Metro Vancouver

Department: Planning and Environment
Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31
Location: 4730 Kingsway, Burnaby

Our Planning and Environment Department is seeking a Planning Data Analyst who will gather, organize, analyze, interpret and validate statistical data from a wide variety of sources and provide assistance to professional planners in identifying and defining data requirements and reviewing the statistical findings of others.

You are a professional who:

• Collaborates well with others.
• Thrives in high functioning team environments.
• Appreciates the need to enhance planning data with narratives that provide context and perspective.
• Enjoys working on significant and meaningful projects that will make a difference to our beautiful region.
• Establishes and maintains positive and productive working relationships with planners, engineers, consultants, municipal and other levels of government and non-governmental organizations and can represent Metro Vancouver on various projects, committees and task forces.

This role:

• Identifies database requirements and arranges for acquisition of standard and customized data products from Statistics Canada, member municipalities, and other agencies; analyzes and evaluates data for validity and reliability; follows up with data providers to resolve problems.
• Compiles and analyzes statistics and generates projections in support of specific aspects of regional planning such as land use, housing, labour force and population; identifies data trends; interprets and explains data and presents in a suitable format.
• Develops and maintains databases; converts data from external sources into standard databases and spreadsheets; develops database formats and prepares related documentation.
• Provides assistance to planners in developing terms of reference for consultant studies and in selecting consultants; reviews proposed data sources, formats and systems for compatibility with requirements and existing resources; reviews methodology and validity of consultants’ statistical findings.
• Liaises with technical specialists on GIS mapping projects; defines project parameters, identifies and assesses data options, and establishes procedures for data collection and review; reviews results for compliance with requirements; creates geoprocessing models that form a GIS analysis workflow; creates Python scripts to automate geoprocessing workflows.
• Liaises with a variety of internal and external contacts on matters related to the work, such as planning staff of member municipalities and technical staff at government agencies and consulting firms; responds to information requests from various public and private agencies and members of the public; coordinates and participates in internal and external committee meetings to disseminate information concerning regional planning activities.
• Prepares a variety of graphic materials such as charts, tables and maps for inclusion in reports and staff presentations; uses GIS software to generate routine and non-routine spatial data queries; troubleshoots and resolves GIS problems; maintains websites and assists in the development of same.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to regional and community planning, including or supplemented by training in database management and GIS, and some related experience.
• Considerable knowledge of the sources of statistical information and of data requirements for regional planning purposes.
• Considerable knowledge of standard statistical and analytical methodology as it relates to the work performed.
• Considerable knowledge of departmental functions, objectives and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of computer processes and software used in the work (including the ability to create python scripts to automate GIS processes).
• Ability to identify and define data requirements and gather, organize, analyze, interpret and validate statistical data from a wide variety of sources (including considerable knowledge in working with rasters and raster interpolation toolsets).
• Ability to prepare a variety of graphic materials such as charts, tables and maps for data presentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to liaise with various groups or individuals on technical subjects and to participate in or coordinate meetings.
• Ability to review the research methodology and statistical findings of others for technical accuracy.

Our Vision: 

Metro Vancouver embraces collaboration and innovation in providing sustainable regional services that contribute to a livable and resilient region and a healthy natural environment for current and future generations.

Please follow this link http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/careers/ to our Careers page where you can submit your application by September 20, 2019.