Senior Community Planner

Overview

Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) is seeking a Senior Community Planner to join our Yellowknife office to play a pivotal, hands-on role in project delivery and the cultivation of trusted client relationships. The successful candidate will be instrumental in supporting the strategic expansion of the firm’s professional services throughout the North. The position requires an agile individual capable of seamlessly pivoting between technical delivery, client engagement, and project coordination. The successful candidate is a self-starter motivated by delivering tangible results for Northern communities and is eager to take ownership within a dynamic regional practice.

The successful candidate will join a close-knit team working directly with clients and communities across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The role involves a diverse range of projects, offering the opportunity to build long-term relationships with territorial, municipal, federal, and Indigenous clients. This is a high-visibility position rather than a back-office role; the successful candidate will remain closely connected to the work, the clients, and the decision-making process. In addition to their local focus, the individual will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the firm's nationwide offices, coordinating specialized expertise while maintaining a strong local presence. For the right candidate, this position offers the opportunity to develop broad professional exposure, regional credibility, and a well-rounded career within the North.

Work Arrangement

• This position is in office (at least four days a week) and based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
• Work week is 37.5 hours and may include occasional overtime.
• Travel to remote communities in the North is expected.

About Dillon

Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) is a proudly Canadian, 100% employee-owned professional consulting firm specializing in planning, engineering, environmental science, and management. With over 25 offices and more than 1100 employees across Canada, we offer a wide range of services related to building and improving facilities and infrastructure, protecting the environment, and developing communities.

At Dillon, we thrive on interdisciplinary collaboration, empowering our people to challenge conventional thinking and build careers focused on creating a lasting impact in our communities. Employee ownership is available to all team members, ensuring that the financial benefit created by our project work returns to the very people who created that value.

Living in Yellowknife

Yellowknife offers a professional and personal experience unlike any other in Canada. As the capital of the Northwest Territories, it provides the amenities of a modern urban center - including a diverse culinary scene and boutique shopping - while maintaining an intimate feel. Residents benefit from a lifestyle where commutes are measured in minutes rather than hours, effectively reclaiming time for personal pursuits and community connection.

The city serves as a gateway to the Great Canadian North, where the wilderness is a literal backyard. The true advantages of Northern living are found in this immediate access to nature; world-class hiking trails, pristine paddling routes, and premier fishing locations are accessible within moments of leaving the office. In the winter, the city transforms into a subarctic playground for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, all set under a front-row seat to the world’s most spectacular Aurora Borealis. Beyond the landscape, Yellowknife is defined by its people. The successful candidate will join a tight-knit, welcoming community known for its resilience and inclusivity. With a calendar full of cultural festivals - such as the Snowking’s Winter Festival and Folk on the Rocks - and a strong emphasis on work-life balance, the city allows professionals to fully immerse themselves in both a rugged natural environment and a vibrant social scene. Yellowknife is not merely a place to work; it is a community where individuals and families truly thrive.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate various current and long-term planning projects
• Prepare and contribute to planning documents and reports including community engagement summaries, background reports, analytical and rationale reports, and policies and plans
• Conduct and contribute to detailed research, including jurisdictional and legislative framework reviews
• Lead and support meetings, and facilitate engagement sessions with clients, stakeholders and community members
• Provide professional planning consulting services to municipal clients and the land development industry, including client advice, grant applications, project planning and design, as well as regulatory approvals
• Manage and/or support colleagues with various projects including municipal and risk management work
• Contribute to business development and coordination of client relationships and business growth in Western Canada including client interactions, networking, proposal preparation, and presentations
• Liaise with provincial and municipal government agencies, private developers, special interest groups, organizations and institutions
• Commit to the career development of staff, including technical direction, training recommendations, advising, coaching, and mentoring
• Contribute to Dillon’s corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees and periodic participation and presentations at industry/professional conferences
• Ability to travel to other business locations, remote communities, and Dillon offices for the purposes of executing your responsibilities, internal/external client relationship development, opportunity/project research, acquisition and project delivery.
• Perform professional work related to a variety of assignments and other duties as assigned

Learning & Development 

• Commit to self-development and ongoing learning and professional development
• Contribute to Dillon’s corporate profile through active participation in professional associations and committees and periodic participation and presentations at industry/professional conferences

Qualifications

• A degree in Planning that is recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)
• Comprehensive understanding of municipal, provincial and federal policy, legislation, permitting and approvals processes for municipal projects
• Proven excellence in problem solving and implementation; managing municipal approval processes and coordinating multidisciplinary teams
• A strong work ethic, ability to allocate time effectively, work under pressure and manage tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate and present results to a diverse range of audiences
• Ability to build and maintain strong business relationships
• A valid driver’s license is required
• Member or eligibility for membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP)

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive community planning experience, with at least 5+ years in a private consulting environment.
• Experience conducting or facilitating public consultation programs is an asset

Why Choose Dillon

Dillon is powered by people who are technically proficient, passionate about socially important projects, and motivated to deliver superior results. We live our core values:

• Achievement: do the work to hit the target.
• Continuous Development: always learning; always adapting; always growing.
• Creativity: discover new possibilities.
• Courage: do the things that matter, especially when it’s hard.
• Inclusiveness: enabling belonging to draw strength from our differences.
• Reliability: words result in actions that build trust.

In addition, we offer a 100% employee-owned share purchase plan, competitive health benefits, a generous retirement savings plan, and a focus on wellness through subsidies and fitness memberships.

Health & Safety at Dillon:Prospective employees are expected to fully align with Dillon's core commitment to Health & Safety. This includes active engagement with our H&S processes and the identification and reporting of hazards.

Employment Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:Dillon is committed to an inclusive, diverse workplace. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.

Technology & AI:Dillon utilizes AI-assisted tools to support parts of our recruitment process to increase efficiency and fairness. All hiring decisions are made by our human recruiting team. By applying, you acknowledge and consent to this use.