Why Guelph
When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.
What we offer
We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:
Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
Paid personal days;
Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
Employee and Family Assistance Program;
Parental leave top up program;
Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
Employee recognition programs.
Position Overview
Resumes are being accepted for the position of Planner III – Senior Planner within the Planning and Building Services Department. The successful candidate will be involved in a wide range of planning duties with a focus on quality customer service and continuous improvement processes. Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Strategic Plan and Values of integrity, excellence and wellness, the candidate will enhance service delivery while aiding in the achievement of the community vision – to be the city that makes a difference.
Key duties and responsibilities
Responsible for a full range of planning activities related to land use and development with a focus on complicated development matters including official plan and zoning amendments, subdivision review and approval and urban design.
Provide assessment and recommendations related to development applications as well as project management of other development related projects.
Presentations to Council and Committees on a wide variety of development application and special projects.
Coordinate the activities of technical staff and consultants in major tasks and projects including capital projects.
Present evidence at appeal hearings and other tribunals.
Facilitate public consultation and community outreach regarding development matters.
Identify and implement development related plan review improvements.
Respond to preliminary development inquiries.
Assist in the Mentoring of Planners I and II and assist co-workers in daily planning related tasks.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications and requirements
Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through a degree in Urban and Regional Planning or closely related field and a minimum 5 years’ experience in development review and project management preferably in a municipal environment. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Membership in the Ontario Professional Planner’s Institute (OPPI) and the Canadian Institute of Planning (CIP).
Experience in the application of urban design principles to development projects.
Experience in giving evidence before appeal tribunals.
Must possess a valid Class “G” driver’s licence with a good driving record. Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm their licence is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
Knowledge and skills in the application and interpretation of the Planning Act and other relevant legislations, policies and guidelines
Ability to work effectively in both team situations and with minimal supervision
Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to set priorities, solve problems, and meet deadlines.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, stakeholders and the public.
Ability to prepare presentations and present to Council, hearings and tribunals.
Ability to provide a solution oriented, customer service approach using good judgement, creativity and strategic thinking.
Ability to prepare statistical analysis, research and evaluation.
Have excellent organizational skills with the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines in a demanding environment.
Knowledge of the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
A Master’s degree in Planning or related discipline would be an asset.
Experience with Amanda would be an asset.
Hours of work35 hours per week Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Evening work would be required to attend meetings.
Pay/SalaryCUPE 973 Grade 12 Rate: $51.67 – $63.50 per hour
How to applyQualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by November 5, 2025. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered.
The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.
Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.
