Permits and Approvals Sr Specialist

Systra; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA Canada seeks a Permits, Licenses, and Approvals (PLA) Specialist to support Metrolinx projects. You will coordinate, obtain, and advise on PLAs across environmental, land use, and construction aspects. You will liaise with municipalities, provincial and federal bodies to manage approvals and risk.

Ideal candidates have strong negotiation and communication skills, plus experience delivering complex transit infrastructure projects in a multi-stakeholder environment. On-site work is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in construction, engineering, or municipal planning.
• Degree in Planning, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Architecture, or Construction Management.
• Knowledge of permit/approval processes for transit infrastructure and large projects.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, reviewing submissions, and obtaining permits, licenses, and approvals prior to construction.
• Prepare, submit, and track PLA applications for projects.
• Track PLA status and report risks; implement reporting improvements.
• Liaise with municipalities, provincial and federal authorities to manage approvals and risks.
• Coordinate with project delivery teams to ensure timely PLA acquisition.

Skills

Project coordination

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication skills

Environmental planning

Education

Planning degree

Environmental Studies

Engineering

Architecture

Construction Management

Tools

Contract development

Job description

SYSTRA Canada is part of the SYSTRA group, an international consulting and engineering group, a world leader in the design of transport infrastructures. SYSTRA Canada is an engineering and consulting firm whose primary focus is to offer transportation solutions, whether for passengers or goods: feasibility studies of building a new railway line, increasing the capacity of the existing infrastructure, privatization of a railway.

Understand better who we are by visiting www.systracanada.com.

Context

We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates for the position of Permits, Licenses, and Approvals (PLA) Specialist to support the Metrolinx's Project.

The PLA Specialist’s key responsibilities will include coordinating, obtaining, and advising on permits for the YNSE project. This will involve permit identification, negotiations and pre-approval at the Environmental Assessment (EA) / planning projects and coordinating and obtaining PLAs for all contracts as required. Contracts may be structured in alternative delivery project models or more traditional design-bid-build projects. PLAs will include those related to the natural environment, land use matters, and construction.

Missions/Main Duties

The Permitting Specialist’s Key Responsibilities Include:

• Assist in planning, reviewing submissions, and obtaining permits, licenses, and approvals required in advance of construction.
• Assist project delivery teams with PLA application preparation, submittal, and tracking.
• Track and provide reports on PLA status and risks on a regular basis and implement improvements to tracking and reporting systems.
• Support project delivery teams with liaison between approval authorities including municipalities, provincial and federal authorities to manage issues and risks related to acquisition of PLAs.
• Liaise with approval authorities, including municipalities, provincial, and federal authorities.

Profile/Skills

Minimum 6 years of experience.Completion of a degree in the field of Planning, Environmental Studies,Engineering,Architecture, Construction Management, or a combination of education, training, and experience deemed equivalent.Demonstrated experience within a construction, engineering, or municipal planning environment.Knowledge of permit and approval processes and requirements for construction of transit infrastructure and large infrastructure projects is essential.Ability to interpret technical drawings/reports and effectively communicate technical information is essential.Knowledge of public sector decision-making structures and processes at the municipal, regional, provincial and federal level.Knowledge of relevant legislation and requirements governing permits and approvals, including but not limited to Ontario Environment Assessment Act andTransit Projects & Metrolinx Undertakings (O. Reg., 231/08),Ontario Water Resources Act, Ontario Building Code Act, Planning Act, Ontario Heritage Act, Municipal Code and By-laws, Environmental Protection Act, railway corridor infrastructure, and related construction projects.Negotiation skills, diplomacy, and political acuity to develop and recommend project plans, manage multi-stakeholder projects/initiatives, and make recommendations.Excellent interpersonal, time management, collaboration, and oral/written communication and presentation skills.Experience with projects delivered via diverse delivery methods (e.g., public/private sector partnerships, progressive design-build, etc.), including knowledge of contract development and administration, would be highly beneficial.

SYSTRA Canada is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that values applications from all and offers employment equity based on the merits and abilities of candidates and personnel.

Note: In this description, the masculine gender is used for easy reading purposes and includes the feminine.

We use AI-enabled tools in our recruitment platform (iCIMS) for tasks like resume parsing and candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all applications are reviewed by a human recruiter, and final decisions are made by our hiring team.

For questions about our hiring process or AI tools, please contact [e-mail].

Workplace Type

On-site