SENIOR PLANNER POLICY & RESEARCH

City of Toronto; Toronto; Hybrid; Full time

Job summary

A government organization in Toronto is seeking a Senior Planner to lead complex planning initiatives. This position involves conducting research, making recommendations, and coordinating teams for urban and regional planning policy. The ideal candidate will have a background in urban planning and strong analytical skills, utilizing tools like ArcGIS. This role supports a hybrid work model, aiming to balance remote flexibility with in-person collaboration.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Qualifications

• Must have post-secondary education in urban planning or related field.
• Extensive experience leading complex planning studies with minimal direction.
• Strong proficiency in quantitative and geospatial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex planning studies and policy analysis.
• Make recommendations on planning issues individually and as a team leader.
• Develop and coordinate multiple work programs for planning initiatives.

Skills

Land use planning

Urban planning policy

Analytical thinking

Project coordination

Communication

Education

Post-secondary education in urban and regional planning

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

Job ID: 61085
Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research
Division & Section: City Planning, CP Strategic Initiatives Policy & Analysis
Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Temporary (18 month) vacancy
Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $68.76 - $75.33
Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
Affiliation: L79 Full-time
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 05-Dec-2025 to 22-Dec-2025

Reporting to the Manager and/or Project Manager in the Planning Research and Analytics unit, the Senior Planner leads and coordinates complex planning, policy and research assignments and initiatives in the City Planning Division. The emphasis for this position will be on broad experience and understanding of land use planning and policy and its social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects, and methods of policy analysis and urban research.

Major Responsibilities

• Conducts complex planning studies, policy analysis and/or research, including the coordination of staff and consultant teams to support the preparation and evaluation of urban and regional planning policy, research and analysis.
• Investigates, analyzes and makes recommendations on planning issues both individually and as the lead of a team of professional planners to the Division and to Standing Committees and City Council.
• Identifies approaches and methods of analyzing complex planning issues and emerging trends. Develops analytical tools, guides information and data management projects and leads the design of databases to meet the information needs of the City Planning Division.
• Develops innovative solutions to planning challenges and informs colleagues, elected officials, stakeholders and the public through reports, presentations, interactive dashboards and other appropriate means.
• Develops and coordinates multiple work programs to support planning, research and policy studies and initiatives.
• Serves as a team leader and coordinator of other planners and support staff to ensure high quality work and on time project delivery.
• Works alongside colleagues as a team member to conduct planning research and area studies, and provides information and professional advice to the Chief Planner’s Office and to the Division.
• Represents the Division and provides professional advice and support in regard to corporate initiatives, planning and policy studies and in the review of development applications to Council, Community Councils, Standing Committees and at meetings with community groups, stakeholders, elected officials and other divisions and city organizations.
• Writes reports and prepares a broad range of presentation materials for consideration by City Council and its Standing Committees, the community and various stakeholders.
• Provides policy leadership, professional advice and support to the Division as a participant in and team lead of corporate initiatives and in intergovernmental relations.
• Prepares and/or coordinates the development of terms of reference and study designs to support planning, research and policy studies.
• Coordinates consultants’ studies, including leading both the overall and day-to-day scope of work for the study and ensuring the successful completion of the required deliverables.
• Carries out special planning tasks as assigned.
• Acts as an expert witness on behalf of the City at the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Key Qualifications

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

• Post-Secondary education in urban and regional planning, urban geography, public policy or in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function, or any equivalent combination of education and experience, and which includes membership or eligibility for membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
• Extensive experience undertaking land use planning, urban planning policy, socioeconomic studies, area-based and infrastructure-related analysis requiring critical judgment and analytical thinking, and preparing reports and delivering presentations to staff, Council and the public.
• Extensive experience leading and delivering complex planning, research and policy studies with minimal direction, involving coordinating assigned staff and overseeing consultants.
• Extensive experience in quantitative, geospatial and policy analysis of urban, demographic, economic, social and environmental information including using ArcGIS in geospatial analysis.
• Extensive experience participating in teams with colleagues and counterparts to deliver complex planning, research and policy projects.

Additional Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of the Planning Act, Provincial policies, plans and legislation related to land use planning, the Official Plan and the Development Review Processes as well as current regulations and evolving policy trends in the City.
• Proven ability to communicate complex subject matters in a timely, clear and effective manner appropriate to different audiences.
• Excellent project coordination skills with proven ability to complete multiple project assignments. Excellent team and collaboration skills with proven ability to work effectively with colleagues and counterparts.
• Highly developed presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing at all levels of the organization and with elected officials, and the public.
• Highly developed communication skills, both verbally and in writing, with the ability to represent the Division and effectively present the Division's interests at hearings and community special interest meetings.
• Proven ability to resolve conflicts in complex, multi-stakeholder situations.
• Demonstrated proficiency in research methodologies and their connection to long-range policy formulation while maintaining current knowledge of municipal policy and research activities, information management techniques and analytical methodologies.
• Excellent technical and project management skills.

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.

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.