City of New Westminster

The City has an exciting and challenging opportunity for a Senior Heritage Planner to join the Planning Division of the Climate Action, Planning and Development Department. New Westminster has a strong sense of historic identity, and values, promotes and protects its heritage assets. The City has adopted ambitious heritage policies, and utilizes a range of heritage protection and tools to manage change to properties with heritage value.

Reporting to the Supervisor of Land Use Planning, this temporary full time position will provide input and advice to development planning colleagues, ensuring that consideration is given to heritage policies and opportunities in the development application review process. Alongside the City’s Heritage Planning Analyst, this position will also contribute to the ongoing development and updating of the City’s heritage policy; ensure heritage principles are integrated into other City policies and projects; and represent the City on heritage related initiatives and matters.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Ensuring consideration is given to heritage principles, policies and opportunities in the development application review process. Specific duties will include:
  • evaluating heritage buildings, statements of significance, and conservation plans;
  • analyzing and advising on the balance achieved between the benefit to the City of both retention and restoration of a heritage building along with achieving equity benefits associated with creating more choices in the housing market, and the benefit to the owner achieved by City superseding zoning regulations with the intent of making it viable to conserve the property;
  • communicating the heritage elements of projects, and other co-benefits of a development project, to Council and City committees;
  • reviewing Heritage Revitalization Agreements and Designation Bylaws while working to ensure that other City requirements and policies are met in any development projects that are recommended to Council. 
• Performing on-site inspections related to heritage conservation elements of restoration projects, and verify site reviews conducted on construction sites by consulting heritage professionals.
• Acting as a staff liaison to the City’s Community Heritage Commission.
• Providing guidance to staff as they respond to heritage related inquiries.
• Overseeing junior staff as they process Heritage Alteration Permits and evaluate Demolitions Permits for buildings older than 50 years.
• Coordinating the heritage elements of City-led projects.
• Contributing to the ongoing development and updating of the City’s heritage policy.
• Assisting in layering on an equity lens over the climate action lens in relation heritage initiatives implemented by the City.
• Ensuring heritage principles are integrated into other City policies and projects.

If you have the following characteristics and qualifications, we want to hear from you.

• Master’s Degree in Conservation Technology, Cultural Resource Management, Planning, Architecture, or a related field, and related public, non-profit, or private sector work experience.
• Full membership in the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), ICOMOS Canada, and/or the Planning Institute of British Columbia. Consideration will also be given to those who are eligible for full membership in the above institutes.
• Advanced knowledge of best practices in heritage conservation and adaptive reuse, including relevant experience implementing UNESCO Charters and the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.
• Considerable knowledge of heritage legislation, policy and processes in British Columbia, including Heritage Conservation Areas, Heritage Designation, Heritage Revitalization Agreements, and Heritage Alteration Permits.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural and landscape drawings and renderings.
• Knowledge of the Local Government Act in relation to Official Community Plans, Zoning Bylaws, and Development Permit Areas is an asset.
• Experience in development planning or the municipal development approvals process is an asset.
• Ability to communicate complex matters clearly in verbal and written form to different audiences, including community members, Council and City committees.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgement and identify creative solutions in a fast paced work environment while managing multiple tasks.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts on matters related to the work.
• Ability to plan, assign and supervise the work of staff and to lead project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines.

Apply by sending your cover letter and resume in one document quoting the competition number, by May 18, 2022 to the Human Resources Department, City of New Westminster, 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC, V3L 1H9, e-mail to hr@newwestcity.ca using the following format in the subject line: LAST NAME First Name #22-80

To support a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community; women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversity of our workforce, are encouraged to express their interest. New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halq'eméylem-speaking peoples. It is acknowledged by the City that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.

We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position is only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada.