Senior Campus Planner

McGill University

$82K — $123K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree required; Professional certification as architect and/or urbanist is mandatory.
  • 5 years of related experience in development project planning, preferably in higher education settings.
  • Strong analytical skills with experience in macro project financial analysis.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and familiarity with Adobe Design Suite software.
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills in both English and French.

Responsibilities

  • Lead project planning initiatives, providing expertise on feasibility and conceptual design development.
  • Collaborate with departments to create long-range facility plans and oversee feasibility studies.
  • Identify space programming needs and manage project timelines and budgets effectively.
  • Communicate project findings and negotiate space allocations with Senior Management and various departments.
  • Liaise with external government bodies to ensure compliance with regulations on projects.
  • Conduct research and gather data to support campus planning efforts and decision-making processes.
  • Develop graphic materials and reports maintaining consistent standards across all planning documentation.

Benefits

  • Access to comprehensive health and wellness programs.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continued education.
  • Generous leave policies including vacation and paid holidays.
  • A vibrant campus environment that emphasizes collaboration and community engagement.
Full Job Description
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Position Summary:
The Senior Campus Planner reports to the Associate Director, Campus Planning and Development. The incumbent will lead project planning initiatives and develop recommendations relating to feasibility, options and conceptual design development. The incumbent will liaise with external and internal stakeholders and multiple complex groups in order to communicate, resolve issues, and negotiate consensus. The incumbent is responsible for leading planning efforts and representing programmatic needs as well as providing planning consultation to a broad diversity of stakeholders both internal and external to the University. The incumbent acts as a critical resource for executive-level decision-making about campus master planning, site planning and project planning initiatives. The incumbent operates as a system-wide consultant for multiple units and University entities seeking campus planning and project development for a diverse and complex set of initiatives and programs. The incumbent provides leadership to peer professional and academic staff.

Primary Responsibilities:
  • Provides senior professional expertise on University real estate matters, to include property acquisition and property disposal.
  • Collaborate in the development of long-range facility plans for all academic and administrative departments. This includes developing and overseeing feasibility studies, master plans, reports, and presentations to assist in the strategic long-range planning and facility development required.
  • Plans and controls initiatives by identifying needs including space programming.
  • Analyzes and prioritizes in support to the strategic plan to the University and the University Master Plan.
  • Develops a program of requirements for specific initiatives and assist in the project initiation from a planning perspective.
  • Responsible for achieving tasks by respecting detailed calendars and budgets.
  • Communicates and makes presentations to Senior Management in terms of space allocation and report findings as well as negotiates with University departments on matters of space allocation, exchange or relocation.
  • Negotiates with clients, being faculties and departments and other administrative units as well as external agencies on confirming feasibility parameters of projects and outlines program's needs.
  • Liaises with external clients particularly with the provincial and municipal Governments to ensure projects comply with regulations.
  • Prepares all reports detailing the processes and recommendations for the projects.
  • Develops and presents business cases and feasibility studies including budget for approval from Senior Management.
  • Prepares and negotiates submissions to external agencies.
  • Establishes and develops partnership with other institutions and external agencies and represents the University in official meetings.
  • Consults with internal and external stakeholders and reviews proposed changes associated with landscape, circulation, land use, wayfinding and infrastructure.
  • Leads development of site plans and business cases, including facility sitting, orientation, height and massing and circulation studies.
  • Leads project planning initiatives to improve quality of the campus environment.
  • Evaluates development proposals for consistency with the University Master Plan.
  • Leads site selection and land use analysis for Master Planning efforts for all campuses.
  • Develops and presents planning documents, reports, presentations and studies.
  • Collaborates with external parties or jurisdictions when plans are intertwined, coordinates review and interaction with these entities for issues that have wide significance.
  • Performs research and collects data from multiple sources to address planning needs.
  • Gather various sources of information, analyzes, and consistently reports in different formats (verbal, written) to variety of audiences and levels (internal and external to the University) that are involved in decision-making processes.
  • Ensures quality graphic production capacity, including overseeing others' work, using software (Adobe Design Suite, Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign) to achieve and maintain consistent graphic standards in all planning material.


Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities :

Demonstrated experience in all phases of development project planning and proven ability to manage architects and engineers in the planning phase. Experience managing initiatives in higher education setting is an asset. Academic planning and scenario development experience. Extensive knowledge of and experience in macro project financial analysis and interpretation. Professional certification as architect and/or urbanist is required. Strong analytical background and project development skills. Ability to manage multiple development initiatives and prioritize appropriately. Ability to work in a PC environment and advanced level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Exceptional communication skills with internal stakeholders at all levels of the organization, as well with external stakeholders and authorities. Experience in higher education in a related field, an asset. Strong writing and presentation skills and oral fluency in English and French essential mandatory.

Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 4 on a scale of 0-4.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree 5 Years Related Experience /

Annual Salary:

(MPEX Grade 06) $82,280.00 - $102,850.00 - $123,420.00

Job Profile:
MPEX-LOG3C - Planning & Design - Senior Professional/Manager

Hours per Week:

33.75 (Full time)

Supervisor:

Associate Director Planning

Position End Date (If applicable):

2028-08-04

Deadline to Apply:

2026-08-12

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