PLANNER PARKS DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

7d•CA$52 - CA$57•Hybrid

About The Position

The Planner, Parks Development & Planning, reporting to the Senior Project Manager, Parkland Strategy, or reporting to the Senior Project Manager, Facilities Plan, will work with a team of professionals in the Parks & Recreation Division to expand and improve the City’s parkland, and recreation facilities and amenities. The primary function of the role is to support long-term planning through the review and implementation of the Parks & Recreation Division’s Strategic Plans, including the Parks & Recreation Facilities Plan, the Parkland Strategy, and local area studies from a parks planning perspective.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in urban and regional planning, urban geography, environmental studies, landscape architecture or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Considerable experience with park and open space planning, recreation planning, land use planning, real estate, architecture, landscape architecture or urban design.
Considerable experience with reviewing plans, planning methodologies and processes including report writing, data collection, analysis and presentation, utilizing appropriate computer applications, i.e., GIS, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Creative content applications e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud or equivalent.
Experience in public consultation and acting as an effective liaison between groups (e.g., internal and external groups) in planning for parks and recreation services.
Ability to anticipate and resolve issues related to parks and recreation planning.
Ability to think critically and problem solve, with acute attention to detail.
Ability to scope project assignments, manage and meet critical timelines for processing pertinent work assignments for applications and approvals.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing at a professional level with senior management, consultants, and staff from other divisions, other agencies, and the public.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Familiarity with government legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.
Ability to undertake quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
Ability to use appropriate computer applications including GIS, databases and Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent.
Understanding of relevant legislation, policy requirements and master plans related to park and recreation planning and development, including the Planning Act, Official Plan.

Nice To Haves

Membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Identifies and develops plans and strategies related to the planning and development of new parkland and new recreation facilities for community and city-wide, area-based and facility specific initiatives.
Reviews, evaluates, provides comments and makes recommendations on new park and facility opportunities, for reporting to Committees and Council or under staff’s delegated authority, with regard to the Planning Act and applicable Municipal Code, Parkland Strategy, Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan and Official Plan policies and legislation.
Analyzes provincial changes to parkland conveyance policies (i.e., legislative and regulatory changes to the Planning Act, and supports the City’s response to these changes, which could include making updates to the Official Plan, the Municipal Code, and Secondary Plans.
Prepares evidence-based reports and presentations using computer applications, statistical software, geospatial software (including ESRI GIS software) or any other relevant programs.
Analyzes and documents demographic, social, economic, cultural and physical data, and produces maps, charts and other summary analysis to support preparation of reports and presentation materials on parkland and recreation facility planning affecting various geographic scales including local community, area-based and citywide.
Undertakes detailed site analysis including conducting field visits of sites for parkland development, acquisition potential, connections and expansion of existing assets to ensure they meet divisional standards, programming and operating requirements as well as requirements reflected in the City of Toronto's Official Plan.
Conducts parkland planning studies and initiatives, develops recommendations and drafts reports for Committees and Council.
Develops and supports recommended amendments for new official plan policies and prepares reports to address the implications of parkland and recreation facility planning.
Supports preliminary design and consultation to guide the development of new Community Recreation Centres and outdoor recreation facilities.
Provides information and advice to requests from elected officials, other city divisions, property owners, consultants, agencies, boards and the public.
Conducts research, data collection and analysis, including surveys, and supports public consultation activities such as public meetings, as required.
Review and comments on technical drawings and reports and undertakes land use planning analysis including parkland and facility needs assessments, geospatial analysis, application of Official Plan policies and zoning/land use designations, property information.
Provides work direction on research, analysis and report writing assignments to staff.
Prepares terms of reference and study designs, conducts, reviews and contributes to parkland and recreation facility planning studies, develops recommendations and drafts report for Committees of Council.
Supports the management of consultant studies, including developing terms of reference, day-to-day coordination to assist in ensuring that studies are completed on time and within budget, and preparing status reports.
Supports implementation of the approved capital budget for parks and recreation facilities and provides advice on new budget requests to advance land acquisition or park development.
Presents evidence and provides professional opinion as an expert witness at proceedings before Ontario Tribunals on parkland matters as they relate to the Planning Act, Official Plan, and the Toronto Municipal Code; and prepares witness statements and other documentation to support the City and Council.
Identifies, negotiates, mediates and resolves conflicting positions with groups that have varied objectives including developers, landowners, City Divisions and agencies, residents and elected officials, amongst others to meet parkland and recreation facility objectives of the City of Toronto's Official Plan, the Ontario Planning Act and Provincial Policy Statements.
Serves as divisional representation and maintains effective communication and partnerships with other City Divisions and Agencies, Boards and Commissions and provincial agencies.
Establishes and maintains effective communication and partnerships with City Planning, Real Estate Services, Legal Services, Transportation Services, and other City Divisions
Applies an equity lens to all work, supporting the Division’s commitment to the Reconciliation Action Plan, Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan, among others.