Executive Director, Planning and Development
Help Shape One of Canada’s Fastest‑Growing Regions
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is a vibrant, diverse, and forward‑looking municipality that serves as the economic, cultural, and educational hub of Atlantic Canada. Home to more than half a million residents across over 200 communities, the Halifax region combines urban energy, suburban growth, rural character, and over 400 km of coastline to create an exceptional quality of life. HRM is experiencing one of the most sustained periods of population and development growth in its history.
As the region evolves toward a future of greater density, mobility, and complexity, the importance of thoughtful, credible planning leadership has never been greater.
HRM is now seeking its next Executive Director, Planning and Development. This is one of the most influential planning leadership roles in Canada. Planning decisions being made today will have generational impact on housing affordability, mobility, infrastructure investment, environmental sustainability, and community well being.
As Executive Director, Planning and Development, you will steward the municipality’s growth agenda in a highly visible, politically sensitive, and fast paced environment. You will work at the centre of corporate decision making as a member of HRM’s Executive Leadership Team, ensuring planning is fully integrated with infrastructure, servicing, fiscal sustainability, and broader municipal priorities.
This role offers a rare opportunity for planning leader who thrives in complexity to shape civic outcomes, support informed public decision making, and help build trust and confidence in the planning system during a period of continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Commissioner of Operations, the Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership to one of HRM’s highest-profile business units, overseeing approximately 250 staff across regional and community planning, development services and permitting, urban design and heritage planning, land development regulation, building standards, infrastructure planning, growth analysis, and strategic initiatives.
Key responsibilities include:
Ideal Candidate Profile
As the ideal candidate, you are a credible, steady, and pragmatic planning leader with deep experience operating in complex municipal or comparable environments. You bring:
How to Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply online using the 'Apply Now' button below. For more information or to ask any questions, please contact Daniella Sam at dsam@kbrs.ca, Katherine Risley at krisley@kbrs.ca, or Erin MacDonald at emacdonald@kbrs.ca.
Diversity and Accessibility Statement
Halifax Regional Municipality is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify through this online self identification questionnaire.
KBRS will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to our team.
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is a vibrant, diverse, and forward‑looking municipality that serves as the economic, cultural, and educational hub of Atlantic Canada. Home to more than half a million residents across over 200 communities, the Halifax region combines urban energy, suburban growth, rural character, and over 400 km of coastline to create an exceptional quality of life. HRM is experiencing one of the most sustained periods of population and development growth in its history.
As the region evolves toward a future of greater density, mobility, and complexity, the importance of thoughtful, credible planning leadership has never been greater.
HRM is now seeking its next Executive Director, Planning and Development. This is one of the most influential planning leadership roles in Canada. Planning decisions being made today will have generational impact on housing affordability, mobility, infrastructure investment, environmental sustainability, and community well being.
As Executive Director, Planning and Development, you will steward the municipality’s growth agenda in a highly visible, politically sensitive, and fast paced environment. You will work at the centre of corporate decision making as a member of HRM’s Executive Leadership Team, ensuring planning is fully integrated with infrastructure, servicing, fiscal sustainability, and broader municipal priorities.
This role offers a rare opportunity for planning leader who thrives in complexity to shape civic outcomes, support informed public decision making, and help build trust and confidence in the planning system during a period of continued growth.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Commissioner of Operations, the Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership to one of HRM’s highest-profile business units, overseeing approximately 250 staff across regional and community planning, development services and permitting, urban design and heritage planning, land development regulation, building standards, infrastructure planning, growth analysis, and strategic initiatives.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading HRM’s planning and development mandate, translating Council direction and legislative frameworks into clear, implementable strategies that advance sustainable growth.
- Advancing major community‑building initiatives, including the Regional Plan, Suburban Planning Program, priority growth‑area master plans, and housing‑related initiatives aligned with federal and provincial programs.
- Integrating land‑use planning with infrastructure capacity, servicing strategies, and long‑term fiscal sustainability to support resilient and affordable communities.
- Overseeing high‑volume, customer‑focused planning, permitting, and development services, ensuring timely, high‑quality outcomes in a growth‑pressured environment.
- Driving modernization, continuous improvement, and the effective use of data, technology, and innovation within planning and permitting systems.
- Advancing equitable and inclusive community‑building by leading the delivery of Community Action Planning in African Nova Scotian communities, supporting commitments under the Road to Economic Prosperity for African Nova Scotian Communities, and implementing planning‑related actions within HRM’s Culture & Heritage Plan.
- Leading, supporting, and developing a large, multidisciplinary workforce, fostering accountability, inclusion, resilience, and professional excellence.
- Serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and Regional Council, helping navigate complexity, trade‑offs, and competing narratives with credibility and clarity.
- Building strong, constructive relationships with provincial and federal partners, the development industry, utilities, community partners, and the public.
- Providing sound financial and risk stewardship, balancing ambitious growth objectives with fiscal constraint and infrastructure realities.
Ideal Candidate Profile
As the ideal candidate, you are a credible, steady, and pragmatic planning leader with deep experience operating in complex municipal or comparable environments. You bring:
- Deep experience in municipal planning gained through senior leadership roles within a medium‑to‑large municipality or comparable organization operating in a high‑growth and customer service‑oriented environment.
- A high level of credibility, pragmatism, and resilience, with a proven ability to deliver results under sustained operational and political pressure.
- A strong understanding of how a municipality functions in practice, including governance structures, Council‑driven decision‑making, and the realities of policy implementation.
- Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary teams through periods of change, political complexity, and competing priorities.
- Strong political acumen, with comfort operating across multiple levels of government, competing mandates, and heightened public awareness and expectations.
- The ability to build and sustain high‑performing teams focused on excellence, accountability, and efficiency in service delivery.
- A level‑headed, confident leadership style, with the ability to navigate disagreement constructively and stand firm when necessary while maintaining trust with elected officials, staff, and partners.
- Exceptional communication skills, enabling you to serve as a trusted advisor who translates complex planning, development, and technical concepts for both expert and non‑expert audiences to build alignment and shared understanding.
- A professional planning designation is a strong asset.
- Above all, you are a results‑oriented community-builder who brings clarity to complexity, translates strategy into execution, and inspires confidence while shaping communities and improving quality of life.
How to Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply online using the 'Apply Now' button below. For more information or to ask any questions, please contact Daniella Sam at dsam@kbrs.ca, Katherine Risley at krisley@kbrs.ca, or Erin MacDonald at emacdonald@kbrs.ca.
Diversity and Accessibility Statement
Halifax Regional Municipality is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous/Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify through this online self identification questionnaire.
KBRS will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that considers an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to our team.