Senior Environmental Planner

GoodWork.ca; Halton Hills; Hybrid; CAD 113,709 - 135,367; Full time

Job summary

Town of Halton Hills is seeking a Senior Environmental Planner to review and evaluate environmental and natural heritage studies in support of development applications and long-range planning. You will provide professional input to staff, manage complex projects, and coordinate with Conservation Authority partners.

The role requires a strong background in provincial planning frameworks, environmental policy development, and experience presenting to Council and public forums.

Qualifications

• Four-Year University Degree in Environmental Planning/Science/Studies, Urban & Regional Planning or related field, with a master’s in Environmental Planning, Sciences or Studies considered an asset.
• Ten years of environmental and land use planning experience, municipal experience preferred.
• Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners and O.P.P.I as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP)
• Ability to thoroughly and critically review and evaluate environmental and natural heritage related studies to ensure compliance with policy and public interest
• Ability to formulate/develop sound environmental and natural heritage policy to guide Council decisions
• In-depth understanding of provincial/regional planning regimes and development review processes

Responsibilities

• Manage or undertake the review and evaluation of environmental and natural heritage related studies in development applications or long-range planning studies
• Manage activities of consultants performing work or peer reviews of environmental materials
• Conduct background research and analysis on environmental, ecological and water-resource land-use issues
• Provide environmental input to Town staff on development applications and long-range planning matters
• Prepare and review Terms of Reference for environmental studies
• Prepare detailed reports to Council on environmental matters and attend Council meetings to present them
• Lead or contribute to municipally initiated environmental projects and strategies
• Engage Conservation Authority partners and coordinate review of development applications
• Hold and facilitate meetings to engage the public on environmental matters
• Attend Ontario Land Tribunal hearings and other hearings on behalf of the Town

Skills

Environmental planning expertise

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Presentation skills

Project management

Time management

Negotiation

Independent and teamwork

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Planning/Science/Studies or Urban & Regional Planning

Master’s degree in Environmental Planning/Sciences/Studies (asset)

Professional Planner (RPP) / CIP/OPPI membership

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Opportunity

Position: Senior Environmental Planner (202647)

Employer: Town of Halton Hills

Location: Halton Hills, Halton Region, GTA, Ontario

Reporting to the Director of Planning Policy and the Director of Development Review, this position will be responsible for the review and evaluation of environmental and natural heritage related studies and reports submitted in support of development applications or prepared in support of long-range planning studies.

The Senior Environmental Planner will also provide professional environmental and natural heritage systems input and advice to Town staff on development applications and long-range planning matters such as Secondary Plans and Special Studies. This position will be responsible for the project management, coordination and administration of municipally initiated environmental or natural heritage systems/features projects and strategies including those of a complex nature.

Accountabilities

• Manage or undertake the review and evaluation of environmental and natural heritage related studies and reports submitted in support of development applications or prepared in support of long-range planning studies, such as Subwatershed Studies, Subwatershed Impact Studies, Environmental Impact Reports and Environmental Impact Assessments


• Manage the activities of consultants carrying out work or completing peer reviews of environmental or natural heritage materials


• Undertake background research and analysis related to environmental, natural heritage, ecological, biological and water-resource related land-use issues


• Provide professional environmental and natural heritage systems input and advice to Town staff on development applications filed under the Planning Act, including attending the Development Review Committee in this capacity, and reviews and provides professional environmental and natural heritage systems input and advice on long range planning matters such as Secondary Plans and Special Studies


• Function as the primary point of contact for environmental and natural heritage systems/features matters at the Town


• Prepare or review and comments on Terms of Reference for environmental and natural heritage related studies


• Prepare detailed reports to Council on environmental, natural heritage systems and land use planning matters, and attends Council meetings to present/explain these reports including formal presentations


• Responsible for the project management, coordination and administration of municipally initiated environmental or natural heritage systems projects and strategies including those of a complex nature


• Liaise with Conservation Authority partners on various matters including co-ordination of review of development applications, Town studies, and other related materials


• Hold and facilitate meetings to engage the public on environmental, natural heritage systems and land use planning matters


• Conduct site inspections to evaluate development proposal conditions


• Attend on-site, off-site and evening meetings to represent the Town as required, including on inter-agency committees


• Attend Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings and other hearings conducted under Provincial legislation on behalf of the Town, providing oral and written evidence, and defending the same under cross-examination


• Engage a diverse range of public and private customers in the effective and efficient response to phone, e-mail and front counter inquiries related to environmental, natural heritage systems and land use planning matters


• Complete Special Projects assigned by the Director of Development Review and/or Director of Planning Policy including contributing to and leading ongoing continuous improvement initiatives that establish and maintain the Town as a leader in effective and efficient delivery of planning services


• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Four-Year University Degree in Environmental Planning/Science/Studies, Urban & Regional Planning or a related field, with a master’s in Environmental Planning, Sciences or Studies considered an asset.


• Ten years of environmental and land use planning experience, with a preference for municipal experience preferred.


• Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners and O.P.P.I as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP)


• Ability to thoroughly and critically review and evaluate environmental and natural heritage related studies and reports to ensure the recommendations of those documents conform to Provincial, Regional, Town and Conservation Authority policy and regulations and protect the public interest


• Ability to formulate/develop sound environmental and natural heritage systems policy, regulation and positions to guide Council decision-making and that is defensible at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and other Boards and Committees


• In-depth understanding of Provincial, Regional, Town and Conservation Authority planning regime and development review processes, including the Planning Act, Conservation Authorities Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Provincial Policy Statement, Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan and other environmental and natural heritage legislation, plans and policies


• Working knowledge of current biological/ecological protocols or industry standards (i.e.. Ontario Wetland Evaluation System and Ecological Land Classification), as well as the natural resources of watersheds, ecological principles and terrestrial assessment techniques


• Knowledge of fish, wildlife and natural habitat monitoring and inventory techniques, including identification of native and invasive species in Ontario and knowledge of federal and provincial species at risk


• Ability to present evidence at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), other Boards and Committees and in Court on environmental and natural heritage matters


• Effective time management/organizational skills to prioritize competing tasks, conflicting due dates and meet legislated and corporate timelines, with limited supervision


• Excellent interpersonal, report writing and presentation skills


• Ability to work independently and with a team


• Dispute resolution and negotiation skills to balance divergent interests in the planning process


• Ability to think creatively and use ingenuity to resolve unique problems pertaining to planning matters


• Ability to utilize computer software as necessary, including MS Word, Excel and Power Point

Position Details

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Compensation

The salary for this position (35 hours per week) is $113,709 - $135,367 annually.

Location: This position allows a blend of working onsite and remotely based on the needs of the business, in accordance with the Town’s Work from Home Policy, and as subject to change. This position will also require some flexibility to attend regular Council meetings and Public Open Houses, as well as some on-site investigations of development sites.

We thank all those who apply but advise that only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Town of Halton Hills is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. If contacted for an interview, please advise the Human Resources staff of any measures you feel you need to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 (S.O. 2001, c.25) and will be used to select a candidate. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Director of Human Resources.