Senior Planner

Job Title

The purpose of this position is to perform a variety of advanced level professional planning work in architectural planning and design and to provide responsible staff assistance to a Principal Planner or Deputy Community Development Director.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and present recommendations on various development permits and applications; prepare appropriate reports.
• Conduct hearings and make decisions on requests for variances and use permits.
• Exercise responsibility for a major aspect of planning such as area plan development, standards for high rise structures outside urban areas, analyzing planning areas for Federal fund eligibility, or evaluating public input to major project plans and building informed public consensus.
• Confer with engineers, developers, architects, a variety of agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating planning and zoning, architectural, landscape planning and design or transportation matters; provide information regarding City development requirements.
• May provide lead and technical assistance to professional and technical planning staff; may assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies.
• Accept and analyze development applications; prepare appropriate noticing and advertising; attend public hearings and follow up on matters requiring a zoning administration decision.
• Interpret and apply codes, laws and regulations to ensure that development, applications, City projects and municipal code amendments are in compliance.
• Conduct and supervise planning studies in the community to gather data for evaluating current and long-range zoning, planning, or transportation projects.
• Prepare written and graphic representations of concepts pertaining to major planning and architectural projects; perform extensive research regarding implementation of policies established by the general plan, transportation plan, zoning ordinance, or other land use and development ordinances.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public regarding zoning, architectural, site and landscape design, land use and the general plan; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Participate in a variety of public and board meetings as necessary; make public presentations on various aspects to the Planning Boards & Commissions.
• May participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• May participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for budget items; monitor and control expenditures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Work Experience: Requires two (2) years of urban planning experience. Some positions may require two (2) years of increasingly responsible professional architectural and landscape planning and design or transportation planning experience. Some positions, depending on assignment, may require two (2) years of real estate acquisitions, project or construction management experience.

Candidates must have the minimum amount of work experience. Years of experience are based upon a full-time work schedule (2,080 hours per year). The sum of an applicant's full-time and/or part-time qualifying work experience must meet or exceed the stated minimum qualification. Education will not substitute for the required work experience; however, related unpaid and/or volunteer work experience may be used as qualifying work experience.

Education: Requires the equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in architecture, city planning, public or business administration or degree related to the core functions of this position.

The term "equivalent" means that directly related work experience exceeding the required work experience will substitute in equal time increments for college-level education, for example: one year of additional directly related work experience will substitute for one year of college education (30 credit hours).

Additional Requirements

Applicants considered for this job classification must pass the following:

• Criminal history background investigation

Essential Functions

For a complete list of City of Tempe job descriptions go to:

Job Descriptions | City of Tempe, AZ

This position is FLSA Exempt which means employees are not eligible for overtime compensation and/or compensatory time.

Employees in this position are represented by the United Arizona Employees Association (UAEA).

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The City of Tempe is an Equal Opportunity / Reasonable Accommodation employer. The City does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability, and United States military veteran status. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will make a reasonable accommodation(s) during the recruitment & selection process. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Benefits

The City of Tempe offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Pay Increases occur in July
• 13 Paid Holidays, 1 Personal Day, 8 hours Winter Holiday Leave
• Vacation Accrual; starts at 9.33 hours/month
• Sick Leave Accrual; 8 hours/month
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Wellness Program Discount on health premiums
• Medical Reimbursement Program; $53/month
• Tuition Reimbursement; $6,000/year
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined benefit plan with mandatory employer and employee contributions currently at 12.29% which includes a Long-Term Disability benefit
• Public Safety Retirement Personnel System
• Supplemental Retirement Plans through Nationwide; 457, 401K, and Employer contribution