Planning Officer, Environmental Policy

Job Brief
The Planning Officer, Environmental Policy is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the City’s environment and climate priorities, including the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan (KLHEP).

Employment Status:
Permanent Full time

Union:
NON-UNION

Open To:
Internal/External Applicant(s)

Closing Date:
15/04/24

Duration (if temporary):
N/A

The City of Kawartha Lakes invites applications to join our team as a Planning Officer, Environmental Policy.
When you come to work for the City of Kawartha Lakes, you are joining a community of municipal workers who take pride in knowing that every day you are having a positive impact in the community. Our mission is to deliver the highest standards of municipal services while creating a healthy and sustainable future for all Kawartha Lakes’ residents and businesses. We work to our values of Accountability, Respect and Teamwork and we want you to Jump In with us!!
We are an equal opportunity employer which values equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. We foster a safe and creative work environment, where training and skill development are prioritized, with opportunities and support for career advancement. As a team member at the City of Kawartha Lakes, you may be entitled to the following: flexible work hours, remote and hybrid working arrangements, OMERS pension (defined benefit), employer paid benefits package including short and long term disability income replacement, education reimbursement and other programs that foster innovation, leadership, and career advancement.

Salary $97,208 - $113,705 (2024)

Reports To Director, Development Services

Department Corporate Services
Location Lindsay, ON

Hours Full-time, 37.5 hours per week with core working hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm

Other Combination of general office environment and occasional off-site travel. Attend meetings, such as Council, conferences and departmental emergency situations, which may be outside of normal business hours.

Position Summary
This position is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the City’s environment and climate priorities, including the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan (KLHEP). Specifically, this involves either leading, or advising other business units on the implementation and integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation into various City processes, business and strategic plans in order to prepare the City for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and to drive municipal operational and institutional changes that lead to operational savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce municipal energy consumption, and safeguard the environmental health of the Kawartha Lakes.
This position will also coordinate the identification and management of climate risks and opportunities, and will represent the City at a senior level by overseeing community engagement focused on environmental and climate initiatives.

Essential Duties

Specific to this role:

• Facilitate and project manage the implementation of strategies and climate actions of the Kawartha Lakes Healthy Environment Plan (KLHEP), focused on increasing corporate climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of areas, including but not limited to facilities, solid waste, municipal fleet, land use planning and municipal operations

• Develop and implement corporate policies, guidelines, programs, and regulations to protect and enhance municipal climate adaptation, mitigation, and energy conservation, while helping to integrate environmental and climate considerations and costs in the budget forecast and long-range financial plans

• Manage grant applications, energy incentives, respond to legislation changes; seek out and develop grant applications to support programs, infrastructure and policy development that will achieve the Municipality’s climate action goals

• Monitor short-term, medium and long-term trends, risks, impacts, liabilities, and opportunities to identify potential actions and continuous improvements

• Prepare, on a frequent basis, reports and presentations to Committees, Council, Senior Management Team, and other key internal and external stakeholders regarding matters related to corporate and/or community climate resilience, Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions reduction and municipal climate leadership

• Guide the preparation of Terms of Reference for complex projects and oversee the work of external consultants

• Adhere to climate change reporting and disclosure requirements; establish and coordinate a quantitative and qualitative data collection process for climate change and carbon budgeting/reporting process

• Serve as the Municipality’s representative on matters related to climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Conduct climate research and analysis to assist in the development of land use, transportation, building, environmental, financial, and administrative policies and regulations

• Conduct climate risk audits and annual GHG emissions reports and energy conservation and demand management tracking

• Manage special projects, as requested

As a member of the* strategic* leadership* team:*

• Lead or advise other business units on the implementation and integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation into various City processes, business and strategic plans

• Establish and maintain detailed knowledge on current markets, best practices and technologies related to environment and climate

• Manage stakeholder interactions in the supply and receipt of information, analysis and resolution of issues

• Partner with internal process or program owner to share program objectives, analyze gaps, provide advice on actions to be incorporated in other’s processes, act as a champion for Environmental Policy

• Manage customer service concerns, investigating, problem solving and responding as appropriate

• Maintain documentation, databases and corporate records in accordance with policy and divisional practice; consider legislative municipal requirements such as the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)

• Procure services and goods related to areas of responsibility

• Contribute to the development of annual program needs

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Land Use Planning or a related field

• Minimum five (5) years of related progressive experience, preferably in a municipal environment, including knowledge of climate change, energy issues and sustainable development within a municipal context

• Knowledge in the areas of energy efficiency, GHG emissions reduction strategies, climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable development, natural environment, and asset management

• Willing to participate in ongoing development, training and additional certifications as appropriate for the position

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of financial budget and business planning processes

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, which include preparation of technical and administrative reports, and extensive experience of addressing public forums

• Demonstrated professional and ethical responsibility to protect privacy, use confidential information appropriately, treat sensitive situations with appropriate degree of tact and discretion

• Demonstrated customer-service and interpersonal skills at a level to develop and to maintain cooperative/collaborative working relationships both within and outside the organization

• Excellent time-management skills with the ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines, and the ability to deal with multiple demands

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of applications, the internet, and any other related software

• Possess and maintain a valid Ontario Class “G” Driver’s License or the ability to frequently attend work related activities at various sites within the municipalities or at other sites within Ontario

• Upon a conditional offer of employment, a Criminal Record Check will be required

Applicants must be prepared for skill testing.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $97,208.00-$113,705.00 per year