Planner I

Requisition ID: 44034 

Organization

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace.  Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose & Function

The Planner I supports public space planning, design and implementation, including coordinating internal and external public space design processes for the Gastown Public Spaces Plan and other major capital projects on retail corridors with significant public space emphasis. The position helps refine and advance the overall process, leads review of consultant materials, conducts research, policy, case-study, public realm analysis and concept development, and supports development of partnerships with Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-waututh, and community relationships with BIAs, urban indigenous organizations, heritage groups, accessibility advocates and other stakeholders.

The Planner I supports the project management aspects of the process, including help with leading collaborative internal working groups and technical teams to advance the overall design process and manage various consultancies and deliverables such as design materials and project narratives.

The position reports to the Planner II in Retail Streets Projects and Policy team in Street Activities and works closely with a team of planners, engineers and public realm design consultants under the overall guidance of the senior planner of Retail Streets and Projects. The position provides guidance and support to junior staff including Planning Analysts, Landscape Designers and Engineers in the team. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Emerging policies

• Supports the development and implementation of public space initiatives, projects, processes and policies.
• Represents Branch in an inter-departmental review of best practices and policies related to public space, and supports the creation of city-wide policy.
• Stays up to date on best practices for public life/public space.
• Provides guidance to junior and technical staff on research, mapping, visualization and presentations.
• Takes a lead role in internal discussions regarding public space policy, stewardship and programming.
• Establishes, coordinates and facilitates collaborative internal technical teams, charrettes and workshops to advance the overall project scope and process, utilizing creative and strategic online, virtual and in-person tools and techniques.

Public Realm and Streetscape Concepts

• Supports public realm and streetscape design through research, conducting best practices case studies, analysis of the public realm and public life existing conditions, mapping and visualization.
• Develop public realm goals and principles, high-level concepts and related visuals and analysis that can facilitate public space, streetscape and street design process, visioning, workshops, trade-off analysis, decision-making and storey-telling.
• Develop consultant scope, review and provide feedback to multi-disciplinary consultancies related to public realm experience and streetscape design. 
• Review, analyze and provide feedback on street designs concepts from a public life and public realm experience to facilitate ideation and design iteration process to advance City’s public life goals.

Public engagement support

• Supports the development of public engagement strategies for public space-related projects and policies.
• Develops presentations and relevant project materials and content such as storyboards to communicate complex policies and concepts to different audiences, including other departments, stakeholders, the public, and Council.
• Facilitates and co-designs public and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Responds to public enquiries on specific projects.

Develops and maintains partnerships

• Builds relationships and collaborates closely with staff in other COV departments
• Develops and maintains relationships with community organizations related to public space creation, stewardship and programming.

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A post-secondary degree in planning, landscape architecture, urban design or related subject recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners and a minimum of one year of experience in a planning-related field, or an equivalent combination of post-secondary education and experience.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners is an asset.

 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of urban and spatial design, streetscape and public realm concept development and creating design guidelines.
• Skilled at understanding of public space and urban design best practices with demonstrated ability in public realm and public life analysis, story telling, concept development and visualization.
• Knowledge of designing and facilitating innovative public engagement processes and events.
• Knowledge of municipal permitting processes, development and building by-law reviews.
• Good knowledge and understanding of governmental structures and systems.
• Ability to form effective partnerships, collaborate on inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently, and lead projects from initial scoping to completion.
• Ability to perform moderately complex technical research and prepare reports thereon.
• Ability to scope, refine and advance complex, multi-disciplinary design processes with substantial internal and external collaboration and strategic requirements.
• Ability to manage consultancies and lead the review and feedback process.
• Skilled at project management and process coordination.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
• Skilled in policy review and research, best practices reviews, and policy planning.
• Skilled in graphic design and visual communications.
• Proficiency in the use of software applications and databases such as MS Office, MapInfo, ArchGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and AutoCAD.

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work a hybrid work week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite.  At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department: Engineering Services (1300) 

Affiliation: CUPE 15 Non Pks 

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time 

Position Start Date: September, 2025

Position End Date: September, 2027

Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-029: $51.70 to $61.13 per hour

Application Close: August 3, 2025

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.