Principal Planner

Under general direction of the Planning, Zoning & Building Director, the incumbent performs professional and administrative work in the field of planning. The employee writes staff reports on matters relating to urban design, streetscape design, land use, current planning, comprehensive planning, and economic development, and supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate planners and other technical employees engaged in current and comprehensive planning. Work is reviewed through conferences and written reports for adherence to established policies and procedures. Key Responsibilities Collect, compile, tabulate, and analyze data and factual materials fundamental to a comprehensive planning program. Assist in the formulation and administration of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. Research and prepare zoning and land development regulations consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and present them to the Planning and Zoning Board and the City Council for consideration. Prepare and process Comprehensive Plan amendments through the appropriate State, Regional, County and City entities. Conduct planning and zoning studies. Review site and permit plans for compliance with all applicable regulations. Respond to email, telephone, or in‑person inquiries; greet the public, development industry, and city officials; handle citizen complaints; disseminate information on planning, zoning, and development regulations; provide information on departmental services and functions. Administer and coordinate the activities of subordinate personnel engaged in current and long‑range planning. Coordinate review of plans under the City’s Redevelopment Review Process and serve as Technical Advisory Committee Chairperson. Coordinate the preparation of board agendas, public notices and staff reports for the Planning and Zoning Board and other Boards, Committees, or Working Groups. Clarify and determine planning issues for staff, and review subordinates’ staff reports. Review and issue Certificates of Use and Zoning Letters. Perform field inspections as necessary. Attend City Council, Planning and Zoning Board, and make presentations on specific projects and studies, including the preparation of memorandums, resolutions, ordinances and related back‑up materials. Represent the City at various regional and county land use and transportation planning technical committees. Assist the Planning, Zoning & Building Director in planning, organizing, assigning, directing, and reviewing the activities of professional, technical, and clerical staff in the Planning and Urban Design Division. Interact and work with county, regional, state, special districts, civic associations, and other private organizations. Establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers. Perform related work as required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Equal Employment Opportunity The City is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of education, experience, and abilities. The City is committed to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. Applicants and employees are encouraged to report discrimination, sexual harassment, and any other inappropriate conduct through the Complaint Process described on the City’s website. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, or a closely related field. Five (5) years of comprehensive planning experience, current planning, urban design, or landscape architecture. Preferred Qualifications Master’s Degree. Six (6) years of comprehensive planning experience, current planning, urban design, or landscape architecture. AICP certification. Additional education and experience equivalent to the above requirements may be substituted for mandatory qualifications. Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of comprehensive, urban, and environmental planning and zoning. Considerable knowledge of the laws, ordinances, and codes relating to land use plans and development regulations. Knowledge of “Green” building concepts and techniques. Knowledge of economics, public finance and sociology as it applies to urban planning. Ability to work with city, county, state, and federal agencies in implementing plans related to streetscapes, landscaping, and urban design. Ability to supervise, oversee, and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel. Ability to prepare, evaluate, and present oral and written reports based on research and special studies. Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, graphically, orally and in writing. Ability to read and understand plats, maps, architectural drawings, and similar relevant documents. Knowledge of software packages such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Suites, GIS, and the techniques of preparing maps and charts. Physical Demands The physical abilities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, write, hear, speak, and be required to exert up to 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. May require fingering: picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision, peripheral, and depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Environmental Conditions Work is performed primarily in an office environment that requires the employee to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. The employee works in air‑conditioned office surroundings most of the time with occasional trips outside the office for inspections, site analyses and other observations. Due to the nature and non‑specific location of the work environment, tasks include potential for intermittent exposure to disagreeable elements, e.g., heat, humidity, inclement weather. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability. #J-18808-Ljbffr