Commissioner of Growth and Community Services

Nestled on the powerful Bay of Fundy, Saint John is a beautiful, historic, and vibrantly urban city – surrounded by breathtaking and rejuvenating nature experiences. Those who live in or visit Canada’s first incorporated city, are sure to be caught up in its gorgeous historic architecture, eclectic shops and restaurants, and rich arts and culture. With an abundance of natural attractions – between the tides of the Bay of Fundy, the nature trails of Rockwood Park, and the relaxing pockets of historic urban parks – the land allows the opportunity to breathe deeply and enjoy a pause from the city’s energy.

As one of the most innovative planning cities in Canada, Saint John is growing and is well-positioned for the continued prosperity of residents and future business prospects. During this time of growth, the City of Saint John is searching for a new Commissioner of Growth and Community Services to join the senior leadership team.

Position Profile

Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Commissioner of Growth and Community Services is a member of the executive leadership team and is a senior leader who guides service delivery across the corporation while also having accountability for operational delivery in the City’s Growth and Community Services service area. This position is responsible for the strategic leadership and service excellence in the delivery of the Growth and Community Services portfolio, supporting the organization in driving a culture of smart growth, and achieving the community’s vision for a more sustainable and livable Saint John. The work this team does will facilitate growth, development, and community programs and initiatives that enhance the quality of life where people want to live, work, and invest in the community.

The Commissioner of Growth and Community Services is accountable for a broad range of services within the Growth & Community Services Area including Growth, Economic Development, Immigration coordination, Community Planning, Heritage Conservation, Recreation and Arts and Culture programming, Neighborhood and Community Development, the Saint John City Market, and other service areas as designated by the Chief Administrative Officer.

Ideal Candidate Profile

As the ideal candidate, you are an experienced professional planner with a degree in urban planning/design, as well as a reasonable level of knowledge of municipal planning and development. You possess a minimum of ten years of progressive leadership responsibility in the field of urban planning and relevant experience working within a large, complex, multistakeholder, preferably unionized environment. In addition to strong business and financial acumen, you possess a knowledge and understanding of the administrative and community context of community planning and development regulations. Full membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners and eligibility for licensing to practice in New Brunswick are required.

You are a well-respected, strategic, and visionary leader, who can formulate a vision and turn it into strategies and action plans that will enable the organization to effectively navigate change and achieve its objectives. With superior communication and relationship-building skills, you generate and debate ideas with tact and practicality. You are process-oriented yet open-minded and flexible and you can anticipate and plan for evolving needs and priorities. A natural collaborator and relationship builder, you are capable of inspiring effort and trust amongst members of your team along with the community. You have a surplus of ideas and energy as well as the credentials, reputation, and confidence to publicly represent the Growth and Community Services portfolio on behalf of the City and to develop proactive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders such as key influencers from government, community organizations and the development community.

How to Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply online at http://www.kbrs.ca/Career/17439. For more information or to ask any questions, please contact Alyssa Fleming at afleming@kbrs.ca, Erin MacDonald at emacdonald@kbrs.ca or Katherine Risley at krisley@kbrs.ca.

The City of Saint John is an Equal Opportunity Employer. They are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live and which we serve. They encourage and support applications from Indigenous, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups. Candidates who belong to such groups, and who are qualified, will be given preference at the time of selection.

KBRS will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to our team.