About Regional District
The Peace River Liard Regional District (PRLRD) was established in 1967. In 1987 the district split into two areas. Electoral Area ‘A’ and all lands above the 58th parallel became the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. Lands under the 58th parallel and east of the Rockies became the Peace River Regional District.
There are 27 regional districts in British Columbia. The PRRD is the biggest at 119,000 square kilometers and has a population of 61,532, based on the 2021 census.
Services provided by the PRRD include:
- community recreation
- fire protection
- solid waste management
- planning
- bylaw enforcement
- rural water services
- sewage collection and disposal
- parks
- building inspection
The PRRD’s economy is comprised of agriculture, tourism/recreation, manufacturing, oil and gas, hydro-electric power generation, forestry, and mining.
The Peace River Regional District is made up of four (4) electoral areas, which include seven (7) municipalities, over forty (40) unincorporated (rural) communities and seven (7) First Nations communities.
Vision – A strong, diverse and sustainable Peace River region inspired by innovative leadership that promotes livable and safe communities.
Mission – The Peace River Regional District provides regional and sub-regional public services that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable in response to expressed needs in the region.
Values – Accountability, Cooperation, Credibility, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Respect, Trust
Additional reference documents:
About the Opportunity
Reporting to the General Manager of Development Services, the Planning Services Manager is responsible for day-to-day planning staff oversight and guidance on technical matters related to the processing of development applications. Drawing upon their experience, technical skills and knowledge, the Planning Services Manager is the primary point of contact for planning staff and management in trouble shooting, issues resolution, process inquiries and guidance on planning document and legislation interpretation. The Planning Services Manager works directly with planning staff in the review of and commenting on correspondence, staff reports and technical comments. This position takes a lead role in long-range land use and development planning for the PRRD regional area. They are responsible for leading and managing the efforts in developing policy and performing research, creating official community plans, zoning bylaws and all other land use management tools, as required. The Planning Services Manager takes a lead role in working with planning staff on their professional growth and is actively involved in coaching, mentoring, and providing constructive feedback on assignments to ensure staff learn from their experiences. They provide effective delegation and supervision for the Planners. This position also provides functional, technical, and professional advice and guidance to senior PRRD staff and departments, Regional Board and committees, external agencies, consultants, landowners/developers and the general public related to the coordination of land use planning and development approvals and processes.
It is expected that the Planning Services Manager will reside within the District.
Direct reports include 4 Planners and collaboration with the Development Services Coordinator, Building Inspectors, Bylaw Enforcement and other departments.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Leads and manages long-range planning activities in a manner that supports public engagement and community sustainability.
- Provides supervision and direction to the planning department to ensure adherence to departmental requirements and procedures.
- Assists with the human resource management practices of the Department, coaching and mentoring planning staff, and identifying staff capacity building training and development opportunities.
- Develops and maintains Official Community Plans for unincorporated land and communities.
- Initiates, directs, and develops policies and bylaws relating to zoning and land use, in alignment with Official Community Plans.
- Manages the public consultation process and provides subject matter expertise.
- Collects and analyses data and survey results.
- Provides assistance on current planning projects during staff leaves and periods of peak workload.
- Attends evening meetings and public consultations as required and provides expert advice and support to Planning staff – particularly when dealing with contentious issues.
- Provides expert advice and counsel to a variety of stakeholders, including elected officials, committees and internal departments.
- Responsible for special projects and initiatives as required.
- Acts as the General Manager of Development Services in their absence.
- In the absence of the General Manager, attends Board of Director meetings to provide support and subject matter expert advice as required.
- Builds and maintains strong working relationships with staff, as well as a wide range of external stakeholders, including Provincial and Federal ministries, regulatory agencies, consulting groups, community groups, member municipalities and committees.
- Reviews and comments on all staff reports before they are submitted for General Manager approval and Board/Committee consideration.
- In the event of an emergency, this position will be a key member of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
- Provides support to other areas and tasks as required.
Qualifications and Experience
- Post-secondary degree in land use planning, or a related discipline.
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
- A minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of related experience, preferably in a local government setting, three of which should be at a supervisory level and preferably in a unionized environment.
- A Registered Professional Planner with membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is an asset.
- A sound knowledge of planning principles, practices and techniques is required.
- Demonstrated experience in preparing, applying, and interpreting planning documents and regulation instruments.
- Demonstrated leadership ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage work demands.
- A valid BC driver’s license (or equivalent) is required as travel around the region will be necessary.
Desirable Attributes
Accountable | Prioritize | Stakeholder Awareness | Intuitive | Strategic | Thorough
Relationship Builder | Collaborative | Efficient | Innovative | Strong Communicator
Open-minded | Politically Astute | Business-minded | Customer Centric | Respectful
Safety Conscience | Problem Solver
Equal Opportunity
The Peace River Regional District is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all qualified individuals.
Compensation
A competitive compensation package commensurate with skills and experience. Further details will be discussed in a personal interview.
Confidentiality
In compliance and consistent with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”), HumanEdge shall respect the privacy and confidentiality of all personal information provided directly or indirectly verbally, electronically or in print throughout the process of candidate engagement in our search assignments.
Please submit your resume and cover letter in confidence to:
Ken Glover, BSc., RPR
HumanEdge Global
Phone: 780-902-1174
Email: ken.glover@humanedgeglobal.com
www.humanedgeglobal.com