Manager of Planning

Municipality of Middlesex Centre
Employment Opportunity

Manager of Planning & Development

Permanent, Full-Time Position, Non-Union

Department: Public Works & Engineering

Grow your Future at Middlesex Centre

The Municipality of Middlesex Centre is a thriving, progressive, and welcoming community. Located just west of the City of London, Middlesex Centre’s rural charm and vibrant small towns make it a great place to live, work, and play.

What makes us special? Our team

We are supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace. We take pride in delivering the highest standard of municipal services to our community. We embrace our values of respect, cooperation, innovation, and integrity.

If you are a team player who is passionate about your work and are always looking for ways to improve and grow, then we want to hear from you.

We can offer you:

• Competitive compensation
• Participation in OMERS, one of the best defined-benefit pension plans in Canada
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits with a health care spending account
• An employee and family assistance program
• A culture that supports ongoing training and professional development.

Position Summary

The Manager of Planning & Development manages the coordination, processing, and administration of a broad range of development and planning applications under the Planning Act with an emphasis on those which may be complex, controversial, and high profile with multi-disciplinary issues and interests including Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-law Amendments, Plans of Subdivision, Site Plan Control, and Committee of Adjustment. This position will liaise with municipalities, senior levels of government, utilities, developers, and consultants on development planning and engineering related matters and manages and coordinates staff and outside contractors/consultants.

Responsibilities Planning

• Develops, administers, maintains, and monitors all aspects of planning applications.
• Reviews, analyzes, assesses, and reports on development applications of a complex nature, including applications with significant urban design components.
• Presents professional planning and design advice to Council, the Corporation, Committees of Council, advisory groups, and the community.
• Develops, implements, and applies design policies, standards, and guidelines.
• Provides input towards innovative planning and design solutions for proposed developments.
• Negotiates to resolve conflicts between applicants, interested parties and stakeholders on a variety of planning and design issues.
• Prepares and delivers professional planning reports, correspondence, and presentations.
• Leads the necessary legislative planning updates such as the Official Plan Review and Zoning Consolidation Review processes.
• Conducts research and analysis related to land use planning and design.
• Represents the Planning and Development Division on special studies and projects, both internal and external to the Municipality.
• Engages and manages external peer reviewers as required for various applications.
• Liaises with various approval agencies, engineering consultants, sub-contractors as deemed required.
• Responds to inquiries from external engineering consultants and contractors on various aspects of municipal transportation and municipal servicing infrastructure.
• Prepares Official Plan Amendments and land use by-laws such as zoning, holding, interim control, part lot control, temporary use, and site plan, for consideration and approval by the Municipality.
• Oversees and coordinates files with County planners working for Middlesex Centre.
• Manages and oversees timelines for all planning applications, even after approvals to ensure proper completion.
• Coordinates Municipal responses on all planning applications, liaising with appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Tracks and monitors the status of all planning and development files.

Development Review and Process Administration

• Evaluates development proposals ensuring compliance with the requirements of affected agencies.
• Develops, administers, maintains, and monitors development agreements.
• Maintains and performs annual reviews of the Municipality’s Infrastructure Design Standards as required.
• Recommends and undertakes changes to Division polices, by-laws and standard operation procedures.
• Oversees the review of detailed engineering drawings, environmental studies, servicing studies, etc. for subdivisions, site plans, service connections, etc.
• Manages development projects through the various planning, design, construction and completion processes.
• Responds to complaints and inquiries from the public or stakeholders related to the planning applications or subsequent development construction.
• Provides input towards innovative planning and design solutions for proposed developments.

People Leadership

• Provides leadership and direction to the division.
• Ensures the efficient utilization of human, physical, and financial resources, and meets high-level management performance standards through recruitment, selection, orientation, training, development, and management of qualified people.
• Directs the conduct of regular performance reviews, appraisals, and follow-up action. Takes and/or recommends action for employees including pay increases, new assignments, promotions, training, disciplinary action, or dismissal.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensures the collection of all fees and payments required within development agreements.
• Provides leadership and direction to all planning and development activities.
• Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned in accordance with departmental or corporate objectives.

Qualifications & Experience Education

• University degree in a relevant field of study, such as Planning or Civil Engineering, or equivalent post-secondary education and/or experience.
• Eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Experience

• 7-10 years of progressive experience working in an office environment, ideally in a municipal, planning or public works and engineering role.

Specialized Training & Licences

• Professional Engineer or
• Certified Engineering Technologist or
• Registered Professional Planner (RPP)

Skills & Abilities

• Solid understanding of municipal government with a well-developed ability to interpret and apply policies and regulations of the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement and other applicable municipal and provincial legislation including but not limited to the Condominium Act, the Municipal Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the Heritage Act.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant planning and land use related legislation and policy.
• Ability to work with applicants to achieve appropriate results.
• Ability to deal effectively with members of the public who are concerned about development impacts.
• Good analytical skills with ability to comprehend complex legal documents and technical repo
• Thorough understanding of planning policy matters and development approval process.
• Proven ability to prioritize, organize, coordinate, and manage a variety of projects simultaneously while being adaptable to deadlines, time constraints and changing priorities.
• Experience writing and presenting planning reports to councils and committees.
• Rural and small-town planning experience considered an asse
• Excellent communication and written skills and ability to interact effectively with the elected officials, the public, municipal staff, and others.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications as well as desktop mapping.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering prints, drawings, and survey information.
• Excellent knowledge of mathematics and survey methods

Other Requirements

• Minimum of a valid Ontario class G driver’s license in good standing.
• Criminal Records Check

Hours & Conditions of Work

Normal work hours are 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday. Occasional work outside of normal business hours will be required to attended evening or weekend meetings or events, or to accommodate deadlines and work projects.

This position primarily works at the main Municipal office. Some time spent outside of the office may be required to project specific site meetings, liaisons with developers, consultants and/or contractors.

Compensation

Middlesex Centre offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive employee benefit plan, including participation in the OMERS pension plan for this position. Compensation for this position is currently $110,011.20 to $130,958.10 per year.

Job Posting #: 2024-005

Closing Date: March 13, 2024

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