Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting applications for a permanent, full-time position of Manager, Community Policy in Planning & Development. Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workplace, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

Reporting to the Director, Community Planning, the Manager, Community Policy provides leadership in the implementation and continued development of policies related to community planning for Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The Manager leads a team of planning professionals tasked with identifying and implementing land use planning policy that represents good planning and is both consistent and reflects current practices for Urban and Suburban communities throughout HRM. The program is crucial to achieving the goals and objectives of the Regional Plan.

The Regional Plan anticipates greater emphasis on community policy approaches to manage future growth and infill in the Regional Centre and along Rapid Transit Corridors in the Inner Suburbs. This Manager leads the development of a community policy planning vision for communities where future growth will be directed. This process will represent the Regional Plan in action and will engage communities to help develop local solutions to community planning.

Community policy planning is about prescribing land use policy that will direct appropriate change and ultimately impact the livability of communities. The Municipality affects the physical design of communities through services such as land use planning, heritage protection, open space provision, public works, transportation, and the provision of new infrastructure. The Manager will manage high profile, multi-disciplinary projects, requiring a high degree of risk management and exceptional skills in project management, public engagement, regulatory policy and communication.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implementation and continued development of HRM’s community policy program (Centre Plan Area and Suburban Area projects)
• Lead a team of planning professionals, including Principal Planner(s), Planners and Urban Designers
• Acts in project manager capacity, including the supervision of consultants, team members and support staff
• Creates detailed work plans, identifying project deliverables, costs, resource requirements and schedules for implementation
• Provides advice to Regional Council, Committees of Council, other HRM business units and the public as required, primarily through the preparation and presentation of reports
• Provides leadership and expertise to improve performance and develop skills across the organization and facilitates organization changes to build community planning capacity
• Leads and develops standards for managing program risks
• Maintains a positive public profile on behalf of the corporation by representing HRM in various public forums and leading multi-stakeholder processes with community groups, the development industry, advisory committees of Council, and governmental and non-governmental agencies to deliver community planning and visioning programs
• Responsible for public and media relations in a high profile and controversial environment
• Directs research, analysis and the preparation of required studies and reports in support of the community planning program
• Develops community planning policies and implementation strategies and advocates for legislative or policy change
• Directs the development of planning design guidelines and manuals for special character areas including supporting drawings, sketches, photographs, and other illustrations
• Increases public awareness of good planning through various mechanisms such as design charettes and design competitions
• Develops and delivers capacity building and change management plans to enable HRM to deliver new programs and services related to community planning
• Oversees the development, management and the implementation of the operating & capital budget and monthly projections for the program area

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience:

• University degree in Planning, or related field such as urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, urban geography, spatial analysis, or geographic information systems with specialization in urban planning
• Minimum of two years leadership/management experience in the field of urban planning
• Minimum of eight years of progressive experience in the urban planning field, which may include experience in the following related disciplines: architecture, urban design, geographic information systems and landscape architecture
• Membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners and/or the Atlantic Planning Institute (or related organization)
• Experience conducting community engagement and the use of public presentations and facilitating community involvement in the design process
• Experience with geographic information systems (GIS)
• Previous urban planning experience in the public sector

Technical / Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities

• Successfully managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects, and facilitating planning solutions.
• A proven leader in achieving timely, economical, client focused results
• Excellent communicator and motivator with a proven record of fostering stakeholder partnerships and building consensus
• Committed to customer service, promotes innovative ways to facilitate change
• Highly developed verbal, graphic, and written communication skills
• Maintains knowledge base on best planning practices

Security Clearance Requirements: Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please Note – Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion. Interviews, testing, and in-person recruitment activities are being conducted in adherence with current COVID-19 Public Health protocols.

COMPETENCIES: Valuing Diversity, Communications, Customer Service, Developing Others, Managing Change, Networking/Relationship Building, Organizing & Planning, Organizational Awareness, Risk Management, Teamwork & Cooperation

WORK STATUS: Permanent, Full-time

HOURS OF WORK: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm; 35 hrs/week

SALARY: NU08, Non-Union, $81,810-$112,510

WORK LOCATION: 3rd Floor, Duke Tower, 5251 Duke St., Halifax

CLOSING DATE: Applications will be received up to 11:59pm on Sunday, October 23, 2022. 

Please Note: We thank all candidates for their interest in this position. Only those applicants selected for interview/testing will be contacted.

During the recruitment process, applicants have the right to request an accommodation. Applicants invited to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) and who require accommodation, should discuss their needs with the Recruiter when invited to the assessment process.