PLANNER COMMUNITY PLANNING

City of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated professional to join its Development Review Division. This role involves reviewing development applications, preparing expert reports, and engaging with community members to ensure effective planning processes. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in transforming the development review process, contributing to the city's ambitious housing goals. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, this position offers a unique opportunity to impact urban development positively while enjoying a flexible hybrid work environment that promotes work-life balance and job satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Strong background in urban planning with considerable experience in managing planning applications.
• Ability to prepare expert evidence and communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate development applications and prepare reports for committees.
• Conduct community consultations and liaise with various stakeholders on development projects.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Conflict Resolution

Analytical Thinking

Communication Skills

Research Skills

Negotiation Skills

Education

Accredited University degree in urban planning

Equivalent combination of education in a related subject

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

IBMS

Job description

Amendment Type: #1

Amendment Date: 11/04/2025

Reason for Amendment: Hourly Rate Updated

• Job ID: 54542
• Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research
• Division & Section: Development Review, Community Planning
• Work Location:Various. Please see below
• Job Type & Duration:Full-Time, 8 Permanent and 1 Temporary (18 month) vacancies
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $54.85 - $60.11,Wage Grade 15 (2024 rates)
• Shift Information:Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open:9
• Posting Period:10-Apr-2025 to 30-Apr-2025
• Location and Shift Information:
  Etobicoke Civic Centre - 399 The West Mall
  City Hall - 100 Queen Street West
  North York Civic Centre - 5100 Yonge Street
  Scarborough Civic Centre - 150 Borough Drive

The City of Toronto is transforming its development review process from pre-application consultation to occupancy by re-imagining organizational structures, processes, and performance.

A new Development Review Division has recently been established, which will enable a development review process that is effective, efficient, consistent, transparent, and ultimately, results in good city-building outcomes.

The Division will continue to focus on improving City-wide processes and coordination, including consolidating key teams involved in the development review process to meet legislated timelines related to development applications. Additionally, a key priority of the Development Review Division will be to prioritize and expedite housing projects, in support of the City’s objective of meeting its housing pledge of 285,000 new housing starts by 2031, including 65,000 rent-controlled homes by 2030.

Major Responsibilities:

• Reviews development applications, including Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications.
• Develops recommendations and drafts reports for Committees and Council.
• Prepares and presents expert evidence and opinion before the Ontario Land Tribunal and/or the Toronto Local Appeal Body.
• Conducts planning studies, including the preparation of terms of reference and study designs.
• Evaluates new planning initiatives.
• Identifies, negotiates, and mediates conflicting positions with groups which have varied interests.
• Provides information and advice in response to requests from elected officials, provincial agencies, area municipalities, other organizations, consultants, and the public, including preparing related reports and correspondence, as directed.
• Liaisons with other divisions/sections, applicants, and residents on development applications.
• Conducts all forms of community consultation, both online and in person on studies and development applications.
• Monitors projects and the progress of consultants' studies, including day-to-day co-ordination and liaison with consultants to assist management in ensuring that studies are completed on time and within budget and prepares status reports.
• Prepares and presents audio-visual presentations, including illustrative diagrams and other materials for internal and external stakeholder meetings.
• Provides work direction on research, analysis, surveys, and report writing assignments to Assistant Planners.
• Represents the Corporation/Division on external committees, task forces and at community and public forums.

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

• Accredited University degree in urban planning or an approved equivalent combination of education in a related subject and considerable planning experience.
• Considerable experience managing a range of planning applications.
• Considerable experience writing planning reports and correspondence to management, staff, elected officials, other agencies, and the public, for example staff reports and planning rationales.
• Experience participating in land use planning research projects and/or studies.
• Eligibility for membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and/or Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).

You must also have:

• Applied knowledge in the preparation of expert evidence, or testifying before, administrative tribunals such as the Ontario Land Tribunal and/or the Toronto Local Appeal Body.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully utilize other software packages relevant to supporting the division’s core requirements, e.g. Excel, PowerPoint, IBMS, etc.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate both verbally (involving both public and online presentations) and in writing, to all levels of the organization, and with elected officials, the media and the public.
• Effective consulting, conflict resolution and negotiating skills when working with the community members, developers, consultants, other City Divisions, and public and private agencies.
• Ability to incorporate equity and reconciliation considerations into work at all stages of the review process.
• Excellent research skills, critical judgement, and analytical thinking.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and complete project assignments working both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to continuously improve and be an innovator.
• A passion for City Building in the City of Toronto.
• Applied knowledge of the Planning Act, provincial policies and legislation related to land use planning, the Official Plan, and the Development Review Processes.
• Knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other regulations/legislation that apply to the job duties.

Hybrid Work Program

The City of Toronto's Workplace Modernization Program is re-imagining how we work in our workplace. Its vision is to provide flexibility to our employees around how we work and where we work. It will also support a better work-life balance, improved job satisfaction and employee engagement. Improving the work experience is at the core of this program and everyone plays a significant role in its realization. We have introduced the Hybrid Work Program which supports a more modern and flexible way of working. The hybrid approach will allow us to keep the best of remote work while integrating the important aspects of in-person collaboration and team-work.

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity .

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request . Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process .