Jr.-Intermediate Pre-Design Space Programming and Planning Consultants

Position Overview

Resource Planning Group Inc. (RPG) is seeking a Junior–Intermediate Facilities Planner & Programmer to join our consulting team. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of facility functional programs, space requirements, and pre-design planning studies for clients across the healthcare, post-secondary education, library, research, government, and security sectors.

Working collaboratively with RPG's senior consultants, clients, architects, and other project stakeholders, the Facilities Planner & Programmer will assist in translating operational needs, service delivery requirements, and future growth projections into comprehensive planning documents that inform facility design, capital investment, and long-term infrastructure decisions.

A Facility Functional Program establishes the intended role, scope of services, operational requirements, and spatial needs of a planned or redeveloped facility. It typically includes projected workloads, staffing requirements, functional relationships, space inventories, room requirements, and key design criteria that guide subsequent architectural and engineering design.

This position offers an opportunity to develop specialized expertise in facility planning and programming while gaining exposure to a broad range of projects, clients, and consulting activities.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Planning & Functional Programming

• Assist in preparing facility functional programs, master programs, space needs assessments, and other pre-design planning documents.
• Collect, organize, and analyze operational, staffing, workload, utilization, and space-related data to inform future facility requirements.
• Develop and maintain detailed space lists, room inventories, accommodation schedules, and related planning databases.
• Assist in establishing functional relationships, operational workflows, space standards, and preliminary space requirements.
• Review existing facility conditions, space utilization, and operational arrangements to identify constraints and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the preparation of functional relationship diagrams, adjacency diagrams, and other visual planning materials.
• Undertake benchmarking and comparative analyses of facilities, services, and applicable planning standards.

Research & Analysis

• Conduct research into relevant industry standards, emerging trends, best practices, and comparable facilities.
• Review and synthesize information from client documentation, technical reports, operational data, and other sources.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative information to identify planning implications and support evidence-based recommendations.
• Assist in developing planning assumptions, service projections, and alternative facility accommodation scenarios.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Assist in planning, organizing, and facilitating client meetings, user group sessions, interviews, and stakeholder workshops.
• Participate in discussions with clinical, academic, administrative, operational, and technical stakeholders to understand current and future requirements.
• Document meeting discussions, stakeholder input, planning decisions, and outstanding issues.
• Prepare meeting agendas, presentations, workshop materials, and meeting summaries.
• Develop effective working relationships with clients, project partners, and other stakeholders.

Documentation & Project Delivery

• Prepare clear, concise, and well-organized reports, presentations, spreadsheets, and other project deliverables.
• Contribute to the preparation, review, and quality control of functional programming and planning documents.
• Coordinate information and deliverables with internal team members and external consultants.
• Assist in monitoring project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and resource requirements.
• Support senior consultants in managing multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Contribute to the preparation of proposals, qualifications submissions, and other business development materials.

Qualifications & Experience

• Post-secondary education in architecture, interior design, facility planning, urban planning, healthcare administration, or another relevant discipline.
• Approximately 1–5 years of relevant professional experience is preferred; candidates with strong transferable skills and less direct experience will also be considered.
• Exposure to facility planning, functional programming, space planning, architectural programming, or related consulting activities is an asset.
• Experience in healthcare, education, institutional, or other complex facility environments is an asset.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to organize, interpret, and present quantitative and qualitative information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with architectural drawings, space planning principles, and building design processes is an asset.

Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret complex information, identify relationships and trends, and contribute to practical, evidence-based planning recommendations.
• Written Communication: Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to communicate technical and operational information clearly, concisely, and accurately.
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
• Research & Problem-Solving: Ability to undertake structured research, critically evaluate information, and synthesize findings into meaningful planning documentation.
• Organization & Attention to Detail: Strong organizational skills, accuracy, and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Collaboration & Initiative: Ability to work effectively within a small, collaborative consulting team while demonstrating initiative and independence in completing assigned tasks.
• Presentation & Facilitation: Confidence in participating in client meetings and workshops, with an interest in developing group presentation and facilitation skills.
• Adaptability & Professional Growth: Willingness to learn new methodologies, work across different facility sectors, and progressively assume greater responsibility for project deliverables and client interactions.

Professional Development

RPG provides opportunities for team members to develop expertise in specialized facility planning and programming methodologies, participate directly in client engagements, and progressively take on greater responsibility for project coordination, stakeholder facilitation, analysis, and consulting deliverables.

• The successful candidate will work closely with experienced consultants and gain exposure to a diverse range of institutional and public-sector facility planning projects.