Park Planning and Design Manager – City of Coquitlam

Park Planning and Design Manager

Regular Full Time

One of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningful career opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As the sixth largest city in BC, we are home to more than 150,000 residents. Our diverse municipality is a great place to work as it continues to grow through innovative urban design, inspiring arts, culture and recreation programs, and state-of-the-art transportation systems. Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible and sustainable manner, while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre. We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you!
 
The City of Coquitlam is currently seeking a passionate and forward-thinking leader to join our Parks, Recreation, Culture and Facilities Department as Park Planning and Design Manager!
 
Reporting directly to the Manager Park Planning and Forestry, this position will provide overall leadership and management to the Park Planning & Design section overseeing a team of Parks Planners, Parks Designers and GIS staff. The Park Planning and Design Manager will be instrumental in leading the City’s park planning process to undertake projects and deliver plans and policies related to the development and implementation of the City’s parkland acquisition strategy and park improvement program. The role will be responsible for navigating capital project delivery and planning processes and will be working closely with our Strategic and Capital Projects team to deliver exceptional parks projects. As well, the Park Planning and Design Manager will partner with the Development Planning division to ensure transit-oriented development in the City incorporates exceptional park spaces and elements.
 
Our next Park Planning and Design Manager will look forward to setting team priorities that are aligned with City and Departmental priorities as well as develop and implement processes, policies and tools to maintain high quality planning and design standards, monitor project progress and control spending in order to ensure efficient and effective use of allocated funds and approved budgets. Overseeing the Park Planning team will require considerable independent leadership, innovation and judgment and requires a professional with excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. The successful applicant will have the ability to work effectively with other divisions and departments, external consultants, agencies and stakeholders, including citizen groups and the Coquitlam community.
 
In addition to academic accreditation and professional qualifications in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, Recreation or Parks Administration, Business Administration and/or another relevant discipline, the successful candidate will possess a minimum of 5 years of related leadership experience, preferably within a municipal or regional government setting. Designation as a Planner, Landscape Architect or equivalent professional is considered an asset. Knowledge and experience of current trends, technologies and opportunities in the parks, recreation and culture sector is preferred.
 
Other Requirements include:

• Ability to foster a team focused, inclusive, collaborative and creative workplace.
• Experience managing staff teams in a unionized work environment including coaching, mentoring, and probationary and performance reviews.
• Experience working within or alongside municipal teams, other public sector organizations and external stakeholders including local organizations and multi levels of government.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to negotiate, influence, and liaise effectively with colleagues, members of the public and external agencies including report writing, meeting facilitation and the ability to prepare and present powerful public presentations to the public, City Council and Council Committees.
• Strong financial management skills with the ability to manage capital and operational budgets.
• Familiarity with public engagement processes and the ability to effectively manage project issues.
• Track record of success in promoting and maintaining a work environment which fosters and rewards teamwork, initiative, accountability, diversity and innovation.
• An understanding of the strategic direction of the City.

 
Good people make Coquitlam great, sign up for career alerts through our recruitment portal to stay up to date about opportunities within our team, or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about how #YouCouldWorkHere too!
 
The City offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package. Applicants under consideration may be required to undergo a police security clearance evaluation.
 
Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55pm May 26, 2021.
 
The City of Coquitlam is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.