Senior Planner (Full-Time)

Position Details

• Location: Thunder Bay
• Department: Planning Services Division

Role Summary

As a Senior Planner, you'll apply your expertise to complex planning matters that influence how neighbourhoods, businesses, and community spaces develop and evolve. Working on a diverse range of development approvals and policy initiatives, you'll provide professional planning advice, technical guidance, and thoughtful analysis that supports sound decision-making and long-term community development.

Thunder Bay offers natural beauty, affordability, and a strong sense of community, providing opportunities to grow personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful planning work that helps shape the places where people live, work, and thrive.

Where You’ll Make a Difference Every Day

As a Senior Planner, you'll provide senior-level planning expertise on complex development applications, planning policy matters, and community development initiatives. Working closely with developers, consultants, City departments, elected officials, agencies, and community stakeholders, you'll help evaluate proposals, navigate planning processes, and support decisions that contribute to responsible growth and development.

This role combines technical planning expertise, policy analysis, project leadership, and stakeholder engagement in complex and meaningful planning matters while supporting the broader objectives of the Planning Services Division.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and planning expertise to project teams.
• Review complex development proposals, provide professional planning opinions, and make recommendations based on sound planning principles.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to Planning staff.
• Provide technical direction and guidance related to preparing comments, reports, and by-laws for presentation to Committees and Council.
• Provide technical direction and guidance on the detailed analysis and work associated with processing and reviewing subdivision and condominium applications.
• Negotiate and prepare site plan, subdivision, condominium, development charge, development, and other agreements.
• Represent Planning Services on internal and external committees and at community meetings related to planning matters.
• Provide expert planning evidence before the Ontario Land Tribunal and other tribunals.
• Provide staff guidance on the Planning Act, Official Plan, and Zoning By-law.
• Provide information to the public and development community on land use planning matters.

Benefits

• A competitive salary that reflects your expertise.
• A matching pension plan to help you build long-term financial security.
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage, plus life insurance.
• Generous paid vacation and holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave days.
• Access to a confidential Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and wellness initiatives.
• Leadership development and tuition reimbursement programs.
• A culture of recognition and appreciation, with staff events and programs.

Qualifications

• A four-year Honours Degree in Land Use Planning or a related discipline.
• At least four years of land use planning experience in progressively responsible positions, with a focus on development approvals, preferably in a municipal environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive working knowledge of the Ontario Planning Act and other relevant provincial legislation.
• Proven ability to provide effective senior-level technical direction and guidance to staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of City Council, superiors, co-workers, and the general public in a courteous and professional manner.
• Excellent project and time management, analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

How to Apply

Apply today to join the City of Thunder Bay and contribute your experience and expertise to complex planning matters that help shape the future of the community.

General Information

As an equal opportunity employer, the City of Thunder Bay encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority groups, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Ontario Human Rights Code

It is a contravention of the Human Rights Code of Ontario to discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, age, record of offences, gender identity, or gender expression. Therefore, a resume submitted to the City must not include references to any of these characteristics. Do not include:

• Photos
• Certificates with photo identification
• Driver’s licences
• Police records checks

The above documentation will be requested by the Human Resources Division if you are the successful applicant. If a Criminal Record Check is required, it will be requested by Human Resources if you are the successful applicant. Please do not submit your Criminal Record Check with your application.