Planner, Culture

Job Summary

The Parks and Culture Planning team consists of planners, landscape architects, and public art curators who work together to plan parks, expand parkland, grow and support culture, create vibrant public spaces through public art, lead public engagement processes for parks and culture matters, protect City park and cultural assets; and comment on behalf of the Parks, Forestry & Environment Division (PF&E) on development applications, Environmental Assessments and City realty matters.

Culture Planners are key members of the Parks and Culture Planning team.

Under the direction of the Manager, Culture Planning, the successful applicant will lead and support projects related to cultural infrastructure planning, policy and strategy development, cultural districts implementation, placemaking and more.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in or lead special studies and projects that advance the implementation of Council priorities, establish cultural policy, influence legislation and set strategic direction for the City through implementation of the 2024 Culture Plan;
• Conduct research, interpret planning legislation, and identify planning tools, partnerships and solutions to eliminate barriers and stimulate cultural growth in the city;
• Represent Culture Planning on inter-department and inter-agency strategies and land use projects to ensure a cultural lens is applied;
• Coordinate with City planning staff to ensure cultural infrastructure investments are integrated within private developments, lead or participate in feasibility studies and engagement with interested parties, and work with the development and arts communities to plan and implement new cultural spaces and places;
• Participate in the implementation of Cultural Districts in Mississauga including the coordination of placemaking projects;
• Research, prepare and present reports, summaries, fact sheets, briefing notes, memoranda, web and other media content to communicate information;
• Lead the development of strategic intelligence gathering, virtual and in-person engagement, analyzing data, trends, monitoring and reporting on planning metrics, consultations and activities as well as government and non government initiatives;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Post secondary education in Urban Planning, Geography or related discipline/demonstrated experience;
• A minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in a planning, cultural planning, policy development, arts administration or project management role; 
• Highly developed creative thinking, problem solving, research, report writing, communication, facilitation, presentation and project management skills are required;
• Ability to work well in a team environment and independently;
• Familiarity with government and the political environment, and relevant Federal and Provincial policy and legislation, notably the Ontario Planning Act;
• Knowledge of planning, heritage planning, public art, placemaking, culture and infrastructure trends, market conditions and forecasting;
• Membership or eligibility for membership with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and/or Canadian Institute of Planners is considered an asset;
• Ability to occasionally travel, perform site visits, and attend evening and weekend meetings and engagement pertaining to development applications and City projects as required;
• May require occasional lifting equipment for meetings, standing long periods of time and walking at site visits.