Planner II - Senior Green Building Planner - Zero Emissions Homes

at  The City of Vancouver

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• A post-secondary degree in planning recognised by the Canadian Institute of Planners and a minimum of two years’ professional experience in the planning field, preferably supplemented by supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of post-secondary education and experience of complex building design, construction, and policy/regulatory development experience that combines work in both the private and public sectors
• A post-graduate degree in Planning, Architecture, Engineering, or related field is preferred.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Planning Institute of British Columbia is desirable.
• Experience leading complex projects with significant impacts upon multiple stakeholders with varying interests is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expertise in Part 9 (residential) design and construction methods
• Knowledge in the risks, benefits and best practices associated with highly energy efficient building envelopes, heating, and hot water systems
• Knowledge of current Zoning and Development By-law and Building Bylaw requirements and referenced standards
• Proven ability to develop and lead public and stakeholder consultation and engagement processes is preferred.
• Proven background in leading public procurement of professional services is preferred.
• Ability to work well under pressure, handle multiple tasks and changing priorities within tight timeframes and with limited supervision and direction.
• Ability to reconcile differing perspectives, develop consensus, negotiate compromises and secure support from a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare clear, well written reports, and records that support technical decision making as well as policy and regulation development work.
• Ability to lead or facilitate meetings, groups and teams, including controversial subjects.
• Ability to represent the Director in committees, boards, public forums and in Council.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and build relationships with senior representatives in the public and private sectors.
• Analytical skills to independently reach sound decisions and resolve complex problems based on an assessment of the costs, benefits, and health/safety risks involved
• Ability to analyze, interpret, develop and implement regulatory requirements.
• Ability to perform thorough, complete and accurate work with limited supervision and direction.
• Ability to manage projects crossing multiple departments, issues and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify and recommend new ideas aimed at improving service delivery.

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 1 – 4 days a week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.
Business Unit/Department: Planning, Urban Design & Sustainability (1275)
Affiliation: CUPE 15 Non Pks
Employment Type: Temporary Full Time
Position Start Date: February 2025
Position End Date: February 2027
Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-031: $56.27 to $66.55 per hour

MAIN PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

The Senior Green Building Planner for Small New Construction provides leadership and technical expertise to support planning and implementation of the Zero Emissions Building Plan, the Climate Emergency Action Plan and their respective goals. The Senior Planner will lead a multi-departmental and ambitious work plan with strategies to implement improved building envelopes, renewable heating systems, and the transition to lower embodied carbon materials and construction methods in new detached and small multifamily buildings in Vancouver. They are involved in all phases of related projects including planning, implementation, and handover/closeout as appropriate.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages projects and plan development of medium to high technical and political complexity, including development and implementation of: policy and regulations to apply city-wide or within specific districts or area plans; internal systems for permitting and compliance; training programs for staff and industry; and land-use or financial incentive programs to drive voluntary adoption of desired building approaches that far exceed the performance required in regulation
• Plans out projects in detail, identifying project scope, budget, schedule, risks, key stakeholders, and project organization. Documents project plans in a Project Charter document.
• Assigns work (including deliverables, timelines, budgets, and quality expectations) and oversees project teams to successfully deliver projects. The team members could be Sustainability staff Team or other City employees, staff from partner organisations, and/or temporary staff or consultants for the project.
• Leads policy, technical, business case, or behavioral research and analysis; stakeholder engagement; consultant contracts; communications strategies; development of processes and/or compliance tools.
• Builds and sustains key internal and external partner relationships ensuring their requirements are identified and addressed or negotiating compromises on behalf of the City as required.
• Identifies both project risks and opportunities, actively managing the former while developing recommendations to leverage the latter.
• Represents the City on Provincial and National working groups and at international conferences
• Makes effective recommendations involving significant policy or regulatory change impacting the building industry to senior management and Council
• Supports the Team Lead and Green & Resilient Building Manager in optimizing overall green building strategic outcomes; may assume temporary team leadership when the Manager is absent; and organizes and conducts lessons-learned sessions at project completion/hand-over.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.