Senior Environmental Planner

We're Hiring; Guelph; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consulting firm in Ontario is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner to shape and grow their public-sector environmental planning practice. This role requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in environmental planning, with a focus on leading Environmental Assessments and engaging with community stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and communication skills and be comfortable managing multiple projects in a collaborative environment, offering a chance to drive impactful projects in sustainability and planning.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Competitive compensation and benefits package

Career growth opportunities

Social committees

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in environmental planning or related fields.
• RPP or P.Eng. designation in Ontario preferred.
• Strong understanding of Ontario’s land-use planning policy framework.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership on Environmental Assessments and related proposal submissions.
• Lead consultation programs and community engagement activities.
• Manage multidisciplinary technical teams for project delivery.

Skills

Environmental assessments

Consultation and engagement

Sustainability

Climate change assessment

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Mentoring junior staff

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

Degree in Environmental Science, Planning, or Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

What You Can Expect

As a Senior Environmental Planner, you will play a key role in shaping and growing our public‑sector environmental planning practice. You’ll bring strong experience in environmental assessments, consultation and engagement, and sustainability and the confidence to integrate seamlessly into multidisciplinary project teams.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative, and innovative environment, and who is skilled at managing competing priorities with professionalism and sound judgment.

You’ll work alongside a dynamic team of environmental specialists, transportation and transit planners, engineers, communication professionals, and community planners to deliver impactful projects that make a difference.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Manager, Environmental Planning and Assessment, you will provide leadership and technical expertise on a wide range of environmental planning initiatives. Key responsibilities include:

Environmental Assessment & Reporting

• Provide leadership or senior technical guidance for Environmental Assessments including Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Transportation, Water/Wastewater), Transit and Rail Project Assessment Process (TRPAP), Recreation and Trails Master Plans, Transportation Master Plans, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plans, and related proposal submissions.
• Serve as lead author on major reports such as Environmental Study Reports, Project File Reports, Master Plans, and Socio‑Economic Impact Assessments, ensuring regulatory compliance and high‑quality deliverables.

Sustainability & Technical Analysis

• Offer functional guidance on climate change assessment, effects analysis, land use evaluation, and ecological impact assessments.
• Conduct analytical reviews of potential project effects and develop appropriate mitigation, monitoring strategies, and best‑practice recommendations.

Consultation & Engagement

• Lead consultation programs, including planning and executing community engagement activities and developing project‑specific Consultation and Engagement Plans.
• Synthesize feedback, respond to stakeholder input, and work closely with clients, government agencies, Indigenous Nations and organizations, and the public.
• Prepare and review consultation materials including notices, presentations, and PIC display boards.

Project Management & Business Development

• Lead or support business development initiatives for environmental planning and community development projects.
• Participate in client meetings and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams, subject‑matter experts, and subconsultants to ensure projects are delivered efficiently.

Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Conduct or coordinate research on sustainability initiatives , innovative engagement tools, and emerging environmental planning practices.

What You Bring

• Minimum 10 years of experience in environmental planning or related fields
• Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Resource Management, Engineering, or a related discipline
• RPP or P.Eng. designation in Ontario, or eligibility for registration/licensing (or demonstrated equivalency)
• Proven experience leading Municipal Class Environmental Assessments (MEA, 2024) and community planning projects
• Strong understanding of Ontario’s land‑use planning policy framework (e.g., PPS, Greenbelt Plan)
• Working knowledge of environmental legislation, regulations, permits, and approvals (e.g., Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, Impact Assessment Act, Planning Act, Endangered Species Act (2007), Species Conservation Act (2024), Conservation Authorities Act, O.Reg 231/08 TRPAP, O.Reg 53/24, etc.)
• Experience in community consultation, engagement planning, and group facilitation
• Experience engaging with First Nations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and support junior staff
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Valid Ontario driver’s license and access to a vehicle

Why Choose Burnside?

Are you interested in working for an employer with a 5‑decade track record of building a great reputation both internally with their staff and externally with their clients? The Burnside team is a supportive group of colleagues that work together to provide value and service to our clients, while extending care to each other. We know that our employees are our greatest asset, and we strive to provide a positive work/life balance.

We offer:

• A collaborative culture where friendship, honesty and respect are part of our core values and practices
• Flexible working hours and office locations, including hybrid working opportunities
• A competitive compensation and benefits package
• RRSP company matching plan
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Potential for performance‑driven bonusing
• Active social committees
• A welcoming, positive, and inclusive work environment

Burnside is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment, assessment, or selection process, please contact our Human Resources team. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure an accessible and equitable experience for all candidates.

Company Profile – More about us:

Founded in 1970, R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited is a growing values‑driven employee‑owned multidiscipline engineering and environmental consulting firm with over 450+ staff. Our consistent commitment towards investing in technology advancements and training, in addition to encouraging and promoting professional development, has enabled our firm to meet our ongoing and stated goal of continual improvement.

We actively seek to develop relationships with a broad and diversified client base in the Public, Private and Indigenous sectors. We work on a variety of projects throughout Canada, with ten office locations in Ontario and one in Manitoba.

Burnside has expertise in many technical disciplines beyond our core civil engineering focus including air and noise, asset management, building sciences, environmental planning and ecology, GIS, hydrogeology, land development, landscape architecture, municipal drainage, solid waste, stormwater management, structures, transportation planning and design, water and wastewater and well drilling & diagnostics.

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