Director, Strategic Planning and Design
Halifax
- Halifax, NS
- 128.850-157.480 $ par an
- Permanent
- Temps-plein
Reporting to the Executive Director of Parks & Recreation, the Director of Strategic Planning and Design is responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of corporate initiatives, long-term planning, and capital investment strategies that guide the future of parks and recreation infrastructure across the municipality. This includes oversight of policy development, master plans, facility planning, and the design and implementation of major capital projects. The Director also provides strategic direction on assessing recreation needs, including parkland acquisition, facility refurbishment, and new infrastructure development.The Director oversees the Parks Asset Management Program and is accountable for prioritizing capital investments and supporting life cycle planning for both new and aging infrastructure. The Director plays a key role in ensuring that capital planning is aligned with fiscal realities and long-term municipal goals. The role includes responsibility for over $20 million in capital projects, $2 million in annual expenditures, and additional funds leveraged through strategic partnerships. The Director fosters strong relationships with residents, Council, internal departments, and external stakeholders and partners to support inclusive, sustainable, and responsive infrastructure planning.The Director aligns divisional priorities and leadership with the Municipality's Strategic Plan and municipal vision, mission, and values. They ensure the division's work supports long-term municipal goals, contributes to measurable outcomes, and reinforces a workplace culture where employees understand how their work makes a difference in the region.Key Responsibilities and PrioritiesStrategic Recreation & Infrastructure Planning
Leads the assessment of recreation needs, including parkland acquisition and disposal, facility development, and refurbishment to meet current and future community demand.Capital Planning & Project Delivery
Oversees the planning, design, and delivery of parks capital projects, ensuring alignment with community needs, corporate priorities, and fiscal constraints.Financial & Capital Budget Oversight
Manages significant capital and operating budgets, approves expenditures, and prioritizes annual capital submissions based on asset condition, growth pressures, and Council direction.Policy, Governance & Continuous Improvement
Oversees the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and performance measures, including municipal cultural strategies, polices and programs while monitoring service delivery and driving continuous improvement across planning and capital functions.Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
Builds collaborative relationships with internal departments, Councillors, residents, and external partners, and represents the division at Council, public forums, and professional engagements.Leadership, People Management & Culture
Provides clear direction to teams, sets performance expectations, oversees recruitment and retention (directly and through managers), and fosters a respectful, inclusive environment that aligns with municipal values and prioritizes employee wellbeing.Equity, Compliance & Organizational Stewardship
Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of planning and operations, while ensuring compliance with health and safety, human resources policies, collective agreements, and labour relations requirements.The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced public sector leader with a university degree in Business Management, Public Administration, Recreation, or a related field (a master's degree or graduate level credential is considered an asset). They bring 5-7 years of progressive senior management experience and a strong record of advancing complex initiatives within government. Combining broad, generalist expertise with sound judgment and political acuity, the candidate demonstrates a long term strategic perspective balanced by a strong understanding of how short- and medium-term actions deliver sustainable outcomes.They work collaboratively across departments while effectively advancing Parks & Recreation priorities in cross-government settings, balancing cooperation and persuasion. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded in their approach to strategy, policy, and community engagement. They consistently apply an equity lens to planning and decision-making, particularly within culturally significant and community-focused portfolios.The candidate has strong communication skills and the ability to articulate the public interest clearly and constructively. The candidate's values align closely with the municipality's organizational values. They bring the credibility, judgment, and drive required to lead next-generation parks and recreation strategies.Skills and Attributes
- Demonstrated knowledge of recreation programming and leisure service delivery, including awareness of trends and issues that impact community services and outcomes.
- Strong strategic and operational planning skills to support effective, sustainable, and responsive service delivery.
- Proven proficiency in budget development, financial management, and resource allocation within complex, multi stakeholder environments.
- Competence in using modern business technologies and digital tools, with the ability to evaluate and implement new systems or innovations.
- Solid understanding of human resource management, labour relations, and leading people in a unionized or public sector context.
- Strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and high quality customer service in policy development, service delivery, and workplace culture.
The core competencies needed for success in this role:
- Valuing Diversity
- Decision Making
- Networking/Relationship Building
- Visioning, Strategic Thinking & Innovation