Director, Planning & Customer Engagement

Halifax Regional Municipality; Halifax; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Halifax Regional Municipality invites applications for the permanent position of Director, Planning & Customer Engagement in the Planning & Customer Engagement division of Halifax Transit. You will lead transit planning, scheduling, customer engagement, and capital project delivery to ensure accessible, customer-focused services aligned with strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate will bring 8–10 years in transit/transport planning, strong project management, and experience in a unionized

Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or related field.
• Graduate degree an asset; Licenses such as LPP or P.Eng. are assets.
• 8–10 years of transit/planning experience; strong project management background.

Responsibilities

• Lead transit service planning and scheduling to optimize delivery and align with community needs.
• Oversee transit infrastructure and capital project delivery to support growth and mobility objectives.
• Drive customer engagement and service improvements informed by community feedback.

Skills

Transit planning

Data analytics

Policy knowledge

Systems proficiency

Project leadership

Education

University degree in Engineering/Planning/Related field

Graduate degree (asset)

Tools

Trapeze

GIS

SAP

MS Office

Job description

Municipalities are the closest level of government to the public and employees take pride in making Halifax the best it can be. A municipal public servant makes a difference in the lives of over 500,000 people in the Halifax region. If you are committed to public service, have a desire to learn, grow, and give back to the community through your work, you may be the right fit for our organization.

Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for the permanent position of Director, Planning & Customer Engagement in the Planning & Customer Engagement division of Halifax Transit.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Executive Director, Halifax Transit Services, the Director, Planning & Customer Engagement is responsible for leading transit planning, scheduling, customer engagement, and capital project delivery for Halifax Transit. The Director provides strategic direction for service planning and infrastructure initiatives, ensuring transit services are accessible, customer-focused, and aligned with Halifax Regional Municipality's Regional Plan, Integrated Mobility Plan, and corporate priorities.

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team, oversees transit service planning and scheduling across the network, manages customer-facing programs and budgets, and leads the annual capital budget process. Working collaboratively with elected officials, community stakeholders, and internal partners, the role advances customer experience, stakeholder engagement, continuous improvement, and the long-term sustainability of transit services while aligning divisional priorities with the Municipality’s Strategic Plan.

Key Responsibilities and Priorities

Strategic Transit Planning & Service Delivery - Lead transit service planning and scheduling activities to optimize service delivery, operational efficiency, and alignment with current and future community needs.

Transit Infrastructure & Capital Project Delivery - Oversee the planning and delivery of transit infrastructure and capital projects, ensuring investments support service growth, operational requirements, and mobility objectives.

Customer Engagement & Service Enhancement - Lead customer engagement and service improvement initiatives, ensuring community feedback informs planning, decision-making, and the overall customer experience.

Performance, Innovation & Service Growth - Monitor performance, evaluate service opportunities, and recommend improvements that support strategic objectives, operational effectiveness, and long-term growth.

Stakeholder Relations & Strategic Partnerships - Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing expert advice and representing Halifax Transit on planning, infrastructure, and service initiatives.

Financial Stewardship & Funding Strategy - Support transit priorities through effective financial planning, resource allocation, and the pursuit and management of funding opportunities.

People Leadership & Organizational Culture - Lead and mentor a high-performing team while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable workplace culture focused on employee development, engagement, and service excellence.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a university degree in Engineering, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or a related field. A graduate degree is considered an asset. Professional designations such as Licensed Professional Planner (LPP) or Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) are also considered assets. They will bring 8 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in transit and/or transportation planning, supported by extensive experience in project management, municipal government, budgeting, and the public transit industry. They will demonstrate experience working in a unionized environment, including exposure to collective bargaining, combined with a strong understanding of transit operations and the ability to align planning and decision-making with organizational priorities. Ideally, the candidate will bring real‑world transit experience that enables them to introduce innovative practices and proven approaches that support service delivery, employee engagement, communications, and organizational effectiveness.

The successful candidate will be a strategic, forward‑thinking, and accountable leader with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. They will excel at managing multiple priorities, making sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment, and building effective partnerships with employees, senior leaders, Council, community stakeholders, and the public. Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and positive change, they will be a visible and approachable leader who can mentor and develop a diverse workforce while driving continuous improvement and advancing Halifax Transit’s long‑term priorities.

Skills and Attributes

Transit Planning & Operations Expertise – Forward‑thinking knowledge of public transit planning, service design, scheduling practices, transit‑oriented development principles, and transit operational requirements, with the ability to develop and optimize services that meet community and organizational needs.

Data Analytics & Strategic Planning – Strong analytical capabilities, including experience with statistical analysis, market assessments, cost and revenue forecasting, performance measurement, and data‑driven decision-making to support service and infrastructure planning.

Municipal Government & Transit Policy Knowledge – Thorough understanding of the Municipal Government Act, HRM Charter, municipal processes, and current public transit trends, technologies, and planning initiatives affecting service delivery and long‑term transportation planning.

Technical Systems & Financial Management Proficiency – Proficiency with transit scheduling software (Trapeze), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), SAP financial systems, and advanced Microsoft Office applications, including spreadsheet development, analysis, and budget tracking.

Project Leadership & Stakeholder Communication – Demonstrated project planning and management expertise, with the ability to communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences, navigate unionized environments, and apply equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles in planning, decision‑making, and service delivery.

How we do what we do

The core competencies needed for success in this role:

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those applicants moving forward in the recruitment process will be contacted.

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