Planner I (10690, Grade 20)

Planner I

Do you have a passion for planning and exceptional customer service skills, effective communication skills, and a basic understanding of GIS? If this sounds like you, then the Montgomery County Planning Department is where you want to be! We are currently seeking a Planner I to join our Communications and Engagement Division. This position will require excellent customer service skills, knowledge of planning, and basic GIS knowledge to review development plans for addressing and permitting purposes and provide planning and development information to the public.

Examples of Important Duties

In this role, you will:

• Review submitted development applications for compliance with submittal requirements, accuracy, and completeness; including applications that are submitted both electronically and by paper.
• Review and analyze regulatory development plans for completeness and compliance with local ordinances and guidelines, and determine compliance with Preliminary Plans, Site Plans, Forest Conservation Plans, and Conditional Use Plans.
• Maintain the Department's application database and associated GIS layers.
• Identify application deficiencies and changes needed for compliance and make recommendations and decisions.
• Prepare and disseminate detailed written review comments on application issues and discuss them with applicants and their representatives.
• Conduct research and analysis necessary to determine the applicability of codes and guidelines to individual properties and advise developers and property owners on the applicability and next steps for development.
• Communicate and interact effectively with developers, builders, engineers, architects, and attorneys to explain application procedures and submittal requirements.
• Escalate issues to supervisor.
• Provide expert knowledge of:
  1. Montgomery County Codes, subdivision regulations, forest conservation law, and Planning Board conditions of approval
  2. Potential development of properties
  3. Regulatory development application requirements
• Train other Planners on utilizing GIS and applying the local ordinances and guidelines to provide information services.
• Utilize electronic plan review, databases, and GIS to review and research development plans, addressing plans, and permit applications and issue final approval.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field.
2. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total four (4) years.
3. Valid driver's license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver's license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee's ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

Supplemental Information

Classification Specification: Planner I About Us Montgomery Planning is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). For nearly 100 years, M-NCPPC has had a national reputation for excellence in planning and today serves a culturally diverse population of over one million people on the border of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County. We provide countywide planning functions including long-range planning, as well as reviews of development applications in diverse built environments of downtown urban districts, suburban communities, and agricultural areas. We have pioneered nationally modeled programs in agricultural preservation, inclusionary housing, and transit-oriented design. To learn more about who we are and what we do, we encourage you to watch this brief video here and visit our website at

The M-NCPPC offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, generous leave plans, an employee pension plan, and a deferred compensation plan. Positions may qualify for public service student loan forgiveness. Montgomery Planning is conveniently located minutes from Washington, DC in downtown Wheaton, MD next to the Wheaton Metro Station, several bus lines, and bikeshare. A commuter stipend is available. Telework opportunities (up to two days a week) and tuition assistance are also available. We work in one of the first LEED Platinum-certified government-owned office buildings in Maryland.

Diversity Statement The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

The salary range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for a sign-on bonus (external candidates only).

May be subject to medical, drug, and alcohol testing. Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of application at View phone number on click.appcast.io (Maryland Relay 7-1-1). M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.