Planning Manager

Planning Manager

Development Services

Pay Range: $47.33 - $53.50/hr. | $98,453 - $111,295 annual compensation

Job Posting Closing on: Monday, August 3, 2026

Workdays & Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm; Some evening/weekend work required.

Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities, and Find Out More!

The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of over 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability. The Development Services Department seeks to make Fort Worth the most livable city in Texas by promoting orderly growth and development, safe construction and neighborhood vitality. We are looking for individuals that reflect our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

The Zoning and Design Review Division of the Development Services Department is seeking a charismatic and dynamic individual to manage and lead one of our teams. The Zoning and Design Review Division oversees the following functions for the city: assessment and recommendations for zoning, site plans, plats, annexations, street and alley vacations; tree removal; variances, special exceptions, and waivers; historic preservation; urban design; code amendments to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances; Council-initiated zoning and special reports; zoning determinations including legal nonconformity; reasonable accommodations; and collaboration with other city departments on the production of small area and corridor plans.

The Planning Manager is responsible for managing a team of about 10 people within the Zoning and Design Review division. The section is responsible for reviewing and advising city officials, developers, and customers in Historic Preservation and Urban Design Districts. It is also responsible for staffing primarily the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission and the Urban Design Commission, while also presenting some cases to other Boards and Commissions in the Division. Exact assignation of duties and commissions may vary due to Department's needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Planning, Urban Planning or Design, Public Administration, Urban Geography, or a related field
• Five (5) years of experience as a planner in one or more of the following areas – zoning, platting, historic preservation, urban design, annexation, tree preservation, and/or site plan review
• Two (2) years of supervisory responsibility or in a leading planner role
• Valid Driver's License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in land development and demonstrated knowledge of the various municipal and other regulatory requirements as they relate to zoning, nonconforming uses, reasonable accommodations, subdivisions, and the development review process
• Extensive experience in the public sector or private sector designing developments utilizing best practices for urban design and open spaces
• Excellent leadership skills with demonstrated ability to lead and work with cross-functional teams, commissions, and outside agencies
• Aptitude for quickly analyzing a program demands and determining potential streamline enhancements
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and/or Congress for New Urbanism Accredited (CNU-A) accreditations
• Recent experience utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS); permitting software; SketchUp or similar 3D design software; and Adobe Creative Suite
• Microsoft Office skills

The Planning Manager Job Responsibilities Include:

• Lead, direct, train, motivate, and coordinate the assigned duties and responsibilities of the team
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Select, supervise, train and evaluate subordinate team members
• Facilitate and manage assigned boards and commissions
• Explain to commissions, boards, developers and the general public the city planning ordinances, design policies and procedures
• Make presentations to various audiences including internal staff, boards and commissions, neighborhoods, and City Council
• Participate in developing the annual work program; recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objects; implement approved policies and procedures
• Make the team more effective by evaluating the quality, responsiveness, efficiency, and effectiveness of the team and work with co-workers on the continuous improvement of the team
• Perform administrative personnel duties including hiring, training, conducting performance evaluations, working with staff to correct deficiencies, and implement discipline procedures
• Perform other related duties as required

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work – Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

The City of Fort Worth is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of the City to recruit, hire, train and promote a diverse workforce without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or another non-merit factor.

The City of Fort Worth is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.

Candidates who do not meet the Education requirement, may be considered if they have more relevant work experience than the position requires. Those selected for employment will be required to pass Pre-Employment checks depending on the position requirements. Those could include, but are not limited to: criminal background check, drug screen, education verification, etc. criminal convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Employees are paid by direct deposit only.