Associate Director, Regional Development and Growth

**Our Story**:
Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving, and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect, and innovation.

This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.

**Our Team**:
Join a dynamic team focused on sustainability, community building and service delivery excellence.

**The Opportunity**:
Reporting to the Director, Community Planning, you will assist to direct the Division’s operational programs through strategic leadership, program development and administration, and continuous improvement. This includes Planning Act administrative functions, such as development review and approvals, specialized planning and projects, and research, data and forecasting. Continuously improves program delivery, including ongoing collaboration, coordination, and integration with other related regional services.
- You will supervise Managers, Senior Planners, and other staff as may be required, and indirectly supervise additional staff.
- You will provide leadership in the regional development review service through administration and strategic positioning.
- You will coordinate input and ensures appropriate conditions of approval are applied per regional policies, approved capital programs, and forecasts, plus ensure compliance with legislative requirements in the formulation of expert planning advice to the Region and Council.
- You will direct the implementation of regional guidelines for contaminated sites and brownfield incentive programs.
- You will lead the collection, integration, analysis, mapping, and distribution of key community and land use data to support forecasting, sustainable growth, integrated growth management for land use, infrastructure, and service delivery planning.
- You will be the lead support for integrated regional systems through policy development, development review and approvals, forecasting, and service delivery planning by integrated service delivery within the Division, across departments, and in collaboration with senior staff/leadership at area municipalities.
- You will lead the development of recommendations, information, and advice, and presents land-use planning studies, projects, and reports to the corporate leadership team, Council, other levels of governments, interest groups; planning, engineering, and legal consultants; landowners; universities; and the media and lead the technical and strategic direction of and present briefing materials, reports, and information to corporate leadership, stakeholders, and Council.
- You will develop positions, communications strategies and responds to requests/inquiries from community groups, Council, landowners, the media, and the public.
- Performs related duties as required.
- Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a Master's Degree in Planning or equivalent professional degree, plus significant progressively responsible leadership, professional, and technical experience as a professional planner.
- Comprehensive knowledge of land use, environmental and servicing planning, development procedures, planning information systems, and analytical and research techniques and methodologies.
- Must have full membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners.
- Thorough knowledge of pertinent legislation, policies, and standards (e.g., Planning Act, Municipal Act, Aggregate Resources Act, Development Charges Act, Environmental Assessment Act).
- Demonstrated political acuity, including ability to use influence in a highly complex regulatory environment to positively impact decisions, and obtain resources and approvals while also considering the impact of decisions on other parts of the organization and community.
- Leadership skills to direct, develop, motivate, and support staff, and to plan, organize, and effectively direct the operation of the unit while building a cohesive, high-performing team.
- Ability to lead transformative change in line with the vision and values of senior leadership while delivering on the expectations of an evolving workforce and regional residents. Ability to discern when to inquire, advocate, drive, or resolve more decisively.
- Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
- Ability to adjust schedule to attend evening meetings.
- Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

**Additional Information**:
We thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview.

The Region of Waterloo is an equal-opportunity em