City of Vancouver

Requisition ID: 18193 

Company

The City of Vancouver is striving to become the greenest city in the world, and a city powered entirely by renewable energy before 2050. We are proud to be one of BC's Top Employers, Canada's Best Diversity Employers, and one of Canada's Greenest Employers. With employees that have helped Vancouver consistently rank as one of the world's most livable cities, the City values a diverse workforce which represents the vibrant community we so proudly serve.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

Main Purpose & Function 
The Vancouver Plan, coordinated and managed by Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability (PDS), is a major cross-departmental program to develop, implement, monitor and steward a long-range strategic plan to guide Vancouver to a bright, sustainable future looking out to 2050 and beyond.  This transformative initiative advances and integrates policy areas across all disciplines of the City encompassing social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives through an over-arching lens of equity, reconciliation and resiliency.  It will guide strategic planning and policy at the City in the future in alignment with Council, corporate and departmental policies, priorities, investments and actions.

The Planner II - Senior Resilience Specialist leads and supports the integration and implementation of resilience priorities through the Vancouver Plan, and contributes to a cohesive framework for long-term Disaster Risk Reduction. Specifically, the position leads complex, multi-stakeholder processes to model and evaluate potential impacts of risks and hazards on social, cultural, economic, physical, and ecological values, establishes risk reduction targets, and prepares city-wide guidelines, policy and implementation strategies to enhance urban resilience through long-range planning, land-use, investment and advocacy.

This is a matrixed role reporting to both the Manager, City-Wide Plan and the Senior Planner (Policy Development) for the Vancouver Plan project. The Planner II position plays a key role on the Vancouver Plan Policy Development staff team within Long-Range and Strategic Planning. The team is responsible for the development and implementation of long range city-wide land use policy, guidelines, and bylaws, coordinating with other City departments, other divisions within Planning Urban Design and Sustainability (PDS), external partners and agencies, and the public.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Integrates principles and objectives from the Resilient Vancouver Strategy into the Vancouver Plan.
• Scopes and manages city-wide hazard, risk, infrastructure and land-use modelling to inform scenario planning and resilience policy.
• Scopes and leads a collaborative process to establish long-term risk reduction and climate adaptation targets and /or indicators, and land-use and investment priorities for resilience as part of Vancouver Plan policy.
• Translates data and modelling results into digestible info and graphics accessible to multiple audiences.
• Engages equity-seeking groups and other stakeholders to understand the social, economic and cultural implications of shocks, stresses and resilience policy. 
• Works with City departments, federal and provincial government, infrastructure owners and academics, to coordinate on regional hazard modelling, risk assessments, and data sharing relevant to Vancouver Plan.
• Works collaboratively with staff leading resilience, climate adaptation, and risk reduction work city-wide, and facilitates cross-departmental projects and policy development processes.
• Manages complex projects, including developing contracts and project charters including external consultants and staff, identifying and mitigating risks, and issuing regular updates to project teams and sponsors.
• Develops structured processes to evaluate trade-offs and develops integrated and complex city-wide plan policy deliverables to enhance resilience, encompassing a broad range of City priorities and policy directions, including but not limited to equity, reconciliation, social, cultural, economic, housing, transportation, and other policy directions.
• Conducts research and prepares reports.
• Designs and delivers workshops and presentations for staff, Council, citizen groups and partner agencies.
• Develop contracts and supervises consultants.
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A university graduate degree in Urban Resilience, Planning and/or a related discipline; Extensive and progressive municipal experience at a professional level supplemented by supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A broad range of experience developing and managing work programs; developing and preparing land use and resilience policies; facilitating stakeholder engagement, including with equity-seeking groups; and conducting hazard, risk, and vulnerability modelling and assessments.
• Membership or eligibility for membership in the Canadian Institute of Planning is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of urban resilience theory and practice, and of local resilience challenges.
• Considerable knowledge of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and its application to urban planning.
• Considerable knowledge of concepts and leading practices related to reconciliation, equity and accessibility, and their application to resilience policy.
• Ability to establish and evaluate policy through quantitative and qualitative indicators and targets.
• Ability to develop and lead transdisciplinary teams and advance work programs within defined timelines and limited resources.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex planning issues and modelling outcomes to a broad audience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead community planning processes and dialogue on controversial and complex issues.
• Working knowledge of hazard and land-use modelling platforms, tools, and best practices.
• Considerable knowledge of project management tools and processes.
• Exceptional facilitation, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Working knowledge of the City's land use By-Laws; infrastructure, land use, sustainability, adaptation and resilience policy and a broad knowledge of City services, programs and processes.
• Proficiency in a second language and knowledge of a broad range of cultures would also be assets.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and independent judgment in dealing with a variety of people and situations.

 

Business Unit/Department: Planning, Urban Design & Sustainability (1275) 

Affiliation: CUPE 15 Non Pks 

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time 

Position Start Date: September, 2020

Position End Date: December 22, 2022

Salary Information: Pay Grade GR-031: $48.78 to $57.7 per hour

 

Application Close: August 2, 2020

Please APPLY here: https://jobs.vancouver.ca/job/Vancouver-Planner-II-%28Vancouver-Plan%29-Resilience-Specialist-Brit/639789700/

 

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including Indigenous applicants, all genders, nationalities and persons with disabilities. 

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.