Manager, Planning and Development

Posted: December 22, 2025

Closing Date: January 12, 2026 at 4:30 pm EST Position Type: Permanent, full-time

Location: Port Elgin, ON

Saugeen Shores:
Both city and town, wrapped in a village.

Choosing to work and live in Saugeen Shores gives you an unparalleled choice of easy-going lifestyles, economic opportunities and nature at every turn. You can truly create your own village in this growing, diverse community of neighbourhoods and amenities. You can replace long commutes with easy lakeshore rides. You can choose to be as active or relaxed as you want to be.

You can make all these great choices without sacrificing family life, schools, and even access to the wide world. Nestled on the shores of Lake Huron with forests and farms all around, Saugeen Shores is the promise of both cities and towns, wrapped in a village.

We take our team culture so seriously; we wrote a Team Saugeen Charter to celebrate and protect it. Our shared role is to keep Saugeen Shores safe, well-serviced, growing and vibrant in ways that respect the public and reflect our team. We develop careers from the inside first. We engage each other personally and professionally. We welcome change. we embrace new ideas.

We do more than live with work processes; we seek to continuously improve them. And we have each other's backs - because that is what great teams do.

As the Manager of Planning and Development, reporting to the Director of Development Services, you will support strategic growth through the management of long-range development of policies and plans; economic development initiatives and programs; and development reviews. You will act as a liaison with internal departments, provincial and federal governments, agencies, and stakeholders. You will oversee the Division staff (x4) and budget and assign projects and tasks to align with the Business Plan and Key Performance Indicators.

• Strategic Leadership & Advisory: Serve as strategic advisor to the Director of Development Services, representing the division externally, supporting Council and Committees, and ensuring alignment with municipal procedures and statutory requirements under relevant legislation.
• Development of Policies and Plans: Lead and guide research, analysis and policy development projects pertaining to planning, including housing, environment, and cultural heritage priority areas.
• Planning & Performance Management: Develop and implement divisional and annual strategic plans, monitor progress towards business plans, prepare and deliver reports, and facilitate annual goal setting and performance reviews for staff.
• Team Development & Operations: Oversee the Planning and Development Division operations, promote staff development, manage recruitment and coaching, and encourage continuous improvement, corporate initiatives, and the adoption of new tools and opportunities.
• Financial Oversight: Prepare and manage divisional budgets, and communicate fiscal responsibility to staff.
• Policy & Health and Safety: Ensure regular review and development of policies, programs, and procedures, and promote Health and Safety initiatives division wide.
• Lead and guide research and analysis of the Town Official Plan and Zoning By-law to ensure that these documents and their implementation are aligned with the vision of Town Council and are current with Provincial legislation and policy directions.
• Lead update and implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner organizations such as indigenous communities, Bruce County, the Conservation Authority and Provincial Ministries.
• Lead and guide the development, monitoring and execution of initiatives that advance the Town as a place to work, live, and visit.
• Identify key sector specific opportunities and provide the mechanisms that instill business attraction, retention and growth.
• Oversee planning and / or economic development support to other divisions and departments in advancing or coordinating Town priorities including but not limited to development charges, asset management, and communications / promotions.
• Develop and maintain relationships…