Manager of Planning & Development and Community Services

Position Details:

Employer: MD of Lesser Slave River No. 124

Location: Slave Lake, AB

Industry: Municipal Government

Position Outline:

The Municipal District (MD) of Lesser Slave River No. 124 (www.mdlsr.ca) is one of Alberta's premier rural municipalities, offering an exceptional combination of economic opportunity, natural beauty, and an outstanding quality of life.  Located approximately three hours north of Edmonton, the MD encompasses more than 10,000 square kilometres of boreal forest, agricultural lands, lakes, rivers, and resource-rich landscapes surrounding the Town of Slave Lake, one of northern Alberta's key regional service centres.  Municipal administration is headquartered adjacent to Slave Lake, with a second administrative office in the Hamlet of Flatbush, ensuring responsive service delivery across this expansive municipality.

Home to approximately 3,000 residents, the MD includes vibrant hamlets (Canyon Creek, Chisholm, Flatbush, Marten Beach, Smith, Wagner, and Widewater), rural neighbourhoods, agricultural operations, recreational developments, and industrial areas.  Supported by a resilient and diversified economy rooted in forestry, agriculture, energy, transportation, tourism, and entrepreneurship, Lesser Slave River continues to build on its strategic location along Highway 2 and its strong regional connections.  Residents enjoy safe communities, an exceptional outdoor lifestyle, and a powerful sense of local pride, while businesses benefit from a supportive environment and access to northern markets.

The MD of Lesser Slave River is recognized for its commitment to responsible governance, sound fiscal management, strategic planning, and exceptional public service.  Council and Administration have fostered a collaborative organizational culture built on transparency, innovation, and respectful relationships, while maintaining a clear focus on sustainable growth and delivering high-quality municipal services that meet the evolving needs of residents, businesses, and the broader region.

The Manager of Planning & Development and Community Services is a newly created leadership position responsible for advancing Council’s strategic priorities while safeguarding the MD’s assets through effective bylaws. Policies, practices, and service delivery processes. 

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources and Corporate Services, the Manager provides strategic leadership, operational oversights, and program management for a diverse portfolio of municipal services, including Planning & Development, community grants, FCSS, cemeteries, custodial services, and municipal libraries.  The position directly supervises four staff members, including a Planning & Development Officer, Senior Peace Officer, and two Administrative Support roles located in Flatbush and Slave Lake.

The Manager ensures programs, facilities, and services are delivered efficiently, sustainably, and in alignment with Council priorities, legislative requirements, and community needs.  The role builds strong community partnerships, leads collaborative initiatives, supports long-term planning, and brings extensive knowledge and experience in municipal planning and development.

The Manager is required through a Council motion to act as the Municipal Planning Commission signing authority.  A primary role of this position is responsible for supporting the municipality in land use planning, development approvals, and regulatory compliance.  Other key functions include: 

Leadership & Administrative

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to departmental staff, ensuring services and financial deliverables are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with municipal procedures.
• Review and update departmental bylaws, policies, business practices, strategies, and administrative guidelines to ensure legislative compliance and support continuous improvement, providing recommendations to the Director of HR and Corporate Services, the CAO, and other members of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of departmental financial, statistical, and grant reporting for external agencies, including the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Government of Alberta (i.e., Municipal Affairs and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency), funding organizations, and partners.
• Complete special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Planning & Development

• Provide strategic leadership for long-term community planning, land use management, and development review.
• Lead and oversee the Planning & Development Department.
• Oversee planning and development permit and application processes in collaboration with the Planning & Development Officer.

Community Services

• Oversee the FCSS Program, Community Assistance Program, and other community funding initiatives.
• Serve as the municipal liaison for libraries, seniors' services, recreation, social, cultural, educational, and athletic organizations, and programs.
• Direct the operation of municipally owned community facilities, including arenas (Canyon Creek), community complexes (Widewater, Smith, and Flatbush), rentals, bookings, and related programs.
• Manage intermunicipal service agreements, including the Visitor Information Centre, recreation, and Legacy Centre agreements.
• Develop, maintain, and oversee Memoranda of Understanding with community organizations.
• Lead the strategic planning and enhancement of parks, recreation facilities, and community programming to meet evolving community needs.
• Oversee the development and delivery of recreation programs and events for residents.
• Manage departmental budgets, allocate resources effectively, and actively pursue grant and alternative funding opportunities.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and government partners.
• Ensure compliance with applicable municipal, provincial, and federal legislation, regulations, safety standards, and environmental requirements.

Cemeteries

• Support the Community Services team and community groups in effective management of the Cemeteries portfolio.

Libraries

• Provide strategic oversight of municipal library services in partnership with the Peace Library System, ensuring alignment with community needs and Council priorities.
• Support library boards and staff with budgeting, programming, policy development, and long-term planning.
• Promote literacy, lifelong learning, and equitable access to library resources and services.

Community Engagement

• Build strong relationships with community organizations, businesses, residents, and regional partners.
• Communicate department initiatives effectively and respond to public inquiries with professionalism and transparency.

The Manager of Planning & Development and Community Services will possess the following to be successful:

• Demonstrated leadership skills in orienting, training, mentoring, and directing Planning & Development and Community Services staff.
• Ability to build positive, professional relationships with developers, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public through effective communication and diplomacy.
• Strong project management skills with experience leading complex, high-profile, large-scale, and time-sensitive initiatives.
• Ability to interpret architectural drawings, real property reports, site plans, Alberta Building Code requirements, and conduct calculations to assess regulatory compliance.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service while balancing stakeholder needs with municipal priorities.
• Excellent organizational, written, verbal communication, and report-writing skills.
• Proven problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Positive, approachable, and purposeful with a strong work ethic and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Commitment to active participation and engagement within the local community.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Post-secondary education in Planning & Development or an equivalent combination of education and experience — Required.
• Minimum two years of experience in a senior leadership role, preferably within a municipal or public-sector environment — Required.
• Experience collaborating with elected officials, boards, or governance bodies — Asset.
• Knowledge of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), provincial regulations, environmental legislation, municipal bylaws, and related planning policies — Required.
• Municipal Governance Certificate or related governance training — Required.
• Membership in, or eligibility for, the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI) and Registered Professional Planner (RPP) designation — Preferred.
• Training in International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), advanced leadership development, and Incident Command System (ICS 100, 200, 300) - Assets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to prepare and manage a variety of documents, reports, and spreadsheets — Required.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively under pressure and within a team environment — Required.

A competitive compensation package will be provided for the successful candidate.  This includes an attractive and competitive base salary, a comprehensive overall benefits package, enrollment in LAPP (Local Authorities Pension Plan) and on-going Professional Development support.  Details will be discussed in further conversations.

James Davies                               

Managing Director

DCG Executive Search Services Ltd.

Phone: (780) 758-9796

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.daviescg.com