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;
• Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
• 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.

The successful candidate in the Planner 1 - Environmental role will be involved in a range of planning duties with respect to environmental and natural heritage policy. The main aspect of the role will be review of development applications. Additional opportunities in the role will include participation in research; preparation of reports, technical guidelines, and presentations; public outreach; support of City projects as a technical expert; and supporting various departmental initiatives. Guided by the goals and objectives of the City of Guelph Corporate Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the successful candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Review and prepare recommendations for development applications (including committee of adjustment and site plans, plans of subdivision, official plan and zoning by-law amendments) based on review of associated technical supporting studies (including, but not limited to, Environmental Impact Studies, Environmental Implementation Reports, stormwater management and water balance reports, and Tree Preservation/Conservation Plans) to ensure conformity with relevant environmental legislation, policies, regulations and guidelines.
• Assist with the development of education and awareness programs, implementation guidelines, and technical manuals with respect to environmental policy and development processes.
• Conduct research, formulate policy and planning reviews with respect to long range policy planning initiatives and projects such as Official Plan updates, watershed and subwatershed studies, servicing and stormwater masterplans, and environmental assessments.
• Provide evidence before the Ontario Land Tribunal and other tribunals, as required.
• Participate in public consultation and community outreach.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and requirements

• A degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a focus in Environmental Planning, Environmental Sciences or closely related field and 2 – 3 years environmental planning, environmental consulting, or planning experience related to the duties above. Experience in a municipal environment may be considered an asset. Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must possess a valid ‘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 of environmental and planning policy and legislation including Ecological Land Classification System, natural heritage, water resources and natural hazards policies of the Provincial Planning Statement, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Clean Water Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Conservation Authorities Act, the Planning Act, the Species at Risk Act, and relevant Provincial and Federal regulations and guidelines.
• Membership or eligible for membership (including candidate membership) in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute or Canadian Institute of Planners.
• Ability to work effectively in both a team situation and independently, with minimal supervision.
• Ability to provide solution-oriented customer service using good judgment, creativity, strategic thinking and effective communication.
• Ability to conduct research, evaluate options and develop recommendations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a demanding environment.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office (Power Point, Word and Excel) skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, stakeholders and the general public.
• Experience with GIS would be an asset.
• Experience with preparing Environmental Impact Statements would be an asset.

Hours of work
35 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to attend meetings and events.

Pay/Salary
CUPE 973 Grade 10: $42.91 - $52.66 per hour

How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by September 17, 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.