Senior Planning Technician – Permanent, Full Time

Job title:

Senior Planning Technician – Permanent, Full Time

Company

City of Stratford

Job description

City of StratfordSenior Planning Technician(External Posting)Job Posting#: 12-2025(e)Status: Permanent, Full TimeUnion/Non-union: CUPE 1385Date Posted: February 12, 2025Annual Salary: $80,458 – $85,594*Currently under reviewClosing Deadline:Department/Division: Building & Planning / PlanningLocation: On-Site (Stratford, ON) with remote work arrangements.Duties:Reporting to the Manager of Planning, the Senior Planning Technician provides technical review and assessment of planning and development applications, provides zoning and planning information, and supports various planning initiatives and committees.The Senior Planning Technician will also be responsible for conducting research, preparing or contributing to reports, and assisting with community improvement programs.The Senior Planning Technician collaborates with other divisions within the City, including Building, Bylaw, Clerks, and Infrastructure Services (Engineering), and engages with external agencies and stakeholders. This role also supports in providing administrative support and customer service duties for the Department and the City’s Committee of Adjustment.Work Performed:

• Provide technical advice and information to the public, developers, lawyers, and other stakeholders regarding planning and zoning matters, including, responding to inquiries in-person, by phone and email regarding zoning, and general planning related matters. To support proactive community education, participate in preparing plain language communications and/or making presentations to the public regarding planning, zoning, and other City programs (e.g. starting a food business, accessibility/barrier-free design, building a backyard home).
• Assists in the administration and enforcement of the Ontario Planning Act and related statutory regulations, municipal by-laws and other relevant and applicable law, and to a secondary extent, the Ontario Building Code Act and City engineering standards/requirements.
• Understands the roles and responsibilities of the Infrastructure Services Department in order to facilitate effective communication between both departments and minimize barriers to development in the City.
• Reviews submitted application and materials for accuracy and completeness.
• Collects and processes payments and transactions including licenses, invoices, development charges, and permits.
• Process short-term planning applications (ex. minor variances, consents, site plans). This can include a combination of taking the lead on any given short-term planning application/project or assisting on more complex/unique/contentious applications (official plan amendments, complex zoning by-law amendments, subdivision and condominium plans).
• Prepare and/or review letters of zoning compliance, evaluate applications under relevant by-laws, and ensure technical compliance with zoning, site plan, and against the City’s Official Plan and other guidelines, standards, and policies.
• Performs preliminary technical review of distributed applications and/or plans, studies, reports as applicable and as required for review. Apply file management and issue resolution to meet process timelines.
• Draft and deliver reports and documents for review by Senior Staff, Council, etc., including visual aids, plans, maps, and other materials for meetings.
• Manages the municipal addressing protocol for the 911 system, including how emergency services, public utilities, developers, and contractors of the same are notified.
• When requested by Senior Division Staff, coordinates, prepares agendas and takes notes for various planning/development-related meetings.
• Serves as the “Deputy Secretary-Treasurer of the Committee of Adjustment” in the Secretary-Treasurer’s absence. Attends public hearings to present files and provide technical support to committee members.
• In the absence of the Planning Coordinator/Clerical Staff, or when experiencing increased volume, assists with incoming and outgoing mail, electronic communications, emails, and courier services for the Building & Planning Department, and to a secondary extent, to the Infrastructure Services Department.
• When experiencing increased volume, assists with the scanning, filing, and retention of documents. Ensures the property filing system is maintained and updated in accordance with the municipal retention by-law. Follows and adheres to City/departmental filing protocols.
• Coordinates and/or responds to questions and complaints regarding land-use planning-related matters.
• Confers with and provides information to developers, engineers, architects, property owners, contractors, committees established by Council, and others regarding land-use planning-related matters.
• Uses discretion to refer special and/or unusual situations to the most appropriate senior staff, including the Manager of Planning, for direction.
• Conduct site visits and inspections related to planning/development applications or as otherwise directed.
• Coordinate and process community improvement plan (CIPs) applications and participate in initiatives aimed at increasing the success rates of such programs.
• Evaluate and assess development proposals against the Official Plan, Provincial policies, and Council Guidelines.
• Performs annual/regular consolidations of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, and other official planning documents to ensure other staff & Council, the public, and the City’s development community has access to up-to-date City planning documents.
• Prepares site plan agreements. Prepares simple development agreements associated with (i.e. condition of) Committee of Adjustment files.
• Coordinate and, and as directed by more senior planning staff, negotiate input from applicants, consultants, service areas, agencies, and the public on planning proposals and amendments.
• Assist with research and data collection related to planning projects, including demographic, financial, and land use analysis.
• Administer planning program activities.
• When directed, work with more senior City positions on key projects/assignments, ensuring alignment with overall planning objectives and strategies, and supporting their management of major projects and studies.
• Provide technical information and advice on standards and policies to applicants, consultants, citizen groups, government agencies, and the public.
• Represent the Division on administrative and advisory committees.
• Assists more senior Divisional Staff with preparing appeal records.
• Assists in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Community College Diploma (2 years) in Urban Planning or equivalent.
• Minimum of 4-5 years related professional experience, preferably in a municipal land-use planning environment.
• Valid Driver’s License (Class G).

Specialized Skills, Abilities, Training, License, Memberships, or Certifications

• Full membership in the Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians (CACPT).
• Membership in other aligned associations, such as the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI), Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), etc., considered an asset.
• Designation of “Certified Planning Technician” or higher.
• Strong understanding of the Planning Act, zoning by-laws, and other relevant legislation and policies, as well as a general understanding of how other disciplines relate to development applications to form professional opinions such as landscape architecture, municipal law, building, engineering, transportation, etc.
• Knowledge of barrier-free design and compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in computer applications, including Microsoft Office, e-permitting (e.g. AMANDA/PSD Citywide), Adobe Pro, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and other planning-related computer software.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong report writing, documentation, and record-keeping, file management and organizing skills.
• Demonstrated analytical and mathematical skills to verify zoning conformity and compliance.
• Ability to conduct research and apply planning policies effectively.

Applications will be received until at 4:30 pm.The City of Stratford is committed to building a culture where difference is valued. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be on behalf of the community we serve. We are committed to continuously improving our systems, policies and practices to remove barriers, promote respect and ensure our employees, in all their diversity, can succeed. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants with a diverse range of perspectives, skills and lived experiences to apply.Accommodations are available for people with disabilities throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Applicants should make their needs known in advance.While we appreciate all applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.Personal information collected in response to this advertisement is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001 to determine eligibility for employment with the City of Stratford. Please direct inquiries to the Human Resources Department at 519-271-0250 x 336.Human Resources DepartmentCity Hall, P.O. Box 818Stratford, ON N5A 6W1

Expected salary

$80458 – 85594 per year

Location

Stratford, ON

Job date

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:15:55 GMT

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