Senior Project Manager - Development and Major Projects

at  The City of Vancouver

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Planning and a minimum of six years’ related experience leading multi-disciplinary teams through the various stages of the development review process, including complex development projects, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Experience developing and reporting on projects and programs, researching and preparing business cases for various projects and initiatives, developing analyses and reports; and formulating options for presentation and decision-making
• Experience in public consultation and conflict resolution with the ability to reconcile differing perspectives, develop consensus, and secure cooperation and support from both stakeholders and team members
• Experience working in public sector environment

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge in infrastructure or engineering projects
• Extensive knowledge of the City’s land development process and relevant City by-laws and policies
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, practices, processes and policies and their application
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to motivate, engage and mentor staff
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal and presentation skills
• Ability to effectively negotiate complex issues with developers in the best interest of the department, City, and taxpayers
• Ability to build relationships and influence others while respecting the sensitive and political challenges that impact decisions
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects and processes with competing schedules and resources
• Ability to organize, coordinate, and manage projects and project teams crossing multiple divisions, multiple business processes and multiple stakeholder groups
• Ability to innovate, lead and implement change in the workplace
• Ability to converse with, write reports for and create/deliver presentations to all levels of colleagues and peer groups in ways that support problem solving and planning
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with technical and professional staff, as well as external third parties
• Ability to manage change and assist others with adapting to change
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and resolve conflicts arising within the project team or in interactions with others in the most advantageous manner to all parties

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: Engineering Services (1300)
Affiliation: Exempt
Employment Type: Temporary Full Time
Position Start Date: September, 2024
Position End Date: September, 2026
Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $111139 to $138924 per annum

MAIN PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing a number of rezoning application reviews and approvals, including complex, high priority development projects. The position is a part of a technical cross-disciplinary team that works closely with a team of Associate Directors, Rezoning Planners, Legal Services, Project Managers, Corporate functional groups, Design and Operations groups, along with multiple internal and external stakeholders and partners. The Senior Project Manager also provides overarching project management and coordination responsibilities for Engineering Services for a number of development projects.
The position reports to the Associate Director, Development and Major Projects Branch. The position oversees and leads cross-functional staff, which includes Planning, Legal Services, Real Estate and Facilities Management, Non-Market Housing Development, Engineers, and other technical and support roles.
The position also works closely with project sponsors, the Engineering leadership team, department financial analyst, other City Departments and externally with groups such as other municipalities, and various partners, stakeholders, and agencies.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for facilitating developments, including large area types in the policy, rezoning process, development permit, and construction phases
• Leads negotiations directly with internal staff, developers, consultants and outside agencies to establish the City’s needs for developer related infrastructure improvements, focusing on the enquiry to rezoning enactment stages
• Manages rezoning application reviews and approvals, including related Council Reports through coordinating the department’s review with feedback from various internal groups
• Responds to public enquiries regarding development projects
• Manages/fosters the relationship between the City and the development/construction industry, with a focus on minimizing impacts to residents, business owners and the public
• Oversees the design, construction, and acceptance process for large scale developer funded road works
• Represents Engineering Services in multi-disciplinary project technical teams that process large and/or complex developments
• Liaises with consultants, contractors, engineers, other professionals, stakeholders, developers, land owners and regulatory agency representatives for development application review and approvals
• Responsible for instructing Legal Services and reviewing legal agreements to facilitate development, primarily for the purposes of securing development conditions, public works, rights-of-ways, encroachments and options to purchase, while limiting risk and liability to the City
• Provides direction on and oversees development project and project management activities including defining project scope, objectives, success factors, deliverables, and quality measurements to meet the business needs
• Identifies and engages stakeholders to identify and manage risks throughout the project; identifies funding gaps and prepares reports and presentations
• Facilitates and leads project progress reporting and decision-making meetings with the project departmental leadership
• Works with a team of Project Managers, Planners, Engineers, Lawyers, Design and Operations groups, multiple internal and external stakeholders, and partners to project manage externally led projects (some exceeding $10M in value)
• Provides project status reports and makes recommendations on items such as scope change or mitigation strategies to the Project Sponsor(s)
• Contributes to the adoption of project management practices through mentorship, project management framework development and training opportunities
• Identifies and manages both project specific and program wide opportunities to enhance overall value to the public from the perspectives of scope, quality, schedule, cost, risk, resources, stakeholder expectations and overall public disruption
• Responsible for developing and updating relevant department by-laws, policies and guidelines
• Provides leadership and guidance to junior Engineers and Engineering Assistants, including hiring, assigning responsibilities, evaluating performance, coaching, mentoring and training and development
• Leads meetings between internal staff, developers, and consultants
• Responsible for administering project accounts and identifying financial risks
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned