Planner in Training

Job Summary

The City of Mississauga is looking to fill two Planner in Training (PIT) positions, one in Development and Design and the other in Building Division - Zoning.

City of Mississauga's Planner in Training Program is an exciting opportunity for recent graduates to gain valuable experience in the municipal planning process, in areas such as development application review, land use planning, planning policy, plans review, by-law review, research and analysis and counter support.

The Planner in Training (PIT) program is a 36-month term that sees the Planning in Training rotate through various Divisions in the Planning and Building Department to gain a ‘big picture’ perspective of the department, build relationships across Divisions and Departments, and develop a multi-disciplinary set of skills.

Planners in Training are supported on their journey towards obtaining their RPP and MCIP accreditation through the following:

• Annual OPPI and CIP membership fees
• One ethics course registration
• One OPPI exam fee
• Mentorship opportunities

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the relevant Manager within the Planning and Building department, over the duration of the program, the successful candidate will:

• Review and interpret zoning by-laws and development applications, respond to inquiries, support recommendation reports and attend committee meetings
• Conduct research and analysis on municipal planning and development matters including best practices and provincial legislative changes.
• Prepare written documents (e.g. reports, memorandums, letters) to support projects and respond to inquiries.
• Create or update and analyze statistical and financial data sets and corresponding visual representations of data and analysis, as required.
• Assist with community and stakeholder engagement initiatives including recording meeting notes and facilitating discussions.
• Support implementation of the City’s official plan policies, zoning by-law regulations and development programs
• Review media and Council agendas (City and Region and their relevant sub-committees) to monitor planning trends, issues, and matters of strategic importance to the City.
• Contribute to projects and Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings by completing components of projects and participating on multidisciplinary internal and external teams, as assigned.
• Conduct site visits, as required.
• Provide internal and external customer service support on development applications, planning policies and regulations, as assigned.
• Maintain electronic records and reports in accordance with the City’s policies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• University/College degree in Planning, Urban Geography or a related discipline with some prior experience (e.g. internship, junior planner) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• In the process of obtaining, or eligible to obtain, related professional designation e.g. RPP, MCIP. Provisional profession candidates are preferred.
• Demonstrated general knowledge of municipal regulations and policies and relevant provincial legislation including the Planning and Municipal Acts.
  Demonstrated ability to design, conduct and complete a research assignment.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service and conflict resolution including the tact to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and senior level management.
• Ability to read development plans or building drawings in order to be able to assess the plans against  the planning policies and zoning regulations.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to draft clear and concise documents.
• Promote and contribute to a supportive team environment while being self-motivated and cooperative with a demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work and adapt in a fast-paced environment with a demonstrated ability to maintain organization and exercise critical thinking, independent judgment, and problem-solving while managing competing tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Must demonstrate and act in accordance with the City’s Corporate Values of Trust, Quality and Excellence,including displaying integrity and sound moral and ethical principles.
• Experience working with financial information is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated computer skills with MS Office suite of products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Proficiency with GIS or design programs is considered an asset.
• Must have the ability to travel and provide own transportation in order to conduct site visits or attend meetings in multiple locations, as required.