Director, Transportation & Infrastructure Planning

The Director, Transportation & Infrastructure Planning leads the plans, policies, and concepts that shape Kingston’s right-of-way – its sidewalks, pathways, and streets – bringing vision, leadership, and strategic direction to the City’s transportation network. Working collaboratively across City departments and with external stakeholders, this position guides transportation planning and policy matters, including related stormwater considerations, providing creative and best-practice solutions for how the City grows and connects. Visible and engaged in the community, the Director proactively seeks input from residents and stakeholders on planning initiatives within the City’s right-of-way to enhance transparency and allow concerns to be addressed early in the process.

This position aligns strategic planning and concept development with stakeholder needs and the capital program. The department’s defining deliverables are approved, defensible long-term transportation and infrastructure plans, translated into project concepts and programs, delivered through one integrated function that spans policy, planning, and design through to network management. The Director leads this front-end planning work with a team that has transportation expertise that manages the project from the initial stages through engagement to deliver sound, approved project concepts that can be advanced through detailed design.

The Director also oversees the teams of engineers, planners, analysts, technologists, and other subject matter experts who manage and deliver the City’s transportation programs including road safety, active transportation, and traffic management. Through the oversight of these functions, the Director ensures the growth and renewal of the right-of-way are planned, funded, delivered, and maintained in alignment with Council priorities while advancing the City of Kingston’s vision for a connected, safe, and accessible multimodal transportation system, supported by a resilient stormwater network, that meaningfully supports growth and asset management.

Transportation & Infrastructure Services is responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining the infrastructure and transportation systems that keep Kingston moving and support a growing, connected and sustainable community. The group brings together transit, transportation planning and programs, engineering, and public works services to support the safe and efficient movement of people and goods, manage and renew critical municipal infrastructure, and deliver essential services to residents.

What you’ll do...

• Lead all infrastructure planning & programs activities, with a focus on ensuring the City’s rights-of-way reflect the direction of the Integrated Mobility Plan and support the growth and redevelopment envisioned in the Official Plan.
• Oversee and guide short-term and long-term strategic plans, master plans, studies, and development charge technical work that connect people and places and protect the right-of-way through appropriate policy, network planning, technologies, and programs.
• Examine, recommend, and oversee implementation of new transportation policies and programs that promote a multimodal transportation network, advance road safety, reprioritise the use of road space for all users, and support transit priority, while also strengthening asset management and system resilience.
• Lead the conceptual design function that produces approved, defensible project concepts, and oversee their handoff to Engineering Services or Public Works for detailed design and delivery.
• Provide leadership and direction to a diverse team of managers, engineers, planners, project managers, policy coordinators, and technologists to meet the planning and policy objectives of the City.
• Oversee and provide leadership for transportation and infrastructure for the infrastructure planning process related to development projects in alignment with corporate strategies, plans, and priorities, as well as applicable acts, regulations, and requirements, coordinating with Planning Services and utilities companies.
• Oversee and provide leadership with City staff, internal and external to the department, on infrastructure planning and policy matters and their strategic relationship to City policies and Council priorities.
• Act as Council’s resource on these matters through education, information sharing, and providing creative and best-practice solutions for how the City grows and connects.
• Represent the City on complex infrastructure planning and policy matters and liaise with external agencies, conservation authorities, utilities, and other levels of government.
• Foster relationships with regional and provincial government, service providers and partners, and the community.
• Provide leadership and accountability for the ongoing operation of the transportation network and its specialized programs, including traffic signal and streetlight operation, traffic modelling and optimisation, and road safety engineering.
• Oversee public-facing active transportation and road safety programs, ensuring service continuity, public safety, and appropriate management of operational and liability risk.
• Champion transportation safety through programs, standards, education, and regulation.
• Oversee the talent and financial resources for the department to ensure they are used effectively, including the preparation and oversight of operating and capital budgets, grant and program administration, and ownership of concept delivery standards.
• Manage direct reports by monitoring progress toward goals with sustainable results, developing successors, and resolving problems in alignment with the organisation’s vision and strategic plans.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering or Planning from an accredited university.
• 7-10 years of management experience in strategic and operational planning, infrastructure or transportation planning, policy development, implementation, and research.
• Experience with budget management (capital and operating) and planning.
• Superior ability to lead a diverse organisation spanning network operations, specialised programs, long-range planning, and complex policy and concept development.
• Superior ability to think strategically, anticipate and consider large-scale issues, and develop credible long-term and short-term strategies.
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to achieve consensus through communication, mediation, and negotiation, and manage the expectations of diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Superior ability to establish positive relationships with the public, City staff, Council, Committees, and related organisations at the local, provincial, and national levels.
• Strong ability to build trust and credibility in a politically sensitive role with competing demands and priorities.
• Sound knowledge of financial modelling, capital prioritisation, and asset management principles, with the ability to interpret and apply corporate asset management outputs to right-of-way and stormwater investment decisions.
• Valid Class “G” Ontario driver’s licence; travel required within the City of Kingston and Ontario frequently.
• Required to obtain and maintain a satisfactory criminal record check.
• Proficient computer skills with MS Office.
• The ability to work outside regular business hours to support projects or attend meetings.
• Requirement to passively monitor services and incidents/inquiries related to services - 24/7 and respond if required.

Why us?

Join a team that’s building more than a city - we’re building a community where people thrive. At the City of Kingston, your work has real impact: safer streets, greener spaces, inclusive experiences, innovative transit, creative public spaces, and brighter futures for all. We’re more than just a municipal government - we’re a team of problem-solvers, innovators, and community-builders who take pride in shaping the place we call home. As an employer, we’re committed to your growth, your well-being, and creating an environment where every voice counts. Your career is more than a job - it’s where your impact begins.

Why you’ll love it here…

We provide our employees with a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package, which may include extended health coverage, travel and life insurance, and long-term disability. Specific benefits can vary depending on your role and terms of employment. In addition, employees may enjoy access to:

• OMERS defined pension plan.
• Employee wellness and assistance programs and resources.
• Ongoing training and education opportunities.
• Corporate perks such as discounted transit and fitness passes.
• Learning & development resources and networks.
• Relocation assistance and local resources.

To learn more about working at the City of Kingston, click here.

Applicants must demonstrate in their submission how they meet the minimum education and experience requirements of the position. Please include any relevant education documents (degrees, diplomas, or certificates) to your profile.

Accommodations are available at all stages of the recruitment and selection process to support a barrier-free experience for all candidates in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodations, please let us know. For more information, you can contact us at.

Thank you to everyone who applies. While we value each application, only those advancing in the recruitment process will be contacted. All personal information will be handled in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

The City of Kingston may utilise artificial intelligence (AI) assisted tools throughout the recruitment process. All final hiring decisions are made by qualified municipal staff.

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Our commitment: The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land. Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation. Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.