Senior Planner

Senior Planner

Lead Big Projects!
Shape Communities!
Make a Regional Impact!

JOIN ORRSC AS A SENIOR PLANNER Are you a seasoned planner seeking more autonomy and a meaningful role in an organization known for its professionalism, collaboration, and regional impact across Southern Alberta? Do you want to lead major municipal and intermunicipal projects, oversee complex planning files and project budgets, and support municipal leaders through critical decisions? If you are looking to bring your expertise to an amazing team where your judgment is respected and your work helps shape the future of communities, this is the ideal opportunity.

As a Senior Planner at ORRSC, you will serve as a trusted advisor and technical leader, supporting municipalities on their most complex and politically sensitive planning matters. You will lead major statutory plans such as Municipal Development Plans, Area Structure Plans, Intermunicipal Development Plans, and Land Use Bylaws. You will oversee project scopes, schedules, deliverables, and project budgets. You will support Councils, CAOs, and Municipal Planning Commissions, guide intermunicipal collaboration, resolve high-stakes land use and development challenges, provide quality control on planning reports and statutory documents, mentor planning staff, contribute to organizational strategy and governance, and represent ORRSC at regional and provincial working groups.

This is advanced professional work that requires leadership, political awareness, strategic thinking, and a high level of planning expertise.

• Post Secondary degree in Planning, Urban and Regional Studies, Geography, or a related discipline.
• Completion of the Applied Land Use Planning Certificate would be considered an asset.

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in land use planning, with 7 or more years preferred, preferably in an Alberta municipal setting.
• Experience working in both rural and urban municipal planning environments.
• Experience working across multiple planning disciplines, such as, development and subdivision, long-range and current planning, conceptual design and community visioning, social and economic data interpretation, stakeholder and public engagement, bylaw enforcement, legislative analysis and appeals.

• Advanced understanding of Alberta planning legislation, planning law, and municipal governance.
• Strong political acuity and the ability to work professionally with elected officials and senior municipal administration.
• High degree of autonomy, professional judgement, and decision-making ability
• Ability to manage multiple municipal clients, complex files, ongoing inquiries, and both short- and long-term projects.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, lead, oversee, and advise planning staff at all levels.

The Role in Our Organization For more than 70 years, the Oldman River Regional Services Commission has served as one of Alberta’s strongest and most respected planning organizations, providing professional planning, GIS, and advisory services to 40 municipalities across the region. We are a mission-driven, collaborative, high-trust team where planners have genuine autonomy, meaningful influence, and exposure to every facet of municipal planning.

You will lead major regional initiatives, guide complex project work, strengthen internal systems and processes, and contribute to improvements in project tracking and budgeting. ORRSC is the type of organization where planners thrive because the work is meaningful, the variety is unmatched, and your expertise directly shapes municipal decision-making.
Our office is located in Lethbridge, a growing and vibrant community with over 200 km of trails, strong arts and culture, two post-secondary institutions, and quick access to the Rocky Mountains, Waterton Lakes National Park, and the Canadian Badlands. It offers excellent quality of life, affordability, and a wide range of planning challenges and opportunities.
We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, pension participation, flexible work options, generous vacation and sick leave, an employee and family assistance program, and ongoing professional development support. Most importantly, you will join a respected planning organization where your expertise is valued and where your work has meaningful and lasting impact.
To find the full description of the position, including required qualifications and experience, please visit our Careers webpage here.
Qualified candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to Tracy Thomas, CAO at This position remains open until Friday, March 20, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.