City of Richmond

Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Affordable Housing, the Planner 3 position performs advanced professional planning work at a senior level within the Housing Office. The Planner 3 is responsible for advancing affordable housing developments supported by financial feasibility analyses, funding evaluation, site constraints review, community consultation, development approvals, and partnerships. The Planner 3 will have experience in affordable housing development and analysis and will be capable of overseeing the progress of development activities. The incumbent is a highly experienced planner responsible for making strategic recommendations on matters relating to affordable housing development, operations, and housing policy.

Examples of key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting pro forma analyses on a range of affordable and mixed-income housing projects, including assessing funding gaps, testing development scenarios, and evaluating trade-offs across hard and soft construction costs, land costs, financing structures, rent revenues, and operating expenses. This work may require the retention of consultants and associated contract (budget) oversight and project coordination.
• Leading complex affordable housing development and policy initiatives considering local housing needs, site constraints, community context, and overall development feasibility.
• Advancing changes to service delivery processes to realize improved operational efficiencies requiring collaborative relationship building with a range of internal departments. 
• Leading affordable housing development on City-owned land through proactive and ongoing engagement with department leads and other partners including consultants, senior levels of government, and non-profit housing operators.
• Supporting the creation of housing policy, informed by an understanding of planning law and regulations, industry trends, market conditions, development constraints, and other factors.
• Presenting housing initiatives with professionalism and tact at Committee and Council.
• Responsible for mentoring other professional planning staff on planning matters as well as providing strategic input. 
• Other duties as required.
   

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external parties including developers and small homebuilders, non-profit housing operators, funding agencies, and the public.
• Ability to engage department representatives to advance the initiatives of the Housing Office while proactively leading improvements to overall service levels and department processes.
• Ability to manage housing developments from the early stages of funding procurement, technical due diligence, conceptual design, public engagement, development approvals, detailed design, construction, and occupancy.
• Ability to oversee construction progress and proactively seek to remedy City-related issues by working with internal and external parties, doing so with courtesy, tact and discretion.
• Ability to present complex initiatives to senior management, focused on desired objectives, risks (including political & reputational), timelines, financial impacts, and other matters.
• Ability to prepare and present reports to Committees and Council while communicating complex subjects with clarity, professionalism and tact, considering the political sensitivity and community interest in housing issues.
• Strong communicative and writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to validate and justify housing initiatives using data and other information informed through research and engagement with industry peers and other practicing professionals.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments.
• Skill and proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel using the SharePoint web platform.
• Ability to use REDMS or a similar Records Management System.
   

Qualifications and Experience:

• University graduation in Planning, Economics, Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline, preferably supplemented by a Masters Degree.
• A minimum five (5) years of experience in housing development, land use planning, or financing.
• Experience in a municipal or senior government setting is preferred.
• Eligibility or Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and Planning Institute of B.C. (PIBC) is desirable.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence for the Province of British Columbia.
   

Working Conditions:

Work is primarily office-based, with occasional field work required.

Please APPLY here: https://tre.tbe.taleo.net/tre01/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=TRQS8M&cws=37&rid=2832