Planner II - Park Board

Requisition ID: 43523 

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 rewarding workplace.

Main Purpose and Function

Working within the Park Board’s Strategic Initiatives staff team, the Planner II leads service planning for parks and recreation facilities. The position is responsible for the development and coordination of major projects, strategic planning efforts, and policy initiatives, including supporting the renewal, renovation, and design of existing and new parks and recreation facilities executed by Real Estate, Environment and Facilities Management (REFM) staff. 

Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Leads service planning and facility-related planning initiatives, design, and renewal, as well as capital planning, both current and long-range; 
• Leads capital maintenance and planning program development, including scoping and making recommendations regarding capital planning and capital maintenance.
• Coordinates and collaborates with REFM and other City departments to ensure that Park Board interests are represented and addressed during the planning and execution of Capital work; 
• Prioritizes a broad array of building-related capital maintenance and renewal requests based on asset conditions, service needs, and policy; 
• Leads project initiation, including developing project charters and project plans, assembles working groups, and communicates project purpose, objectives and proposed outcomes.
• Performs major project assignments on any aspect of facility planning by investigating problems and identifying issues, assists in developing study and strategy processes and policies, conducts, analyzes and evaluates research studies and surveys, formulates recommendations, and prepares reports summarizing complex issues for presentation to senior management and the Park Board. 
• Supervises junior and technical staff engaged in the technical and/or clerical aspects of project assignments. 
• Leads physical master planning, site planning, and feasibility options that test land use and built form; 
• Integrates recreation and parks interests, strategies, priorities and policies in the development of community plans, official development plans, large-site redevelopments, rezonings, development permits and other city-wide planning initiatives 
• Works collaboratively to facilitate Park Board input into physical master planning, site planning, and feasibility options that test land use and built form; 
• Leads the development of strategic plans and policy responding to trends, emerging needs, population growth, and demographics guiding the overall development and delivery of the City’s parks and recreation facilities; facilitates needs assessments and input into functional programming documents; 
• Works on complex projects including organizing and developing project terms of reference, scope and requests for proposals, oversees consultant teams and supervises professional, technical, and clerical staff engaged on projects and administers budget.  
• Prepares and presents detailed reports and presentations to various internal and external audiences
• Designs and conducts consultation with the public, stakeholders and other departments and agencies on matters related to assignments and answers enquiries from the public  
• Represents parks and recreation interests at various cross-departmental staff technical teams, working groups and internal and external committees.  
• Attends Park Board, City Council and staff meetings as required, and other civic and outside meetings to represent the department and make presentations and answer questions (including weekday evenings and weekends).  
• Coordinates project communication channels internally and externally (web, written etc.)  
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned  

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Education and Experience: 

• A degree in planning, landscape architecture, architecture or a related field and a recommended minimum of two years professional experience in the municipal recreation and parks planning or planning field, preferably supplemented by supervisory experience at a professional level, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  

• Eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners is desirable.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of park planning, facilities planning, urban planning; policy development; municipal parks and recreation trends; municipal planning and development processes; municipal capital development processes; and community recreation resources and programs. 
• Considerable knowledge of planning and social research methodologies, and of community recreation resources and programs. 
• Considerable knowledge and understanding of government structures and systems, and of the policies, rules, and regulations of the Park Board.
• Working knowledge of the principles in reconciliation and decolonization is desirable. 
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary project teams, facilitate, evaluate proposals, communicate complex ideas and make sound recommendations. 
• Ability to facilitate the development of a range of engagement processes to include a broad range of public and stakeholder groups. 
• Ability to manage complex and controversial planning and policy projects 
• Ability to achieve multiple program objectives within defined timelines, work on complex projects, budgets and consultant teams effectively 
• Ability to communicate ideas effectively, both orally and in writing including excellent report writing skills. 
• Ability to perform moderately complex technical research and prepare reports and presentations to articulate complex issues and making recommendations to senior staff and elected officials

• Ability to supervise technical staff.  

• Ability to independently develop ideas, synthesize large amounts of information, evaluate options and make recommendations to senior staff and elected officials 
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of audiences and decision-makers on complex and controversial projects.
• Excellent information and data management and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and map census data 
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt to priorities and meet prescribed deadlines in a changing environment 
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) 

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work remotely 1 – 4 days a 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: Board of Parks & Recreation (1400) 

Affiliation: CUPE 15 Parks 

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time 

Position Start Date: April, 2025 

Position End Date: October 19, 2026 

Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-031: $56.27 to $66.55 per hour

Application Close: March 20, 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.