Summary of Duties

Reporting to the senior level Manager, Community Planning, Urban Design and Heritage, the Manager, Urban Design and Heritage is responsible for providing leadership and directing the work of a multi-disciplinary team to achieve cost effective, efficient and timely service delivery.  This team is responsible for the heritage preservation and urban design processes of the City of London.

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 Urban Design and Heritage area to meet the Council’s Strategic Plan.


• Responsible for the day-to-day leadership of a team 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:
  • Manage the City’s heritage conservation program, including but not limited to: heritage designation, heritage alteration permitting, heritage conservation district planning, archaeological resource assessment, cultural heritage landscapes conservation, heritage granting, consultation with Council’s municipal heritage committee and  coordination of heritage and archaeological comments and advice related to the review of planning applications, environmental assessments and city-initiated projects.
  
  
  • Manage the City’s urban design program; oversee the service delivery of input and advice to Planners, various Service Areas and Divisions within the Corporation, applicants, members of the public, and Council relating to site plans, variances, zoning amendments, Official Plan amendments, plans of subdivision, environmental assessments and other development applications and city-wide projects related to urban design matters.
  
  
  • Contribute to the leadership and development of initiatives such as: Urban Design Guidelines, the Urban Design Peer Review Panel, and the Urban Design Awards.
  
  
  • Oversee the development of public participation and community efforts related to heritage preservation, urban design, planning studies and projects.
  
  
  • Assist with complex files including liaison with heritage groups or agencies, applicants, planning consultants, citizen groups, various government agencies, the general public, and elected municipal officials on unusual or contentious challenges.
  
  
  • Maintain professional knowledge in areas of urban design and heritage; stay informed on changes in rules, statutes, laws, and industry trends.
  
  
   


• Encourage and support employee participation and commitment to divisional and organizational objectives.  Actively mentor, provide development opportunities and build team performance with direct reports.


• Provide timely updates, information and recommendations to the Manager, Community Planning, Urban Design and Heritage 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 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 capital budget projects; additionally, engage in opportunities to work across Divisions and Service Areas in support of enterprise-wide collaboration.


• Demonstrate commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights through interactions with stakeholders, employees and individuals and implementation of policies, programs and protocols that reflect this commitment.


• 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.


• Recommend and develop processes and tools needed to increase efficiencies and improve the effectiveness of services provided by the area.


• Implement strategies to track performance measures for area deliverables, using appropriate data collection and analytics.


• Responsible for the budget of the Urban Design and Heritage area; provide input to the senior level Manager, Community Planning, Urban Design and Heritage on matters relating to the operating budget for the team.


• Research and prepare reports for review by the senior level Manager, Community Planning, Urban Design and Heritage for various Committees of Council and other committees as required.


• 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.


• Oversee and contribute to the preparation for Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Hearings and, where necessary, attend the OLT to provide professional evidence related to Urban Design and Heritage matters.


• May represent the Division on various boards and committees of external organizations, associations, and government partners to promote the City of London as a leader, share best practices, building relationships, and recommend solutions as requested by the Director or Deputy City Manager.


 

Qualifications/Experience

• Completion of a Master’s Degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture or related discipline.


• Member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), or related professional organization.


• Five to seven years of progressive experience in the design, delivery and monitoring of policies and programs related to urban design and heritage.


• Managerial experience, including leading a team of technical professionals or equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience.


 

    Skills and abilities in the following areas are necessary:

• 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.


• 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.


 

Compensation and Other Information

$92,111 to $125,069

Our hiring process is in accordance with the City of London’s Mandatory Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Administrative Policy.

As an inclusive employer, we are committed to providing a fully accessible recruitment process. Please contact us at any time during the recruitment process and let us know what accessible supports you may need.