Senior Urban Planner

TTC (Toronto Transit Commission); Toronto; On-site; CAD 116,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is hiring a Senior Urban Planner to provide specialized leadership in urban planning, real estate development, and strategic planning to support capital expansion and operations. You will coordinate across departments and with external partners to align municipal planning with TTC priorities.

You will manage complex planning initiatives, liaise with municipal and provincial agencies, and guide planning policy, land use, and development approvals.

Qualifications

• University degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Project Management, or related discipline with significant planning experience.
• OPPI or CIP membership or in progress; PMP designation or in progress is an asset.
• Extensive experience with urban planning, land development, planning policy, and large-scale transit projects.
• Strong experience with municipal and provincial planning processes, approvals, and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in urban planning, real estate development, and strategic planning to support TTC capital priorities.
• Liaise with municipalities, provincial agencies, and stakeholders on planning initiatives and approvals.
• Lead Real Estate Investment Plan coordination and opportunities with partners.
• Lead due diligence for capital, state-of-good-repair, and operations projects and assess impacts and risks.
• Prepare briefing notes, board/committee reports, dashboards, KPIs and OKRs for decision-making.

Skills

Office software

Analytical skills

Fiscal management

Project management

Planning & organizing

Quality assurance

Documentation

Education

Urban Planning/Environmental Studies/Project Management related degree

OPPI or CIP membership (in progress)

PMP designation (asset)

Experience in urban planning, land development, planning policy, and large transit projects

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Planning analysis tools

Job description

Career Opportunities: Senior Urban Planner (13697)

Requisition ID: 13697
Number of Vacancies: 1
Department: Property,Planning And Development (20000508) - Planning & Approvals (30000269)
Salary Information: 115,570.00 - 144,526.20
Pay Scale Group: 10SA (CAN/S/J/10SA)
Employment Type: Regular
New or Existing Vacancy : New

Weekly Hours: 35 Off Days: Saturday and Sunday Shift: Day
Posted On: September 24, 2026 Last Day to Apply: October 3, 2026
Reports to: Director, Planning and Approvals
For Inquiries: Michael Lipkus, [e-mail]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), North America's third largest transit system and recognized as one of the top places to work in the GTA has introduced its new 2024-2028 TTC Corporate Plan - Moving Toronto, Connecting Communities which continues the TTC’s legacy of delivering service to hundreds of millions of customers a year. The TTC’s new vision and mission statements also help promote the many environmental, social equity and economic benefits that the TTC provides:

Vision: Moving Toronto towards a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Mission: To serve the needs of transit riders by providing a safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible mass public transit service through a seamless integrated network to create access to opportunity for everyone.

What You Will Do

In this role, you will provide specialized professional leadership and expertise in urban planning, real estate development, and strategic planning to support the TTC's capital infrastructure expansion, state-of-good-repair, and operational priorities. You will act as a key planning advisor, working across the organization and with external partners to ensure municipal and provincial planning initiatives align with and support TTC infrastructure, operational, and strategic objectives.

You will serve as the TTC's primary liaison on complex urban planning matters with municipalities, provincial agencies, and key stakeholders, including the Cities of Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill, as well as Metrolinx, CreateTO, and provincial ministries. You will manage TTC involvement in long-range planning initiatives such as Official Plans, Secondary Plans, District Plans, feasibility studies, ensuring TTC interests are represented through technical reviews, policy input, stakeholder working groups, and planning recommendations.

The successful incumbent will manage and coordinate the TTC Real Estate Investment Plan (REIP), supporting the development and implementation of strategies that advance city-building initiatives, transit supportive development opportunities, and TTC real estate priorities. You will also work closely with municipal partners and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for coordination, process improvements, and efficiencies that support capital project delivery.

You will lead planning due diligence activities for capital, state-of-good-repair, and operational projects by reviewing planning policies, development proposals, legislation, permitting requirements, and municipal approvals processes. In this capacity, you assess impacts, identify risks and opportunities, and provide strategic recommendations that support project land use, design, approvals, schedules, budgets, and long-term operational requirements.

You will monitor and evaluate emerging planning legislation, development policies, and regulatory changes, including the Planning Act, Building Faster Transit Act, Ontario Building Code, and related frameworks, and implement required changes to TTC planning and approvals processes. You will provide guidance on urban planning, development, and real estate matters affecting TTC capital projects, infrastructure protection priorities, and operational interests.

In partnership with internal and external stakeholders, you will prepare briefing notes, board reports, committee reports, presentations, dashboards, metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and objectives and key results (OKRs) that support informed decision-making and demonstrate progress on strategic planning initiatives. You will also negotiate and support agreements with municipalities, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance planning priorities and city-building opportunities on TTC lands.

As a trusted subject matter expert, you will establish and maintain strong working relationships across the organization and with external partners, provide professional guidance on complex urban planning and development matters, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance planning, approvals, and strategic coordination across the TTC.

What Skills Do You Bring?

• Use office technology, software and applications
• Apply analytical skills
• Secure and manage fiscal resources
• Manage projects
• Plan and organize activities / projects to meet section and organizational goals
• Apply the principles and practices of quality assurance
• Maintain documentation and historical records

What Qualifications Do You Bring?

• University degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Project Management, or a related discipline, combined with significant experience in urban planning, land development, planning policy, strategic planning, and/or large-scale transit and infrastructure projects.
• Membership in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) or the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) or in progress.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation or in progress, is considered an asset.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively engage, influence, and collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust and credibility while navigating complex planning, development, and stakeholder interests.
• Open-minded, adaptable, and flexible in approach, with the ability to balance competing priorities and perspectives in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• A genuine enthusiasm for urban planning, city-building, transit-supportive development, and shaping communities through long-range planning initiatives.
• Strong facilitation and collaboration skills, with the ability to bring people together, build consensus, and serve as a central point of coordination across multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive experience working with municipal and provincial planning processes, approvals, legislation, regulations, policies, and development frameworks.
• Comprehensive knowledge of urban planning principles, land development processes, planning policy, real estate development, and development approval systems.
• Strong understanding of agreements, leases, contracts, easements, and real estate transaction processes, including negotiation and stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and coordinating multiple stakeholders within a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting planning studies, planning policies, legislation, development applications, engineering reports, environmental assessments, and technical documentation.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, problem-solving, project management, and organizational skills with the ability to assess complex planning and infrastructure issues.
• Strong report writing, presentation, communication, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder relationship management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, Power BI, and other business technology tools used to support planning analysis and reporting.
• A valid, non-probationary Ontario Class G driver's licence in good standing. A licence in good standing is defined as a driver's abstract free of convictions, demerit points, suspensions, collisions, and reportable accidents. Access to a vehicle is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of accessibility requirements, disability accommodation principles, and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Experience working within transit, municipal government, public sector, transportation, infrastructure, or real estate development environments is an asset.
• Experience developing performance metrics, dashboards, KPIs, and OKRs to support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives.

What We Offer

• Commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that promotes a sense of belonging and represents and reflects the needs of the communities we serve.
• A flexible, hybrid work approach that allows colleagues to find balance between their professional and personal lives and making the most of the benefits of working remotely and purpose-driven in-person collaboration opportunities.
• One of the great benefits of being a full-time TTC employee is becoming a member of the TTC defined pension plan.
• A comprehensive package that covers health, dental, vision and more.
• Support for professional development opportunities for all colleagues through a broad range of learning programs that include in-person and online training, leadership development, and support for colleagues’ well-being.

Commitment to EDI

The TTC is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, anti-racism and inclusion in the delivery of its services and in its workplaces. The TTC is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities it serves at all levels of the organization and supports an inclusive environment where diverse employee and community perspectives and experiences bring value to the organization. The TTC encourages applications from all applicants, including members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the LGBTQIA+ community. The TTC values and supports an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Accommodations for applicants are available upon request throughout the recruitment and selection process, including for those who identify as having a disability. Please contact Talent Management at [phone] or [e-mail] . Any information received related to an accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

General Prohibition in Hiring Process

The TTC is also committed to a fair hiring process based on job related qualifications, merit, and abilities. You are expected to write your own materials and provide your own qualifications and experiences during the hiring process. The TTC will not tolerate the use of artificial intelligence or external resources in any of your submissions or responses, or the disclosure of interview questions to others. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• The use of any artificial intelligence (AI) tool including, but not limited to, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, to generate or produce any information or materials to be submitted or any response to any assessment question or any interview question, is prohibited.
• All information and materials you submit, including resume, cover letter, and assessment responses, are your own original work without the use of any AI tool
• During any interview, your response to any interview question is your own without the use or assistance of any AI tool or any person.
• You will not disseminate or disclose to any person any interview question.

Should you breach the prohibition of AI tool use, or information dissemination or disclosure, you will be in violation of TTC’s hiring process and TTC may withdraw your application and may prohibit you from participation in the TTC hiring process.

Relatives of TTC Employees

The TTC’s policy prohibits relatives of current TTC employees from being hired, assigned, transferred or promoted into positions, where there is a conflict of interest due to a relationship. Should you be selected for an interview, you will be required to disclose the name, relationship and position of any relative who is a current TTC employee.

We thank all applicants for their interest but advise only those selected for an interview will be contacted.