Park Planner (temporary up to 12 months)

Job Number: 19-T-9018

---

The City of Guelph is a vibrant community with over 120,000 people located in the heart of Southern Ontario, just one hours driving distance from Toronto.  Set in a picturesque natural setting, Guelph is known for its rich architectural heritage, growing economy and excellent quality of life - all good reasons to consider a career in this beautiful city.

Job summary

Resumes are being accepted for the temporary position of Park Planner within the Parks and Recreation department.  Reporting to the Manager, Open Space Planning, this position will assist with leading the planning, development and redevelopment of Guelph’s parks and open space system, with a focus on creating and delivering quality community spaces and public service including continuous improvement of processes.  Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Administrative Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, excellence and wellness, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision – to be the city that makes a difference.

Duties

Responsible for the planning, design, development and redevelopment of parklands including:

• Work with staff of the Public Services area and consult with the community and stakeholders in the renovation, restoration or creation of park and open space.
• Review development applications and planning documents, including draft plans of subdivision and their registrations, secondary and community plans, official plan, site plans and zoning by-law amendments, Committee of Adjustment and provide comments related to parks, trails, open space and facility-related requirements, including parkland dedication.
• Act as expert witness at Ontario Municipal Board and other tribunals, as required.
• Project manages and/or prepare design concepts, master plans, detailed design, presentation drawings, construction drawings, standards and cost-estimates for department capital projects.
• Project manages and prepare budgets, reports, including staff reports to council, RFP’s, hiring and supervision of consultants, tendering documents, and evaluation and award of tenders for department capital projects. Ensure conformance with standards, policies and legislation.
• Project management of park, trails and open space development projects, including site meetings, site visits/ inspections to ensure compliance with specifications, approved plans and regulations, including cost control and progress payments.
• Coordinate and report on park development and redevelopment; track projects and capital budgets, act as liaison for contract safety legislation, policy and best practices
• Coordinate and report on trails and open spaces projects and initiatives; track projects and trail budgets, ensure work is aligned to department vision documents and act as liaison for policies that impact trail and open spaces
• Track ongoing development files, coordinate workflow and timelines for various development applications including parkland dedication coordination and tracking
• Coordinate and report on policy and legislation to ensure projects are aligned to vision documents; coordinate and track ongoing department and city wide policy projects and impacts
• Work with multi-disciplinary staff, liaising and facilitating consultations with the public, community, developers and agencies.
• Maintain a strong, proactive relationship with Public Services staff assuring open communication across the organization to ensure park, trails  and open space development is responsive to and reflective of community desires.
• Provide presentations to Committees and Council as required.
• Provide guidance to technical staff and liaise with other departments, government authorities and outside agencies to expedite completion of projects.
• Assist in the review of landscape plans for public land development projects as they relate to parks and public open space.
• Development of standard parks details, policies and operating procedures.
• Maintenance of the parks database, including PSAB reporting.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Considerable experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a four-year degree in Landscape Architecture, or related field of study and a minimum 5 years relevant work experience in park planning, review of development applications, landscape design, park development and related naturalization, project management and contract administration. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Full membership as a licensed landscape architect with the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) or equivalent provincial Association/Society.
• Must possess a valid Class “G” driver’s licence with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm their licence is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years.  The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of land use planning and development approval processes that require conformance to relevant legislation, policies and regulations as they relate to open space planning and development.
• Proven experience in working on design teams and interfacing with a range of public and stakeholders.
• Experience in the area of park development of brown fields is an asset.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certification or willingness to obtain would be an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of AutoCAD software, GIS and data base applications
• Intermediate level proficiency in Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer service skills with excellent written and verbal communication
• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills, able to set priorities, solve problems, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide a solution oriented, customer service approach using good judgement, creativity and strategic thinking
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification would be an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Community Engagement practices, Building Code, Construction Lien Act, CCDC 2 Canadian Construction Document Committee 2, municipal by-laws, proper construction procedures and other relevant standards, acts and regulations.
• Ability to work effectively in both team situations and with minimal supervision.
• Strong dispute resolution, negotiation and facilitation skills
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health & Safety Act

Rate

$43.91-$53.95 per hour  

How to apply

Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by Sunday May 26, 2019. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered. Proof of qualifications will be requested at the interview stage.

Please visit the job posting listed on our careers page and click on the “Apply for this job” button. Instructions will follow.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity in the workplace. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual needs in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, please contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.

---

Job summary

---