related agreements, including financial matters, and present recommendations to Council for approval.

Stakeholder Relations and Service Delivery

- Liaise with internal departments, external agencies, utilities, contractors, developers, consultants, community groups, and other levels of government on planning, growth management, and development-related matters.
- Collaborate with the Director of Operations to coordinate growth-related infrastructure requirements, servicing needs, infrastructure investment priorities, and long-term infrastructure planning.
- Collaborate with Economic Development and Communications staff to support public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and proactive communication initiatives.
- Attend and participate in Committee, Council, public meetings, and stakeholder meetings, providing strategic advice and recommendations as required.
- Promote and ensure a high standard of customer service and collaborative service delivery for internal and external stakeholders.

Legislative Compliance and Governance

- Maintain awareness of legislative changes, provincial policy direction, growth management initiatives, and emerging industry trends to support effective and compliant service delivery.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, standards, and corporate policies governing planning, development, building, and growth management functions.

Emergency Management and Corporate Responsibilities

- Participate as a member of the Town’s Emergency Management Control Group in accordance with the Emergency Plan.
- Provide leadership and support during emergency situations and contribute to business continuity and response planning.

Other

- Perform other duties as assigned in support of corporate objectives.

What you will need:

- University degree in Planning, Engineering, Public Administration, Business Administration, Infrastructure Management, or a related discipline.
- A Master’s Degree in Planning, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Engineering, or a related discipline would be considered an asset.
- Full membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). Registered Professional Planner (RPP) would be considered an asset.
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or eligibility for registration would be considered an asset.
- Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five (5) years in a senior management role within a municipal planning, development, building, growth management, or related municipal workplace.




- Demonstrated experience and knowledge in leading and managing multidisciplinary teams within a municipal environment.
- Experience providing evidence before the Ontario Municipal Board and/or successor tribunals.
- Experience in Ontario Building Code matters would be considered an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in municipal planning processes, land development applications, development agreements, growth management initiatives, and development approvals.
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with engineering, infrastructure, operations, finance, building, and economic development functions to support municipal growth objectives.
- Proven experience developing and implementing strategic plans, policy initiatives, service improvements, business plans, and continuous improvement programs.
- Thorough knowledge of the Ontario Planning Act, applicable regulations and procedures, and related provincial legislative, regulatory, and policy frameworks, with demonstrated experience interpreting legislation and translating legislative requirements into policy, procedures, and strategic recommendations.
- Strong understanding of municipal infrastructure planning, servicing strategies, growth forecasting, asset management principles, and development charge frameworks.
- Knowledge of municipal budgeting, capital planning processes, growth-related financial planning, infrastructure funding strategies, and the financial implications associated with growth and development.
- General knowledge of public policy, governance practices, and emerging issues affecting local government, with an understanding of public sector management accountability frameworks.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership in long-range planning, growth management, development engineering, infrastructure planning, and organizational change initiatives.
- Strong financial, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance growth objectives, service delivery requirements, infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations, and fiscal sustainability.
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and achieve results through partnerships with municipal departments, government agencies, developers, consultants, community organizations, and stakeholders.
- Strong communication, facilitation, negotiation, and collaboration skills developed through extensive involvement with local citizen groups, public agencies, special interest groups, the development industry, consultants, and elected officials.
- Demonstrated political acuity and the ability to effectively advise Council, senior leadership, and stakeholders on complex planning, growth management, infrastructure, and development-related matters.
- Exceptional leadership, organizational, relationship-management, and consensus-building skills, with the ability to influence, motivate, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, manage competing priorities, and navigate complex regulatory, political, and stakeholder environments.
- High level of professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters.

What we offer:

This is a full-time permanent opportunity to fill a vacancy at the Town. The annual salary range for this role is $155,931.98 – $182,436.05 (2026 Rate). The Town also offers the following to our employees:
- Perks & Discounts
- Wellness Programs
- Health & Dental Benefits
- OMERS
- Work / Life Flexibility
- Professional Development & Education Opportunities

The submission deadline for applications is Sunday, October 11, 2026. Application Process: To explore this opportunity please apply via email with a covering letter and resume by October 11th, 2026 or sooner to [email protected] quoting project TBM-DIR-PGM

Should you wish to speak to our Executive Recruiter or to receive a detailed position description and information package please contact Amy Oliveira at (phone hidden) x4, [email protected], or Jon Stungevicius at (phone hidden) x1, [email protected].

Please note: Qualified candidates may be considered in advance of the closing date.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), please advise the Human Resources Department to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process. Personal information provided by the applicants is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 and will be used for the purpose of candidate selection.

📌 Director of Planning & Growth Management (Thornbury)
🏢 The Town of the Blue Mountains
📍 Thornbury