Commissioner of Planning

Overview / Background

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 66,, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.

The motto, ‘Small town living at its best’ is reflected in Council’s Strategic Plan mission statement: “To efficiently provide services that foster a higher quality of life for residents, making Halton Hills a desirable place to live, work, and invest.” The Town has been ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Commissioner of Planning is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for the Planning Department. This entails the formulation and implementation of effective and defendable policy and heritage strategies, growth monitoring, the evaluation of development proposals for conformity with Provincial and Town plans and policies, the preparation of development agreements, and servicing allocation.

This position is an active member of the Senior Management Team. Guided by the Town's Strategic Plan, corporate policies, and good planning principles, the Commissioner of Planning has overarching responsibility for the development and implementation of the Town’s growth strategies and the provision of high-quality services and programs to our external customers in a cost-effective manner.

The salary for this position (35 hours per week) is $, - $, annually. This posting is for an existing vacancy, to fill a retirement.

The ideal candidate will have a four-year University degree in Urban and Regional Planning or equivalent discipline and Full membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and certification as a Registered Professional Planner (RPP). Ten to Fifteen years progressive experience in land use planning and Eight to Ten years senior management/Director-level experience within a municipal setting is required.

The ideal candidate is a strategic visionary thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong sense of integrity and sensitivity to confidential information.

The ideal candidate also has forward-thinking leadership skills and the ability to see the bigger picture as it relates to corporate leadership as well as demonstrated ability to empower and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability and enabling staff to resolve complex challenges independently. Superior written and oral communication skills including the ability to effectively present at Committee and Council meetings and Public Open Houses is required.

The ideal candidate will have a high degree of political acumen and strong relationship building, mediation/negotiation and conflict resolution skills to resolve disputes arising in the land use planning system.