Manager, Planning (Subdivisions)

Summary of Duties:

Reporting to the Manager, Subdivisions and Development Inspections, the Manager, Planning (Subdivisions) provides leadership and directs the work of others in a multi-disciplinary team environment, with responsibility for tasks related to all development reviews and recommendations, and for approvals required to facilitate the City’s growth and redevelopment.  This position ensures that development planning review activities are delivered in accordance with City procedures and policies and Provincial legislation, regulations and policies. The Manager, Planning (Subdivisions) manages the work of a Development Planning Team to achieve cost effective, efficient and timely service delivery using a “best practices” approach.  This position leads intake and processing of Planning Act applications including duties associated with statutory and delegated authority matters; provides evidence at hearings; and represents the Planning and Development Division and Planning and Economic Development Service Area before Committees, the public, and the development industry.

Work Performed:

• Provide leadership in the coordination and delivery of programs, initiatives, policies, projects, and planning that contribute to the implementation of strategic initiatives for the Planning (Subdivisions) area to meet the Council’s Strategic Plan.
• Responsible for the day-to-day leadership of employees including hiring, administration, and setting standards for performance of reporting employees; respond to sensitive and confidential human resource issues as required.
• Provide leadership in the execution and delivery of services and programs in the following areas of accountability:
  • Lead and manage a development approvals team responsible for the development planning review elements of assigned files, ensuring that the needs of residents and business of the City of London are met and regularly exceeded by applying discretion and judgement to recommendations delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner in accordance with City procedures and policies and Provincial guidelines, legislation and regulations.

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• • Interact with applicants and their agents, with minimal supervision, on all assigned applications/projects, as required, including the preparation and implementation of any associated correspondence and reports.
  • Evaluate planning merits of applications; incorporate planning and municipal goals and objectives; make recommendations on proposed developments for action by Council and/or the Approval Authority. Frequently deal with inquiries, proposals and issues which are confidential in nature.
  • Interpret corporate policies, strategies, and Council direction applicable to a wide range of planning and servicing issues and to provide direction on individual applications.
  • Negotiate requirements and recommend conditions to settle disputes and policy interpretations.
  • Assist with complex development files including liaison with the developer on unusual technical challenges or works with contentious cost, feasibility and/or scheduling issues.
  • Encourage and support employee participation and commitment to divisional and organizational objectives.  Actively mentor, provide development opportunities and build team performance with direct reports.

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• Provide timely updates, information and recommendations to the Manager, Subdivisions and Development Inspections on priorities with responsibility to operationalize identified goals and strategies.

• Identify and recommend internal controls in the form of policies, procedures, and practices in relation to the general and specific risks of the Corporation; ensure internal controls are implemented, monitored and reported on specific to the area.
• Fairly and consistently administer provisions of various collective agreements to promote positive employee relations within the work area.

• Build and support employee commitment to a high level of performance in all areas of customer service, employee safety and delivery of individual goals and objectives. 
• Assist with divisional current and capital budget projects; additionally, engage in opportunities to work across Divisions and Service Areas in support of enterprise-wide collaboration.
• Demonstrate commitment to support anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights through interactions with community partners, employees and individuals and implementation of policies, programs and protocols that reflect this commitment.

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• Demonstrate commitment and adherence to Health and Safety legislation and programs; and actively promote a culture of safety with direct reports.

• Identify, recommend, adapt and implement innovative and effective work practices and procedures to improve service delivery and the business responsibilities of the team.
• Implement strategies to track performance measures for area deliverables, using appropriate data collection and analytics; prepare Divisional reports on progress related to established benchmarks on services, financial, administration and employee performance.
• Responsible for the budget of the Planning (Subdivisions) area; provides input to the Manager, Subdivisions and Development Inspections on matters relating to the operating budget for the team.
• Research and prepare reports for review by the Manager, Subdivisions and Development Inspections for various Committees of Council and other committees as required.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams comprised of staff from various service areas of the City and outside agencies in order to address development and redevelopment issues.

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• Prepare and/or make presentations at City committees, public meetings, to corporations, schools, and area municipalities to promote the City of London's programs and operations, as required.  Facilitate and coordinate public meetings and workshops.
• Provides professional planning evidence before Tribunals, other Boards and Commissions and the Courts on planning and development matters.
• Provide reports on technical, monetary, policy and cooperative issues with all levels of staff within Planning and Economic Development and across Service Areas on issues related to the development of land and its integration into existing infrastructure.
• Maintain professional knowledge in applicable areas and stay informed on job related rules, statutes, laws, and new business trends; recommend the implementation of changes; read and interpret professional literature; attend training programs, workshops and seminars as appropriate.
• Provide backup coverage for other Manager, Planning positions within the Planning and Development Division as needed.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a degree from an accredited university planning program combined with more than 5 years of professional planning or development approval experience.
• Managerial experience, including leading a team of technical professionals or equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience.
• Full membership in OPPI and/or CIP.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the above identified areas of accountability with an understanding of the area’s programs and services and how the work of the area aligns with the objectives of the Division.

• Demonstrated analytical and business planning skills with a proven track record for effectively implementing and monitoring programs and services.

• Demonstrated positive and proactive leadership capabilities, adept at leading a group of employees, contracted services and consultants; demonstrated commitment to developing high performance teams.

• Demonstrated ability to inspire the people they lead through productive and honest dialogue, with personal integrity and actions.

• Ability to be a trusted advisor and/or advocate in sensitive and/or emotionally charged situations.

• Demonstrated perseverance and resilience in addressing and escalating as required, challenges and emergent issues.

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• Proven commitment to the safety of employees with knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations as it relates to the position.

• Ability to provide a high level of attention to detail, make sense of data and solve problems.

• Highly developed interpersonal and customer services skills, including conflict resolution and problem solving; ability to skillfully communicate multiple perspectives; political acumen to identify and manage issues.
• Ability to understand the importance of service delivery; implement initiatives that support the section’s customers in a timely and effective way.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, and related software and database applications.

• Valid driver’s licence – Class G, and have available use of a vehicle.

Compensation & Other Information:

$99,156 - $129, 818

This posting is for (1) one permanent full-time position.

Current Hours of Work: Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Work hours and work arrangement are subject to change in accordance with business requirements

Police Record Check

The successful candidate will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check.