Development Inspector

Town of Cochrane

$88K — $96K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 1-year certificate or post-secondary degree in relevant fields such as Applied Land Use Planning or Civil Engineering.
  • 3+ years of experience in zoning, land use, or municipal bylaw applications.
  • Ability to read and interpret blueprints and engineering designs.
  • Strong organizational and professional writing skills for legal documents and reports.
  • Knowledge of the Alberta Municipal Government Act (MGA).

Responsibilities

  • Conduct field inspections of developments to ensure compliance with established standards.
  • Issue compliance or refusal for occupancy based on adherence to regulations.
  • Investigate complaints and perform responsive site inspections.
  • Evaluate and advise on Land Use Bylaw contraventions and propose enforcement actions.
  • Prepare legal documentation for non-compliance issues and drive necessary follow-up actions.
  • Collect evidence for potential legal proceedings regarding development violations.
  • Negotiate compliance timelines with construction partners based on site assessments.

Benefits

  • Commitment to a healthy and safe work environment for all employees.
  • Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organization.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Development Inspector to join our Planning Services team. This role is ideal for an advisory-focused professional dedicated to supporting community growth by ensuring compliance with the Development Authority's approvals. Reporting to the Manager, Planning Services, you will perform field inspections, educate stakeholders, and solve complex site problems to ensure strict adherence to the Land Use Bylaw and the Municipal Government Act (MGA). If you are a decisive problem-solver who thrives on building productive, supportive relationships with construction partners and the public, this is an exciting opportunity to impact the workforce and development landscape of Cochrane.

What are some of the duties of the Development Inspector?
  • Conduct Development Inspections and monitor the progress of developments, including evaluating lot grading, landscaping, and erosion and sediment control (ESC).
  • Exercise the authority to issue compliance allowing for occupancy, or decisively refuse compliance when rules and standards are not met.
  • Conduct complaint investigations through responsive site inspections of land, buildings, properties, and community activities.
  • Review and evaluate Land Use Bylaw contraventions to determine the appropriate advisory or enforcement path.
  • Prepare and issue MGA orders, long form summons, and violation tickets when voluntary compliance cannot be reached.
  • Collect evidentiary data for MGA Orders and/or Provincial Court prosecutions.
  • Negotiate reasonable timelines for compliance with construction partners depending on the complexity of remaining deficiencies and infractions.

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

Education and Experience

Required:
  • A completed 1-year certificate or post-secondary degree in Applied Land Use Planning, Planning, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Engineering Design, Drafting, Criminology, Justice Studies, Local Government Administration, or a related field.
  • At least 3 years of progressive experience related to the application of a zoning, land use, or municipal bylaw.

Preferred:
  • Previous experience in municipal enforcement, planning, or civil earthworks within an Alberta municipality will be considered a strong asset.

Skills and Abilities

Required:
  • A demonstrated ability to read and interpret blueprints, grading plans, and engineering designs.
  • Strong organizational skills, along with the ability to transcribe legal documents and field reports in a professional manner.
  • An exceptional attention to detail while managing a substantial workload.
  • The adaptability to work effectively both independently in the field and within a collaborative team environment.
  • Working knowledge of the Alberta Municipal Government Act (MGA) and standard municipal infrastructure requirements.
  • Well-developed communication skills, with a strong focus on conflict resolution, de-escalation, and strategically advising developers

Certifications, Licenses and/or Designations

Required:
  • Valid Driver's License.

Preferred (Assets):
  • Membership with the Alberta Development Officers Association (ADOA) or relevant field certifications (e.g., CISEC).

Cochrane is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment for all employees, which means that everyone is responsible for health and safety. You must take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of your colleagues, contractors, the public, and yourself by following all relevant health and safety legislation and corporate policies.

Still interested? Here's how to apply:
  • Qualified individuals are encouraged to submit your resume and a letter outlining how your experience matches the required qualifications, skills, and abilities for this position.
  • All candidates will be requested to complete an online suitability survey.
  • Applications for this position will be accepted until 9pm MST August 19,2026. Please apply at www.cochrane.ca/jobs.
  • The salary for this position is between $48.19/hr and $52.88/hr and is based on a 35-hour work week.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All applicants must be legally entitled to live and work in Canada.

Land Acknowledgement
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut'ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

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