Description

Our team is highly skilled, passionate about our community, and we care. Let’s grow together.

Supervisor, Parks Planning

Who We Are

In Whitby, we are dedicated to our work, our community, and each other. We work hard, we have fun, and we celebrate our successes.

The Town of Whitby is a community in transformation that is located in the heart of Durham Region in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Whitby is the second-largest municipality in the region and one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Located on Lake Ontario and only an hour east of Toronto, the population of Whitby is expected to grow from 140,000 to almost 200,000 by 2031. Whitby’s Official Plan has been updated to establish new directions for Whitby’s planned growth and development; the protection of our natural and built environments; urban design intensification; sustainability; community improvement; and, new employment within this time frame.

The Town of Whitby combines a small town atmosphere with the sophistication and amenities of a larger urban centre. Whitby boasts two beautiful heritage downtowns, one of the finest recreational harbours with an award-winning marina, year round sports and recreation activities, parks, trails, and a robust arts and culture scene, all of which are part of the extraordinary amenities that Whitby residents enjoy every day.

Whitby has an exciting and aspiring future, with a community that is welcoming, growing and transforming. On our team, you can expect to make a difference through your work and have a direct impact on shaping our growing community. Creating an inclusive environment where employees experience job satisfaction and have rewarding careers is important to us. We live our values and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, respect and engagement where people enjoy coming to work.

The Town of Whitby is a hybrid organization. This means staff are empowered to do their best work from various locations, as appropriate for the position.

We want to be the preferred employer for the most talented people who care about the Town of Whitby, and are excited and proud to serve our vibrant community.

Let’s grow together.

What You Will Get To Do

The successful candidate will have a positive impact on our corporate culture by demonstrating the Town’s CARE core values (Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Engaged) through daily interactions with individuals at all levels of the organization, external contacts and elected officials.

By effectively building positive rapport and relationships both internally and externally, the successful candidate will help us achieve our mission that together we deliver services that make a difference in our community.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Parks Planning and Development, this leadership position is responsible for leading a team of professionals and providing expertise in the strategic planning and delivery of parks and public spaces for the Town, including long-range planning, coordination of comment on behalf of the section on all development proposals, asset management, creation/administration of all policy and guidelines related to parks and recreational facility delivery. The position advises and collaborates with other departmental and Town staff as well as outside agencies, authorities, and clients. In response to continued growth and renewed vision for the Town, the Supervisor, Parks Planning is integral in managing special projects relating to parks and public spaces to help support the goal of building complete communities. In the absence of the Senior Manager, Supervisor of Parks Planning will report to the Commissioner of Community Services.

• Manage all facets of assigned projects, special studies, policy development including the preparation of terms of reference, consultant selection, budgetary control, overseeing consultants, meetings, directing Planning and technical staff, including work assignments and technical guidance.

• Responsible for professional planning activities, advice, the undertaking of complex analyses, consultation and research and making of recommendations on a wide variety of development applications and related processes, matters of high complexity and political sensitivity, either individually or as a project team leader.

• Develop and/or update the Town’s open space and parks planning standards, procedures and guidelines.

• Inform the capital budget forecast to ensure:Review and critically assess government planning legislative initiatives for their impact on Parks Planning and Development practices for subdivision, condominium and site plan approval, including reports to Council, attending training sessions and advising Council and senior staff.

  • implementation of Council approved studies, plans, policies, and strategies.

  • implementation of parks asset management program.

• Review and critically assess government planning legislative initiatives for their impact on Parks Planning and Development practices for subdivision, condominium and site plan approval, including reports to Council, attending training sessions and advising Council and senior staff.

• Train and mentor staff on planning policy interpretation, planning application processes, practices and legislation.

• Supervise staff including determining staffing allocation, recruitment, motivation, discipline and other personnel matters of a confidential nature.

• Collaborate as part of the section’s management team in the evaluation of the section’s effectiveness and assess the need for changes, in the context of Council direction, changes to legislation, budgets and monitoring of current trends.

• Create improvements to enhance overall responsiveness to the customer (the public) and/or internal clients, through the establishment of policies and SOP’s, tracking and projection tools, hardware and software enhancements, etc.

• Engage and supervise consultants for variety of planning and design related projects.

• Prepare and present professional planning advice and evidence at the Ontario Municipal Board on behalf of the Corporation as an expert Planning witness.

• Provide direction on plan project review and studies, topical planning issues, and the development of reports, conditions of draft plan, Council approval and the preparation of subdivision agreements.

• Review and/or coordinate all comments, conditions and clauses related to parks/open space and recreational facility provision, as part of the processing of development applications - including plans of subdivision, re-zonings and Official Plan amendments for incorporation into Conditions of Draft Plan Approval and Subdivision Agreements.

• Represent the Department on special studies and projects, both internal and external to the Corporation, providing input and reporting back to the Manager and report to Council.

• Provide advice to the public, staff and developers through pre-consultation and responding to inquiries.

• Administration of the Parks Asset management program.

• Maintain a parkland and parks facility inventory database, in conjunction with GIS, Parks Maintenance and Forestry and Recreation.

• Attend meetings during regular work hours and after hours, representing the Parks Department on Development Control matters in Public Works matters, and/or Planning/Council Committee Meetings.

• Assist in managing long and short-range planning activities related to the delivery of parks and open space, with the goal of delivering a suitable supply of parks and recreational facilities for the Town.

• Coordinate the development, update and implementation of major strategic parks and recreation planning documents (e.g. Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Parkland Acquisition Strategies, Cash-in-Lieu of Parkland programs).

• Provide strategic direction and leads the creation of policy governing the assembly and development of the parks and open space program including the establishment of policy through the Official Plan and Secondary Plans. Oversees and directs implementation through Block Planning, Subdivision and Site Plan review.

• Work with partnering sections and departments in the delivery of ‘active transportation’, with focused emphasis on the planning and development of off-road recreational trails and related infrastructure (e.g. signage).

• other duties as may be assigned.

Who You Are

Our Community Services team is looking for a strong leader who motivates and guides individuals and holds them accountable for results. You encourage high performance through empowerment.  You are a collaborative problem solver that has experience negotiating between competing priorities or projects and ensure the perspectives of others are considered.

 You use your knowledge and experience in the field coupled with strong communication and interpersonal skills to guide staff and stakeholders. You demonstrate tact, diplomacy and sound discretion when working with a broad range of partners and while dealing with sensitive issues.

 Your excellent prioritization and time management skills enable you to lead your team through work pressures and tight deadlines.  You creatively problem solve problems by identifying, gathering and processing relevant information.  You demonstrate adeptness in negotiation and approach situations with the goal of supporting your team, improving communication, diffusing tension and/or resolving problems.

To you, being at work is a mindset and not a location. You can switch seamlessly across modes of work and cultural norms of working in different environments. You know you best, including the tasks you do better when working virtually versus on-site.  You believe that the cornerstone of successful working relationships is trust and understand how this positively impacts productivity and performance. You have a high degree of accountability, readily adapt to disruption, like to learn to skills, and explore new ways to connect and collaborate in the digital world.

What You Bring To Our Team

As the successful applicant, you will possess:

• Undergraduate Degree (4 years) in Urban, Regional, Town Planning or Urban Geography, Landscape Architecture and/or a Masters Degree in the same.

• Six (6) + Years of progressive, demonstrated working experience in Planning within the private and/or public sector, with an emphasis on parks planning and/or development review.

• Full membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (O.P.P.I)

• The Supervisor of Parks Planning utilizes the knowledge of a Registered Professional Planner to advise on parks planning decisions related to social, economic, environmental, cultural, land development, recreation, and transportation issues. These skills involve the employment of land-use concepts and strategies to develop, enhance and manage communities through an understanding of communities’ needs, structures, and rules.

• Knowledge of Canadian and Ontario Planning, Regional and Municipal Planning Legislation/Policy; i.e. Planning Act, Municipal Act, Ontario Transportation Manual Book 18: Cycling Facilities, Provincial Policy Statement, Durham Official Plan, Whitby Official Plan as well as other relevant federal, provincial, regional, and municipal plans and policies.

• Data management such as creating spreadsheets for analysis of population projections, parks, open space and sports facilities.

• Writing ability; documents for writing internal/external memos, reports to Council, Parks related by-laws, policies and programs.

• GIS for data analysis review.

• Able to read blue prints – to review and understand all types of development applications plans/drawings (site plans, subdivision, zoning, park fitment plans, 40M etc.)

• Advanced Microsoft Office Skills; Word and Excel.

• Read and understand detailed technical material such as operating and procedure manuals, case histories, asset management plans and development feasibility studies.

• Well-developed applied research and analysis skills

• Ability to calculate percentages, ratios, or averages using mathematical formulas or pre-established equations (i.e. calculus, standard deviations, coefficients of variation, etc.)

• Ability to research, analyze, form, and explain numerical data. For example, as associated with parkland dedication, service level per population, land appraisals and financial data and projections.

• Project Management and Organization Skills.

• Verbal Communication and Presentation Skills.

What We Offer You

• Salary: $101,210 – $119,070 per annum (Band E)

• A comprehensive benefits and pension program to ensure that your total compensation package addresses both your work and life needs.

• An organization that invests in it’s culture and lives by it’s values, offering leadership development and opportunities to grow as a leader in the organization.

• A hybrid work environment and flexible work arrangements where employees are empowered to do their best work in the way that works for them. This is designated as a Remote Hybrid role. Remote Hybrid recognizes that approximately 60% of job functions associated with the role can be done virtually, from a remote office. Further details on these programs will be discussed through the selection process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

At the Town of Whitby, our values guide everything that we do. We celebrate our differences, which is why we are committed to building an inclusive and barrier-free environment for our team. If you need a specific accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will be happy to provide. Any information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Acknowledgement will only be forwarded to those applicants who are invited for an interview.

Personal information provided is collected under the authority of The Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

For your safety and the safety of others, if offered a role with the Town, you will be required to submit a completed Vaccination Declaration & Request for Accommodation form with proof of vaccination, if applicable, in accordance with the Town of Whitby’s COVID-19 Vaccine Policy.

Vaccination requirements are subject to bona fide medical and/or human rights exemptions, or individual preference exemption. Any request for an exemption will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as per our COVID-19 Vaccine Policy, and would be subject to the Town’s accommodation process.

Union Affiliation: No Affiliation

Hours: Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (35 hours per week)

Hybrid Work Model: Remote Hybrid

Intended Work Location: Whitby, ON