Finding Planning Professionals

Planners and other consultants are often located in a different community unless you are in a larger center. The single most effective tool for advertising a planning position is over the Internet.

Some suggested locations frequented by professional planners include:

• your municipal website or your municipal association's website.
• the Canadian Institute of Planners (NOTE: Ads for junior planners [less than 2 years experience] are normally free with CIP).
• the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute.
• University job boards, especially between February and May.

Professionals who relocate to a new community are attracted by challenge, quality of life, access to recreation and social amenities. It is important to inform potential candidates of what the community has to offer and how they can contribute.

Note: This may not be as important when contracting services, but it helps to establish the type of municipality they will be working with.

Saskatchewan is growing and many registered professional planners are busy. Establishing reasonable and clear deadlines will assist a professional planner considering your municipality and help you manage your project more efficiently from the beginning.

A municipality requiring short-term assistance to prepare a new/revised official community plan or zoning bylaw may directly contact private sector firms offering planning services or send out an RFP.

Once you have prepared an RFP, you would advertise it like a job posting or mail to selected private sector firms.

Another advantage of internet advertising is the increased space you have to advertise your position or project. This allows you to submit a full-page advertisement for the same cost as several brief lines, with enough detail to fully describe the opportunity.

Sample 1: Staff Municipal or District Planner

The Elm Planning District -- Municipal / District Planner

Position - Full Time /Part Time [hours/week] /Term [Length of Term]
Closing Date - Month Day Year (recommend posting for minimum of 30 days)

The Community / Organization

We have an exciting career opportunity for an innovative, results oriented individual. The Elm Planning District, comprising four Rural Municipalities, three Resort Villages and the Town of Elm with a combined population of 8,300+ residents is nestled along the Woodland Valley surrounding Blue Spruce Lake just 65 km north of Forest City.

The Potential / Focus

The Elm Planning District is among the fastest growing resort areas of Saskatchewan. Located in the heart of central Saskatchewan's cottage country we expect to double our population over the next 20 years. We are committed to maintaining our enviable lifestyle, the health of our lake system and exploring orderly and beneficial economic development opportunities within this dynamic region. The Elm Planning District is committed to being a sustainable region. Our new District Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws need to be prepared or reviewed to ensure they meet regional goals, local objectives and provincial priorities.

The Duties

As the District Planner, your role is to assist each council in guiding and managing growth and effectively coordinate the District's strategic land use and development planning. This position will work closely with local developers, the Central Enterprise Region and the Community Planning Branch of the Ministry of Government Relations; the subdivision approving authority for the District. The incumbent will provide research and professional advice to the Elm Planning District Commission and facilitate discussion and development of new inter-municipal recreation and municipal reserve agreements.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A bachelor degree in Regional and Urban Planning, or a related degree, and a minimum of XX years planning experience. A combination of applicable education and experience may be considered.
• At least two years working in a municipal or provincial planning environment.
• Advanced public relations, and written / oral communication skills are required.
• Full membership in the CIP and SPPI is required.

Salary Range: $XX, XXX to $XX, XXX annually, plus a comprehensive benefit package and participation in Municipal Employees' Pension Plan.

Please submit resumes and copies of accreditation by Month Day, Year [closing date] to:

The Town of Elm
Human Resources
Re: Municipal / District Planner
PO Box 123, #5 Main Street
ELM SK  H0H 0H0
Fax: 306-555-PLAN
Email: [insert email address here]

Review our website at [website here] for more detailed information on this position, our organization and the community. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Sample 2: Development Officer / Junior Planner

The Town of Elm - Development Officer / Junior Planner

Position - Full Time /Part Time [hours/week] /Term [Length of Term]
Closing Date - Month Day Year (recommend posting for minimum of 30 days)

The Community / Organization

We have an exciting career opportunity for a proficient, outcome oriented junior planning professional. The Town of Elm with a population of over 3,200 residents is centrally located between Forest City and Blue Spruce Provincial Park along Highway #123 nestled in the beautiful rolling country side near Woodland Valley. Elm is the service center for approximately 8,300 people with a mix of retail, commercial, industrial enterprise and is an excellent location for regional tourism at any time of the year.

The Focus

Elm is experiencing significant development pressure due to nearby oil and gas development, future potential potash mining and regional tourism. It is expected that within 20 years the economic potential of the region and the Town's central location will allow Elm to grow in population and diversify our current tourism and service based economy. Elm is part of the Elm Planning District and will be updating its Official Community Plan for consistency with the District Plan. We are seeking a junior planner to assist with development permit applications, discretionary use proposals, zoning amendments, negotiate servicing agreements and assist the District Planner with issues related to annexation and preparing the District Official Community Plan.

The Position

The Development Officer / Junior Planner will report directly to the Town Administrator and will fulfill a variety of other duties as required. The position will be responsible for providing reports to Council on zoning and development items and will coordinate with local developers and the Community Planning Branch, Ministry of Government Relations on subdivision proposals and servicing agreements.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A planning related bachelor degree and two years planning experience is preferred.
• A combination of applicable education and experience may be considered; those with less than two years experience may be considered at the alternate pay scale.
• Proficient written and oral communication skills.
• Full or Candidate membership in the CIP and SPPI.

Salary Range: $XX, XXX to $XX, XXX annually, plus a comprehensive benefit package and participation in Municipal Employees' Pension Plan.
Alternate Scale: $XX, XXX to $XX, XXX annually, plus a comprehensive benefit package and participation in Municipal Employees' Pension Plan.

Please submit resumes and copies of accreditation by Month Day, Year [closing date] to:

The Town of Elm
Human Resources
Re: Development Officer / Junior Planner
PO Box 123, #5 Main Street
ELM SK  H0H 0H0
Fax: 306-555-PLAN
Email: [insert email address here]