Senior Planner, Trails & Outdoor Recreation

About Mc Elhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee-owned and operated firm, with over 1,500 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities.

Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.

McElhanney is seeking an experienced and passionate Senior Planner to join our Trails and Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure team. This role is ideal for a professional who is committed to developing sustainable, accessible, and engaging trail-based recreation opportunities for diverse user groups. While the role is rooted in outdoor recreation, a majority of the work involves office-based technical and strategic planning activities, including technical writing, data analysis, mapping, reporting, and project management.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional writer, a self-starter, a strategic thinker, and a collaborative leader with a strong understanding of trail sustainability principles and outdoor recreation planning. As a senior member of the team, the Senior Planner will provide technical leadership, oversee complex projects, support business development initiatives, mentor junior staff, and build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders across Canada.

The successful candidate must be based in Western Canada with proximity to key clients or projects. This role requires regular travel throughout Canada and occasional international travel for fieldwork and client engagement.

• Lead the development of trail master plans, trail assessments, inventory reports, engagement reports, and other planning documents.
• Conduct research, analysis, and data synthesis to support planning recommendations and project deliverables.
• Prepare and review technical reports, presentations, permit applications, and procurement documents.
• Effectively managing a portfolio of projects, including management of project scope, budgets, schedules, resources, and client expectations.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables that meet client and regulatory requirements.

• Lead or oversee trail inventory, assessment, planning, design, and construction inspection activities.
• Apply trail sustainability principles to planning and design recommendations.
• Plan and execute field programs safely and effectively.
• Travel throughout Canada, and occasionally internationally, to conduct fieldwork and meet with clients and stakeholders.
• Work in a variety of outdoor environments, including remote locations and multi-day field assignments.

• Oversee spatial data collection, management, and analysis.
• Produce and review mapping products and visual project deliverables.
• Utilize GIS, mapping technologies, databases, and related software to support planning and design activities.

• Manage multidisciplinary project teams and mentor junior staff.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, project partners, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Lead business development initiatives and personal billable contributions.
• Identify new opportunities and contribute to the growth of McElhanney's recreation planning practice.

• Degree in Planning or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Registration or eligible for registration with the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).
• 7+ years of relevant experience in planning, designing, or developing sustainable trail and outdoor recreation infrastructure.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and document preparation skills.
• Experience with GIS, mapping technologies, databases, and related software.
• Demonstrated project management experience,…