St. Clair Region Conservation Authority - Job Position

Position Title: Planning and Regulations Assistant (12-month contract)
Department: Planning and Regulations
Immediate Supervisor: Regulations Coordinator
Competition Number: PL156

Position Summary

SCRCA is looking to add to their team, a Planning and Regulations Assistant to cover a 12-month maternity leave.

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority’s Planning and Regulations team is responsible for ensuring that proposed development and site alterations are carried out in conformance with the Authority’s policies and procedures. The Planning and Regulations Assistant reports to the Regulations Coordinator and works closely with the Regulations Officer, Planner and Planning Ecologist.

The Assistant will undertake a variety of administrative duties pertaining to natural hazard planning and Conservation Authority regulation applications. The Assistant will provide front-line, customer service support for the planning and regulations department, including; responding to all inquires related to SCRCA’s land use planning and regulatory responsibilities, answering questions from the public, providing administrative support and research, disseminating general department information to the public, receiving applications and technical reports, preparing files for review by planning and regulations staff, and maintaining existing hard copy and electronic file management systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

To provide administrative support to planning and regulations staff in the following capacity:

• Intake of all public inquires, including phone calls, email, and in person walk-ins.
• Responsible for initial customer service support and providing planning and regulations department information in response to inquiries from the public.
• Organize and maintain the department’s records and files, planning and regulation documentation (hard copy and electronic) and database management.
• Gather relevant background data/information and research for planning and regulation inquiries and applications and coordinate pre-consultation work with proponents to ensure complete applications.
• Perform initial screening of planning and regulations applications and work with proponents to ensure relevant information is collected.
• Perform administrative duties for department including collecting payment, emailing, mailing and filing, and data entry.
• Search for and retrieve files for department staff.
• Keep up-to-date on applicable policies, procedures, and projects.
• Assist department staff with their duties, including: drafting comments, assisting planning and regulations staff with site inspections (some field work may be required), and other administrative duties (co-ordinating and assembling policy, public consultation, etc.), as directed. • Produce department activity summary reports for committees and board meetings, as directed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Credentials and Experience

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• College diploma or degree in office/business administration, planning, resource management, geography, environmental science, or closely related/similar field.
• Intermediate to advanced administrative skills, including letter writing, filing, database and file information management, data management, and note taking.
• Demonstrated professional and business communication skills (both verbal and written).
• Strong computer and word processing abilities (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, document management software and use of digital mapping software).
• Demonstrated experience providing customer service to the public.
• Demonstrated time management, analytical and organization skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities to ensure independent work habits.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines with multiple competing workload pressures.
• Understanding of physical geography and natural hazard management (flooding, erosion, shoreline) is an asset.
• Experience with interpretation and application of policy and legislation. Familiarity with the Conservation Authorities Act and associated Section 28 Regulations is an asset.
• Knowledge of document management software is an asset. (i.e. Square 9 document management software).
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is beneficial. (i.e. basic knowledge of GIS software products including ArcMap, ArcCatalogue, ArcReader).
• Valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions when required.

Work Environment/Conditions

• Most work takes place in an office; however, some outdoor site inspections will be required which includes some physical effort (e.g., navigating uneven terrain).
• Frequent multitasking to meet deadlines from multiple sources.
• Occasional receipt of verbal abuse and pressure from external clients.
• Travel is normally within the St. Clair Region watershed, however additional meetings outside of the watershed may be required.

• Position is based at the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority main office at 205 Mill Pond Cres., Strathroy

• Salary: $23.27 - $27.39 per hour
• Hours: 35 hours per week
• Benefits:
  • Scheduled day off program

1. jobs@scrca.on.ca indicating the Competition Number and position title in the subject line of your email, or
2. mail to: St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, 205 Mill Pond Crescent, Strathroy, ON, N7G 3P9
3. or fax to 519-245-3348

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer