Summary of Duties:

Reporting to the Manager, Community Planning, the Manager, Environmental Planning manages natural environment and natural heritage planning related to the implementation of legislation, policies and programs required for master planning, development applications, environmental stewardship, and the management of the City’s Environmentally Significant Areas in support of the vision, values, and key directions of The London Plan (Official Plan).

Work Performed:

• Provide leadership in the coordination and delivery of environmental planning policies and strategies related to natural heritage, natural hazards, trees and stewardship that contribute to the implementation of strategic initiatives for the Planning and Development Division to meet Council’s Strategic Plan.
• Responsible for managing employees including hiring, coaching, administration, and performance aspects 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:
  • Administer the management of publicly owned Environmentally Significant Areas including developing and implementing Conservation Master Plans, contracts, and capital budget programs.
  • Manage the review of and comment on tree protection and environmental studies, plans and reports submitted in support of applications made under the Planning Act, Environmental Assessment Act and Conservation Authorities Act.
  • Prepare reports with recommendations regarding natural heritage planning, environmental management and stewardship and attend and make presentations and recommendations to standing committees and others, as required. 
  • Establish rapport and collaborate with public, planning professionals, development industry and community partners to enhance connections for the purposes of regional environmental planning projects, heritage features, conditions, and issues; conduct appropriate consultation and engagement with First Nations, conservation authorities, other levels of government, institutions, and the private sector.
  • Manage the development of natural heritage policies, strategies, and guidelines that implement provincial legislation, the Provincial Policy Statement, The London Plan and other municipal planning requirements.
  • Work with the Upper Thames Conservation Authority and other partners and interested parties to plan for, improve and maintain Environmentally Significant Areas in London. 
  • Act as an expert on ecology, environmental management, and stewardship, as required; give evidence on behalf of Council before the Ontario Land Tribunal and other judicial or quasi-judicial hearings. 
• Demonstrate commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights through interactions with community partners, 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.
• Encourage and support employee participation and commitment to individual, divisional, and organizational objectives.  Actively mentor, provide development opportunities and build a high-level team performance with direct reports.
• Provide updates, information and recommendations to the Manager, Community Planning on priorities with responsibility to operationalize identified goals and strategies.
• Identify and recommend internal controls in the form of policies, procedures, practices in relation to the general and specific risks of the Corporation; ensure internal controls are implemented, monitored, and reported on specific to the Planning and Development Division.
• Promote and foster working relationships with employees and bargaining units to provide a fair and consistent application of provisions within the collective agreement.
• Liaise with unions on issues that affect bargaining unit employees and represent the unit at mediation and arbitration proceedings as required.

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• Provide expertise, direction and advice across the corporation and engage in opportunities to work across Divisions and Service Areas in support of enterprise-wide collaboration.
• Identify, recommend, adapt, and implement innovative and effective and efficient work practices and procedures to improve service delivery and the business responsibilities of the team.
• Implement strategies to track performance measures for Unit deliverables, using appropriate data collection and analytics.
• Provide input to the development of the annual operating budget for the Planning and Development Division. Administer tenders, request for proposals, request for quotes and purchase orders within approved budgets in accordance with Procurement of Goods and Services Policy.
• Attend Standing Committee, Advisory Committee and citizen group meetings as required to seek input from and present reports on environmental planning issues and projects; represent Planning and Development as required on administrative and citizen advisory committees and attend and/or present at relevant conferences.
• Prepare responses to inquiries from elected officials, media and the public as requested by the Manager, Community Planning.
• Provide leadership and guidance within Planning and Development, the City of London and the broader community regarding environmental stewardship and management of the City’s Environmental Significant Areas and natural heritage planning efforts to promote the City of London as a leader, share best practices, build relationships, and recommend solutions as required. 
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a Master’s Degree in Land Use Planning, Resource Management, Biology or Ecology or in a relevant area of study or equivalent combination of education and related professional and lived community experience.
• Five to seven years related experience including management responsibilities.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners/Ontario Professional Planners Institute as a Registered Professional Planner.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience environmental planning, legislation related to natural resources, land use, environmental assessments, and tree by-laws with an understanding of the area’s programs and services and how the work of the area aligns with the objectives of the Planning and Development Division.
• Demonstrated analytical and business planning skills with a proven track record for effectively implementing and monitoring programs and services for continuous improvement opportunities.
• 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 service and presentation skills, including conflict resolution and problem solving; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with diverse populations within the community; experience working collaboratively with organizations, clients, and other individuals. 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.
• Ability to read and interpret correspondence, technical reports, environmental studies, development proposals, and scientific literature
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, and related software and database applications.

Compensation & Other Information:

$99,156 - $129,818

This position is for one (1) permanent, full-time position.

Standard hours of Work: Monday - Friday from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

These hours of work are subject to change in accordance to business requirements.

Police Record Check

The successful candidate will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check.