Streamlined communication and improved efficiency through organizational changes
Organizational changes at Reykjavík City's Department of Environment & Planning, approved by the City Executive Council in May to improve efficiency and streamline communication within the City administration, are now taking effect. The planning and building authorities have merged, two new division heads have started, and projects related to land agreements have transferred from the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer. A new office for development, maintenance and property management also launched today.
The changes the City Executive Council approved this spring include merging the planning and building authorities, transferring the Property Office from the Department of Finance & Risk Management, and moving the legal and contract team from the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer to the Department of Environment & Planning. The changes are designed to simplify and strengthen planning and building processes through shorter chains of command, increased efficiency, better services and improved performance.
Work this summer focused on restructuring to handle expanded responsibilities, and the new office for development, maintenance and property management officially began operations today, Sept. 1. The head of office position was posted earlier this summer and the hiring process is underway. Today, projects and staff from the Property Office and the Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer moved to the Department of Environment & Planning.
Ólöf Örvarsdóttir, director of the Department of Environment & Planning, looks forward to what lies ahead. "These changes greatly strengthen the Department of Environment & Planning. New projects, new staff and new managers will work together to improve services and help Reykjavík become an even more efficient and better city."
New division heads
Two new division heads at the planning and building office have already started and will play key roles in the ongoing development of the new office.
Hjördís Sóley Sigurðardóttir was hired for the new position of head of division for planning matters. Hjördís has managed the City's housing initiative since 2024 and brings extensive education and experience to the role. She holds a BA in architecture from the Iceland Academy of the Arts, an MSc in architecture from Delft University of Technology and an MSc in environmental and resource studies from the University of Iceland. She also worked as an independent architect and was one of the founders of Ydda Architects.
Líf G. Gunnlaugsdóttir was hired for the new position of head of division for improvement and information matters. Líf has led improvement projects at the department's project management office in recent months and brings diverse education and work experience. She trained as a lawyer and project manager and has extensive experience in management and process improvement. She worked at the Internal Revenue Service from 2014-2023 and at the National Audit Office in the administration and legal department from 2023-2024.
