District of Kitimat

Director of Planning

Kitimat (www.kitimat.ca) is a community of about 8,200 people located on the north coast of British Columbia. Recognized globally, Kitimat attracts travelers with spectacular wilderness and eco-adventures, as well as world class fishing and hiking.  Positioned at the head of Douglas Channel next to the Kitimat River, it offers indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and the surrounding wilderness provide plenty of opportunity for an active, coastal lifestyle. The community was developed in the 1950s to serve the aluminum industry and continues to have a strong industrial tax base. Over the years, forestry and methanol industries also existed and playing a key role in the growth of Kitimat. In October 2018 the energy sector arrived when the decision was made by LNG Canada to develop a $40B LNG export facility. This project is the single largest private sector investment in Canadian history. Kitimat is always striving to become “the best place to work” to ensure “we deliver” exemplary customer service in the growing business environment. 

Recognizing the importance that sound community planning plays in the growth and sustained future of our municipality, we are looking to attract a seasoned executive, as Director of Planning.  Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Director of Planning is the District’s Chief Planner, overseeing an integrated approach to development and policy planning for the District. Leading a small team of planners, your responsibilities include; overall responsibility for the development and delivery of standardized frameworks, in addition to policies and guidelines to ensure land use occurs in accordance with the Official Community Plan. As Director, you will hold responsibility for all development-related projects and provide strategic advice and direction to the development process. In addition, you will advise planning and building staff on development applications and processes, coordinate planning issues with other departments and
jurisdictions, participate in public and technical meetings, and represent the planning department at Council meetings and outside agencies.
 

You will have a MCIP or RPP designation coupled with a minimum of 5 to 10 years planning and development leadership experience in a municipal planning or related private sector environment. You are known as a decisive, take charge, strategic thinker with strong visionary, human resource, and negotiation skills. You are a consensus builder with well-honed report writing skills and recognized for your business integrity. You are politically astute and fully conversant with the challenges facing growth communities and recognize the importance of impeccable customer service delivery. Your impeccable people skills are your trademark and the ability to deal effectively with all levels of clients both internal and external, staff and Council.  You bring enlightened departmental leadership as well as strategic focus to existing operations.

Are you ready to take the next step in your municipal management career and join one of Western Canada’s sought after growth communities? Candidates whose backgrounds mirror the above requirements and encouraged to forward their resumes electronically and in confidence to grantsmith@waterhousesearch.com. quoting assignment # KDOP.

Waterhouse Executive Search Ltd
Suite 300 – 1055 West Hastings Street
Vancouver B.C.
V6E 2E9

Direct: (604) 806-7715
Email: grantsmith@waterhousesearch.com
Web: www.waterhousesearch.com

We sincerely thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.