Director of Planning & Development

at  City of Williams Lake

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• A University Degree in Community/Regional Planning or related field. Supplemented by certificates or courses in one or more of the following areas: Local Government Management, Public Administration, Subdivision Approval, Urban Design, or GIS.
• A Master’s degree in planning would be an asset (or working towards).
• A minimum of five years’ professional planning experience.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and methods of community planning, and engineering administration.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the activities of Departmental personnel.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with politicians, senior staff, employees, other agencies and the public.
• Professional Designation as a Registered Professional Planner in BC.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, presentation, facilitation, decision making and general management skills
• Ability to supervise staff and interpret and apply collective agreement rules consistently and fairly
• Ability to effectively lead, coach and motivate staff in a team environment
• Ability to plan, direct and integrate broad, comprehensive public works programs and activities
• Ability to organize and direct activities of all personnel and equipment
• Proven skills in problem resolution with public, employees and other agencies
• Ability to effectively plan and manage a multi-function department
• Ability to deal effectively with representatives of government, business, consultants, developers, the general public, City staff and Council members
• Ability to effectively prepare and present reports to Council
• Ability to organize and prioritize
• Ability to work independently on own initiative

THE SALARY RANGE WILL BE $130,000 TO $140,000, COMMENSURATE TO EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A MOVING ALLOWANCE, COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE AS WELL AS A COMPRESSED WORK WEEK SCHEDULE IF DESIRED. THE CITY OF WILLIAMS LAKE IS DEDICATED TO CONTINUATION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND IS SUPPORTIVE OF EMPLOYEE WELLNESS INITIATIVES.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a detailed resume and cover letter outlining qualifications, experience, copies of applicable certifications, and letters of reference no later than 4:00 pm, July 3, 2024, to the attention of Ashley Williston, Director of Human Resources, City of Williams Lake, 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 1N3 - Fax (250) 392-8484, or email awilliston@williamslake.ca
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Education : Bachelor’s degree
Experience : 5 years or mor

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Director of Planning and Development will maintain the comprehensive responsibility for the long-term planning, current planning, and community development. He/she will also manage the Development Services department (Planning, Engineering, and Business Licences). The position acts as the Approving Officer for the City in accordance with the statutory authority assigned through the Land Title Act.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administration of the Development Services department.
• Coordinates and maintains the overall responsibility for:
• The design and development of municipal capital and other projects that are undertaken in-house by municipal staff or by outside consulting, engineering and development companies.
• Ensuring compliance by contractors and developers with Federal and Provincial Statutes and municipal bylaws relating to building construction and alterations on all public or private projects within the City.
• Ensuring municipal regulatory bylaws are upheld respecting licensing of businesses, animal and parking control and responding to public complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
• Ensuring the updating, revision and maintenance of all master files, plans and construction records of the Department; and
• Maintaining a continuing and effective working relationship with administrative personnel in the joint interpretation of municipal government legislation and policies.
• Serves in a technical liaison capacity with outside consulting, engineering and development companies, with the responsibility for checking design criteria and engineering drawings to ensure construction in conformance with approved plans and municipal bylaws.
• Through the Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for ensuring Council is provided with on-going progress reports for annual capital construction projects undertaken either by City personnel or by contractors hired by the City through the tendering process.
• Encourage and support ongoing professional development for departmental staff to maximize performance and ensure their familiarity with current legislation.
• Responsible to prepare the annual business plan for the Department and ongoing monitoring of performance in the achievement of objectives.
• Responsible to administer planning and development applications and ensure compliance with the current Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws and the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw.
• Upon appointment by Council, acts in the capacity of Municipal Approving Officer with regard to approval of all subdivisions within the boundaries of the City of Williams Lake, pursuant to the Land Title Act.
• Responsible for ensuring preparation of annual provisional budgets for the Department in consultation with the Director of Financial Services, as required.
• Attends Council meetings and other meetings as requested by the Chief Administrative Officer.
• Any other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the Chief Administrative Officer.