Reporting to the Supervisor, Planning Policy, this role focuses on policy planning and the review of environmental studies related to development applications. The position provides advanced environmental planning expertise and works closely with all three sections of the Community Planning Department to ensure alignment with legislative, policy, and regulatory requirements, as well as the City’s strategic direction.

This role supports the development of policies, plans, strategies, and initiatives that align with Provincial policies, while offering thoughtful insights on environmental, resource management, and ecological matters. The position also prepares reports and recommendations for Council on land use policy matters, including development applications, Official Plan amendments, rezoning, and subdivision applications. In addition, the role reviews and provides recommendations on broader policy initiatives from senior levels of government.

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for:

Providing strategic environmental planning advice related to policy directions and environmental studies completed in support of development proposals and applications.
Supporting Development Review staff by providing environmental and natural heritage planning expertise for complex planning applications (OPA, ZBA, subdivisions, consents, site plan applications).
Participating in discussions with applicants, agencies, and consultants to ensure proper ecological and environmental policy implementation.
Collaborating with Halton Region, Conservation Halton, provincial agencies, and other stakeholders on natural heritage and environmental planning matters.
Completing research and analysis to develop planning policies, plans, strategies and guidelines to provide strategic land use and policy direction for the City in line with Provincial plans and policies.
Preparing staff reports and public presentations to Council and advisory committees.
Reviewing and providing feedback on Provincial and other government agency policies, plans, strategies and initiatives.
Preparing study terms of reference and managing technical consultants related to matters such as land use, urban design, green infrastructure, land market and economics, transit/transportation, demographics, natural heritage, and servicing.
Appearing before the Ontario Land Tribunal and other tribunals to give expert evidence on the City's behalf as it relates to natural heritage and environmental planning matters.
Duties and responsibilities are inclusive but not limited to the above.

Requirements

You have a university degree in Environmental Planning, Humanities, Social Sciences, Planning, or a related field. You hold a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation and accreditation by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and/or Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI). This is supported by four (4) to seven (7) years of relevant professional planning experience, with municipal experience considered an asset. You also have a strong working knowledge of provincial (including PPS 2024), regional, and municipal environmental and natural heritage policy frameworks.

You have strong environmental and natural heritage planning expertise, with the ability to provide strategic advice on complex development applications, review environmental studies, and apply provincial, regional, and municipal policy frameworks in a municipal setting. The role requires excellent research, analytical, communication, and collaboration skills to develop planning policies and strategies, manage consultants, prepare reports and presentations for Council, and work effectively with internal teams, external agencies, and stakeholders.

This position may require occasional travel between sites and/or City facilities and must provide own transportation.

Accommodations

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the City of Burlington accommodates the individual needs of applicants with disabilities within the recruitment process. Please call us at 905-335-7602 or email us at: hr@burlington.ca if you require accommodation to ensure your equal participation in the recruitment and selection process.

Note to Applicants:

We thank all those who apply for positions, but only those applicants who are invited for an interview will be contacted.

City of Burlington

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