Regular Full Time (Exempt)
About Us
One of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningful career opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As the sixth largest city in BC, we are home to more than 150,000 residents. Our diverse municipality is a great place to work as it continues to grow through innovative urban design, inspiring arts, culture and recreation programs, and state-of-the-art transportation systems.
Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible and sustainable manner, while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre. We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you!
About You / What We Are Looking For
The City of Coquitlam is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking leader to join our Planning and Development team as Director, Development Services.
Reporting to the General Manager, Planning and Development, this highly visible executive leadership role is responsible for guiding the City’s development approvals function and helping shape the future of one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing communities. As a key member of the department’s senior leadership team, you will provide strategic direction on growth management, development approvals, housing initiatives, city-building priorities, and organizational transformation while supporting Council’s vision and corporate objectives.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a leader who combines strategic thinking, political acumen, and strong execution capabilities. You understand that successful development services is about more than processing applications—it is about facilitating great city-building outcomes, supporting housing and employment growth, balancing competing interests, and building strong partnerships that help communities thrive.
We are looking for a collaborative and influential leader who can navigate complex issues, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and lead organizational change within a dynamic and evolving legislative environment. The successful candidate will bring a systems-thinking approach, a passion for continuous improvement, and a proven ability to lead high-performing teams through complexity and transformation.
This role offers the opportunity to influence some of the most significant development and city-building initiatives in the region while helping shape the future growth of a vibrant and rapidly evolving municipality.
Main Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Development Services Division, ensuring alignment with Council priorities, corporate objectives, housing initiatives, and long-term city-building goals.
- Lead the City’s development approvals framework, guiding complex development applications and growth-related initiatives that support community objectives, housing supply, economic development, infrastructure planning, and environmental stewardship.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the General Manager, Chief Administrative Officer, and Council on development approvals, growth management, development finance, housing initiatives, and emerging planning issues.
- Provide executive leadership in navigating complex development proposals, negotiations, and strategic initiatives with significant community, financial, and policy implications.
- Champion organizational transformation, process modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, transparency, customer service, and development outcomes.
- Foster a culture that supports proactive problem-solving, collaboration, accountability, innovation, and service excellence while advancing the City's commitment to being a facilitator of development and city-building.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team through coaching, mentorship, succession planning, and employee development.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with Council, development industry representatives, Indigenous communities, senior government agencies, regional partners, and community stakeholders.
- Support strategic decision-making through analysis of development trends, housing market conditions, growth forecasts, and development finance considerations.
- Collaborate with Finance, Engineering, Parks, and other departments to align development activity with infrastructure planning, capital investments, and long-term growth objectives.
- Oversee divisional operating and capital budgets, business planning, performance management, and resource allocation.
- Act as one of the City’s Subdivision Approving Officers and ensure development decisions align with legislative requirements, corporate policies, and long-term community interests.
- Represent the City at Council meetings, public hearings, industry forums, intergovernmental committees, and regional planning initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Membership in the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP) or eligibility for membership.
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience within planning, development, growth management, or related municipal functions.
- Significant experience leading multidisciplinary teams within a complex municipal, public sector, or comparable development environment.
- Demonstrated success managing complex development approvals, growth management initiatives, housing programs, and city-building projects.
- Experience providing strategic advice to elected officials, executive leadership teams, and stakeholders on matters of significant public interest.
- Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, process improvement, business transformation, or service modernization initiatives.
- Strong understanding of development approvals, land use planning, growth management, development economics, and municipal governance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience within a large urban municipality or high-growth community.
- Experience working with complex mixed-use, high-density, transit-oriented, or multi-phase development projects.
- Experience supporting housing acceleration initiatives, legislative implementation, or development process modernization.
- Experience with development finance tools, including Development Cost Charges (DCCs), Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs), density bonus programs, and growth-related infrastructure planning.
- Experience leading permitting modernization, digital transformation, or organizational improvement initiatives.
- Experience serving as a Subdivision Approving Officer or supporting subdivision approval processes.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a strategic and politically astute leader who can balance long-term vision with practical execution. This individual understands the complexity of modern development services and brings the leadership skills necessary to navigate competing priorities, build consensus, and deliver meaningful results.
Success in this role will come from the ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, influence diverse stakeholders, and lead organizational transformation while maintaining credibility with Council, staff, developers, and the community.
The successful candidate will be known for their sound judgement, emotional intelligence, integrity, and ability to bring people together to solve complex challenges. They will be a proactive leader who identifies opportunities, drives continuous improvement, and helps position Coquitlam for continued success as one of British Columbia’s premier growth communities.
Why Work With Us
- Play a leadership role in shaping the future of one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing cities.
- Influence major development, housing, infrastructure, and city-building initiatives that will impact the community for generations.
- Work directly with Council, executive leadership, industry partners, and regional stakeholders on high-profile and strategically important projects.
- Lead a talented and experienced team committed to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Help transform development services and advance initiatives that improve efficiency, responsiveness, and customer experience.
- Be part of a progressive and collaborative organization recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers.
- Join a municipality that is balancing ambitious growth objectives with thoughtful planning, sustainability, and community building.
- Enjoy opportunities for professional growth, executive leadership development, and meaningful public service impact.
What We Offer:
This excluded position has an annual salary range of $183,753 - $214,965. The rate of pay is based on a variety of factors including qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills.
You will have the chance to join a rapidly growing and diverse team dedicated to supporting the local community, and be able to engage in variety of learning and development opportunities. Additionally, there is an opportunity to participate in an earned day off/flex day program. This position is based in Coquitlam with some flexible, hybrid work options available. The City offers an attractive vacation and extended benefits package, including the ability to contribute to the Municipal Pension Plan.
Accessibility / Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Coquitlam is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancing equitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As an organization we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment to support our growing and diverse work force. To learn more about what equity, diversity, and inclusion means, and the City’s efforts in support of these principles, please visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information.
If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team for confidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.
Applicants under consideration may be required to undergo and submit an acceptable police information check.
Good people make Coquitlam great, sign up for career alerts through our recruitment portal to stay up to date about opportunities within our team, or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about how #YouCouldWorkHere too!
Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55 pm on July 1, 2026.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
