Planner II

Salary: $76,169.60 - $101,608.00 Annually
Location : Lincoln, NE
Job Type: Full time/probationary or status
Job Number: 202600352
Department: Planning and Development Services Department
Division: Long Range Planning
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 7/19/2026 11:59 PM Central


Job Posting Information
Help Shape the Future of Lincoln

Are you passionate about creating vibrant, walkable, and resilient communities? Do you enjoy blending creativity, urban design, and planning to make a lasting impact?

The City of Lincoln is seeking an Urban Design Planner to join our Planning and Development Services Department. In this role, you'll help shape the future of a fast-growing Midwest city by leading transformative planning and urban design initiatives that influence neighborhoods, commercial districts, redevelopment projects, and public spaces.

This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with architects, planners, engineers, developers, elected officials, neighborhood organizations, and residents to create a city that is safe, livable, economically strong, and welcoming for generations to come.

About the Planning and Development Services Department

The Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) partners with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders to create a safe, livable, and economically vibrant Lincoln. Through planning, building compliance, housing, and community development, PDS provides responsive, accessible service that helps move projects forward while supporting the City's long-term vision.

As a member of the Long Range Planning Division , you'll work on both long-term planning initiatives and current urban design projects that directly influence Lincoln's continued growth and success.

What You'll Do

As an Urban Design Planner, you will:

• Lead and participate in complex urban design and planning projects, including special planning studies, neighborhood and subarea plans, and redevelopment initiatives.
• Review residential and commercial development proposals for consistency with adopted urban design standards, planning policies, and City regulations.
• Help develop and update urban design standards, planning policies, ordinances, and regulations.
• Serve as professional staff support for one of the City's design review boards.
• Collaborate with City departments, private design professionals, developers, attorneys, and community members throughout the planning and development process.
• Prepare reports, presentations, graphics, and recommendations for public meetings and decision-makers.
• Develop creative design concepts and visualizations that communicate planning ideas and enhance community engagement.
• Provide technical expertise on challenging planning and urban design issues while exercising sound professional judgment.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a collaborative professional who enjoys solving complex planning challenges and communicating design ideas to a variety of audiences.

Successful candidates will have:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to interpret and apply planning principles, design standards, regulations, and public policy.
• Experience balancing technical analysis with creative problem-solving.
• The ability to build productive working relationships with colleagues, elected officials, consultants, developers, and members of the public.

Experience using visualization and design software such as SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Creative Cloud , or similar programs is highly valued.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in one of the social or engineering sciences.
• Professional experience planning or urban design experience in current or long-range planning or in one of the following specialties: transportation planning, historic preservation, wireless telecommunication facilities or other specialized planning function.
• Or equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who possess:

• Master's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and/or licensure or certification through the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
• Experience with urban design guidelines, professional planning, or design review.
• Strong graphic communication and visualization skills.

Why You'll Enjoy Working Here

You'll join a collaborative team that values thoughtful planning, innovative design, and public service. Your work will have a visible impact on Lincoln's future by helping create great neighborhoods, thriving commercial districts, and high-quality public spaces.

This position offers opportunities to work on projects ranging from redevelopment initiatives and long-range planning to design review and policy development-providing meaningful variety and professional growth.

Why Lincoln?

Home to more than 300,000 residents, Lincoln has experienced steady growth for more than three decades and consistently earns national recognition for its quality of life, strong economy, and affordability.

As Nebraska's capital city and home to a vibrant university community, Lincoln offers the amenities of a larger metropolitan area while maintaining the accessibility and friendliness of a smaller city. Residents enjoy nationally recognized trail systems, outstanding parks, excellent schools, low crime, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Benefits

The City of Lincoln offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-matched retirement plan
• Professional public service career with opportunities for growth and development
• Remote work option after six months of employment, subject to department and supervisor approval

Join Our Team

If you're excited about helping shape the future of one of America's most livable cities through thoughtful planning and exceptional urban design, we encourage you to apply.

Bring your creativity, technical expertise, and passion for community building to the City of Lincoln and help create places where people want to live, work, and thrive.
We value each City of Lincoln employee and one way we demonstrate this is by providing an attractive and competitive total compensation package that adds value to our employees' professional and personal lives. The following benefits are available for this position:

• Pay increases are available upon completion of the 6-month new employee probationary period, and annually thereafter based on performance.

• We encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering 11 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave annually that you begin accruing upon hire; plus 11 paid holidays and 2 personal convenience days.

• All medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family begin the first of the month following hire, no need to wait!

• 30 days of Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.

• Up to 4 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave

• $70,000 of Life Insurance

• $1,250 of Tuition Reimbursement

• 401(a) Retirement Plan . If you make a 7% contribution, the City will contribute 9%

• Employer provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses that occur after you leave City employment.

• Optional benefits include:
  • Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Allstate Voluntary Plans
  • Supplemental Term Life
  • Deferred Compensation Plans

01


APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGMENT: 1. This application process is hand scored. 2. All questions must be fully answered to receive full credit. 3. Copied/pasted answers will not receive full credit.4. "See resume" in lieu of providing detailed responses will not receive full credit.5. All employers, work and volunteer experience, and education referred to on this questionnaire must also be listed in the Work and Education sections of the application for verification and to receive credit.6. I am responsible for the accuracy and completeness of my application.

• Acknowledge

02


Indicate if you have college-level coursework in the following.

• Community/Regional Planning
• Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Other Design Profession
• Urban Design
• Other related coursework (specify below)
• No related coursework

03


Specify other related coursework. If not applicable, enter N/A.
04


Indicate if you have a degree in one of the fields listed in question 2.

• No degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Associate's Degree

05


Do you have experience as a planner, architect, or urban designer at the professional level?

• No experience
• Yes, less than 2 years of experience
• Yes, more than 2 years of experience

06


If yes, please list the employers from our application where you acquired this experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
07


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
08


Do you have a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners or American Institute of Architects?

• Yes
• No

09


Do you have experience reviewing development projects and applying urban design standards and principals, evaluating them in regard to established codes and standards, and making recommendations to appointed and elected officials?

• Yes
• No

10


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
11


Do you have experience making presentations to, or working with, appointed and elected officials, and with the general public or organized groups?

• Yes
• No

12


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
13


Do you have experience drafting design standards, specialized planning reports or studies, subarea plans, or comprehensive plan elements?

• Yes
• No

14


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
15


Do you have experience as a project manager or planner/designer in charge of major professional planning studies or initiatives?

• Yes
• No

16


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
17


Do you have experience with SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Lumion or GIS?

• Yes
• No

18


If yes, please describe examples of your work experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.
Required Question