PROFESSIONAL PLANNER – DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY PLANNING (NORTHERN FOCUS)

PlanIt North
Yellowknife, NT | Whitehorse, YK | Remote within NWT (with travel)

About the Opportunity

PlanIt North is seeking a skilled and values-driven Professional Planner to support our work with small, primarily Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories and Yukon. These communities often operate in dual roles — as regulators of land use and development through municipal governments and as not-for-profit developers through affiliated development corporations and housing entities.

You’ll work collaboratively with communities on land use planning, development planning, community-based hazard assessment, and climate change adaptation — all grounded in cross-cultural dialogue and northern realities. The position is based in Yellowknife or Whitehorse, with potential for remote work within the NWT. Travel to remote communities is required.

In recent years PlanIt North has collaborated with our clients to:

• Assess community housing needs and develop cross-jurisdictional housing plans.
• Develop and implement community-led supportive housing programs.
• Create land use plans through inclusive community and stakeholder engagement.
• Build shared knowledge about land hazards to inform safe, climate-resilient land use.
• Lead projects to assess and mobilize data related to permafrost thaw, erosion, and flood risk for use in emergency preparedness, land use, and adaptation planning.
• Translate complex technical and scientific research into plain language and culturally relevant formats.

Job Description

You’ll join a dynamic and supportive team and take part in a broad mix of projects. You will:

• Lead or support the development of Community Plans, Zoning Bylaws, Land Administration Bylaws, and Addressing Bylaws.
• Assist communities in site planning, zoning analysis, and development feasibility, particularly for housing and mixed-use projects.
• Manage specific development projects — especially during the planning and pre-development phases — including:
  • Supporting communities with land selection, permitting, and early-stage feasibility work.
  • Managing contracts for site-specific engineering, tender-ready drawings, and permitting processes.
  • Coordinating with architects and consultants through conceptual and detailed design phases.
  • Helping communities define project requirements and prepare modular housing packages for tender.
  • Supporting tendering processes and procurement activities.
  • For stick-built projects, transitioning the work to an external project manager for the construction phase.
  • For modular builds, potentially managing the project through to completion, including delivery and site works.
•  Engage in and facilitate collaborative, cross-cultural planning processes that respect local governance and values.
•  Work with partners from academia, territorial/federal governments, and communities to develop and interpret hazard maps for use in land use and emergency planning.
• Manage or contribute to planning, housing, and climate adaptation projects, from early-stage scoping and proposal writing through to final reporting.
• Plan and facilitate community meetings, workshops, and multi-party technical sessions.
• Help ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with community objectives.

You will be supported by senior staff and may mentor junior team members or take on project leadership responsibilities, depending on experience.

About You

You’re an adaptable, motivated professional with strong planning experience and deep respect for working in community-based, cross-cultural contexts. You likely have:

• A graduate degree and/or equivalent experience in planning, geography, project management, or environmental sciences.
• Registered Professional Planner (RPP) status or  PMP designation.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience.
• A solid grasp of both development planning and community policy work, especially in northern or Indigenous contexts.
• Comfort working with climate-related hazard data, and an ability to interpret technical information in plain language.
• Experience working cross-culturally, ideally including with Indigenous communities in Canada.
• Willingness and capacity to travel to remote communities (via long drives and small planes), and thrive in varied environments.

Core Strengths & Qualifications

Process & Professional Skills

• Excellent writing skills. Ability to structure complex ideas into clear narratives. Writing samples will be requested.
• Project management experience with a track record of delivering on time and on budget. Ability to hold team members accountable to written commitments.
• Facilitation experience in diverse and cross-cultural settings.
• Strong oral communication skills, with a plain-language approach.
• Capacity to manage multiple projects and deadlines, and to work independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with GIS/mapping tools.
• Research and analysis experience in both qualitative and quantitative contexts.
• Strong interpersonal skills — ability to foster and maintain positive relationships and work with humility.
• Financial management experience, including multi-partner budget development and tracking.

Content Expertise

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in some or all of the following:

• Community and/or land use planning in northern, Indigenous, or remote contexts.
• Development planning, including zoning analysis, development feasibility, and site planning.
• Climate change impacts, especially permafrost, flooding, and erosion.
• Hazard assessment and the development of community hazard maps.
• Program or policy development in municipal, non-profit, or community-led contexts.
• Familiarity with the NWT’s socio-economic context and funding processes (asset).

Additional assets

• Class five drivers license or willingness to obtain one.
• Certificates or coursework in related skills, such as facilitation, negotiation, project management, trauma-informed practice, or similar skills.
• Willingness to pursue professional planning certification if not already obtained.

About Us 

PlanIt North is a northern-based consultancy that partners with clients — primarily in the NWT and Yukon — to build healthy, vibrant communities. We are a values-based, impact-driven team with a commitment to cross-cultural collaboration, long-term relationships, and community leadership.

We offer:

• A flexible, supportive work environment that supports individual and family well-being.
• A comprehensive benefits package and professional development support.
• Opportunities to lead and shape projects that make a tangible difference across the North.

For applicants considering this opportunity from away, Yellowknife and Whitehorse are remarkable Cities — culturally diverse, artistically active, with all the amenities of a capital city and unique access to wilderness. Those who appreciate nature and the outdoors are likely to thrive in both locations.

How to Apply

Visit our website (planitnorth.ca) for more information, and submit your resume and cover letter in PDF format to our Business Manager, Ben Russo, at work@planitnorth.ca.

Preference may be given to Indigenous candidates.

Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed as they are received; applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications will be accepted until May 29, 2025, or until the position is filled.

Compensation

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

Approximate starting salary ranges:

Intermediate: $50.00–60.00 /hr ($98,000 – 117,000/yr)

Senior: $60.00–82.00/hr ($117,225 – 160,000/y