Senior Planner

Senior Planner

Nestled along the shores of the Puget Sound and just a scenic ferry ride from Seattle, the City of Bremerton offers an exceptional blend of career opportunity and quality of life. From the vibrant Harborside district—featuring the Kitsap Conference Center, waterfront hotels, dining, and the Port of Bremerton Marina—to the creative energy of the Bremerton Creative District and Quincy Square, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy local attractions like the Puget Sound Navy Museum, stroll the waterfront Bremerton Boardwalk, or relax at Harborside Fountain Park. Cross the iconic Manette Bridge to explore charming shops and cafés, or unwind at Evergreen Rotary Park. Outdoor enthusiasts and golfers alike will appreciate the city-owned Gold Mountain Golf Course, while arts and culture thrive at venues like the Admiral Theatre and events such as the Bremerton Blackberry Festival. With its strong sense of community, natural beauty, and growing opportunities, Bremerton is an ideal place to build your career and make a lasting impact—explore our openings and discover your future here.

General Function

We are seeking an experienced Senior Planner to assist in complex long-range planning efforts, including comprehensive plan updates, land-use policy development, and the creation of zoning regulations that shape the community's future growth and development. Reporting to the Planning Manager, administers and performs complex community development work programs, plans, studies, and planning processes. Work requires considerable independence in selecting courses of action and resolving complex or unique issues within established department policies, procedures, and codes. Work is performed under limited direction and reviewed in coordination with the Planning Manager to ensure effective plan development and compliance with division goals, policies, and regulations as determined by the Director of Community Development.

Positions in the Senior Planner classification are distinguished from other planner classifications by the greater degree of responsibility for supervisory, technical, administrative, and public policy functions within the department's work program. The position requires advanced communication, collaboration, and customer service skills to support coworkers, elected officials, customers, and community members in manner that represents the interests of the Department and City.

Representative Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are intended to illustrate the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements does not exclude them from the position.

Long-Range Planning & Policy Development.

• Assists in preparation, amendment, and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, subarea plans, development regulations, functional plans, and other long-range planning initiatives.
• Prepares professional staff reports, recommendations, and supporting analyses for review and decision by the Planning Commission, City Council, and Hearing Examiner.
• Formulates planning programs by analyzing background information, developing plan concepts and goals, organizing public participation, coordinating with other departments and local, state, regional, and federal agencies, and preparing substantive and defensible information to support planning decisions.
• Identifies and evaluates proposed and amended legislation, regulations, policies, and ordinances affecting community development; recommends changes as appropriate; and drafts and presents proposed ordinances and policy amendments to the Planning Manager, Director, Hearing Examiner, Planning Commission, and City Council.
• Designs, prepares, and delivers presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council, Hearing Examiner, Design Review Board, community groups, elected officials, regional committees, and other public or private organizations.
• Provides technical and administrative support to boards, commissions, and committees and may serve as staff planner for assigned bodies.

Advanced Current Planning & Development Review.

• Reviews complex land use applications and site plans, conducts field inspections, and evaluates projects for compliance with applicable local and state regulations, plans, and policies. Provides technical guidance to other planners and oversees application review from pre-submittal through hearings and final action, including the collection and analysis of supporting information.
• Prepares professional staff reports, recommendations, and supporting analyses for review and decision by the Planning Commission, City Council, and Hearing Examiner.
• Advises community leaders, elected officials, boards, commissions, and the public on planning policies, procedures, the Comprehensive Plan and its components, development regulations, capital programs, and other community development matters.
• Coordinates planning and development review with other City departments, agencies, consultants, applicants, and community stakeholders to facilitate effective project review and implementation.
• Reviews planning studies, technical reports, and other materials prepared by staff, consultants, applicants, and partner agencies for consistency with City goals, policies, plans, and regulations.
• Assists in developing work assignments, reviewing written materials, and establishing policies and procedures to support efficient and effective division operations.

Grant Administration & Program Management.

• Performs professional grant administration functions including researching funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, and presenting funding proposals to federal, state, and other external funding agencies.
• Administers grant-funded programs and projects, including coordinating grant activities, monitoring implementation progress, ensuring compliance with grant agreements and regulatory requirements, maintaining program documentation, and preparing required financial and performance reports.
• Serves as lead project manager on assigned grant-funded initiatives and provides guidance and technical direction to less experienced staff members

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Entry Requirements)

• Principles and practices of municipal planning, community development, and program development.
• Land use planning, development permitting, and related review processes.
• The Washington State Growth Management Act and its application to municipal planning and community development.
• The State Environmental Policy Act and other applicable environmental laws and regulations.
• Comprehensive plans, subarea and functional plans, ordinances, development regulations, design standards, environmental review, and appeals processes.
• Municipal, county, state and federal planning and environmental laws, regulations, and procedures.
• Land use case law, Hearings Board decisions, and other legal principles related to governmental authority for land use regulation.
• State, local, and applicable building and development codes and their administration.
• State-mandated permitting procedures and timelines.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Public relations and community engagement practices.
• Computer applications used in community development, including geographic information systems and permitting software.

Ability to:

• Maintain a professional, respectful, and cooperative approach when working with coworkers, applicants, stakeholders, and the public, including during difficult or stressful situations.
• Perform current planning, long-range planning, or other community development projects as assigned.
• Independently manage complex assignments, evaluate issues, and develop or recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Analyze planning programs, policies, regulations, and operational needs and recommend appropriate changes.
• Conduct research, evaluate information, and prepare clear, accurate, and defensible reports and recommendations.
• Interpret and administer plans, ordinances, and regulations consistently, tactfully, and impartially while maintaining positive relationships with the public.
• Communicate effectively through verbal, written, and graphic methods with a diverse range of individuals, officials, agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrate advanced communication, collaboration, and customer service skills when working with coworkers, applicants, consultants, public officials, and members of the public.
• Identify and respond appropriately to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
• Establish priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and meet deadlines with limited direction.
• Assist in supervision, training, mentoring, and evaluation of staff.
• Guide meetings, public processes, and other events toward established goals.
• Use technology effectively to improve individual and department productivity and efficiency.

Qualifying Education and Experience (Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in Planning or a closely related field
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional planning experience, including two (2) years of program management, supervisory, or lead responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Planning or closely related field
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered, except where a license or certification is required by law or regulation.

Physical Requirements:

Work is primarily sedentary and requires sustained concentration, logical reasoning, creative thought, and a high degree of mental focus. Field visits and attendance at public hearings and meetings are required. Must have sufficient vision, with or without corrective lenses, to read fine print and distinguish shades of color; sufficient hearing, with or without a hearing aid, to communicate by telephone and in person; and sufficient manual dexterity to write clearly.

Working Conditions: