Senior Planner

Senior Planner

The Town of Clayton is seeking applicants for a Senior Planner for the Planning Department. The Town of Clayton employs more than 340 full-time staff in areas including police, fire, and electric utilities. The Town of Clayton is the fastest growing town in Johnston County, which is the fastest growing county in the State of North Carolina. The vision for the Town of Clayton includes a thriving town where growth contributes to the quality of life enjoyed by long-time residents and newcomers alike; easy access but with an atmosphere that feels smaller than it is; a system of parks and greenways that connect people and places; neighborhoods with a variety of quality living options; a town that offers opportunities for people to live, create, shop and eat; a bustling and historic downtown, and businesses that are successful, growing, and investing in the community.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Senior Planner position is an advanced professional level position that manages and reviews a variety of complex planning projects. The primary role of this position will be current planning efforts, including but not limited to, communication and implementation of Town land use regulations, review of site plans for the Technical Review Committee, and review of master plans and concept plans as part of conditional rezonings. Secondary roles of this position, including but not limited to, will be: long-range planning efforts, specific area plans, comprehensive plan updates, text amendment updates, and special studies. This position will also make presentations to the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and Town Council. Persons interested in this position should be willing to mentor staff, provide insight on regulation development, collaborate with internal and external agencies, be a partner with the development and business community, and serve as a liaison between the department and the general public.

• Serves as the project manager for planning applications including but not limited to Conditional and Conventional Rezoning applications, Special Use Permits, Site Plans, Variances, Annexations, Major Subdivisions, and Final Plats.
• Provides high-quality reviews for planning applications, with a focus on compliance with the Town's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and other adopted plans and policies including, but not limited to, the Town's Comprehensive Growth Plan and Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
• Manages proposed Conditional Rezoning applications and works closely with applicants to negotiate and develop recommended Conditions of Approval prior to the application proceeding to the Planning Board and Town Council.
• Prepares reports and agenda materials, and makes presentations and recommendations to the Planning Board, Town Council, and Board of Adjustment for planning applications.
• Effectively communicates and interprets town land use regulations and policies to customers.
• Facilitates and leads pre-application conference discussions as they pertain to planning regulation with the Town's Unified Development Ordinance and other adopted plans/policies.
• Provides thorough reviews of planning applications during the Technical Review Committee (TRC) process and collaborates with other departments as needed to provide high-quality reviews.
• Conducts informal discussions with prospective applicants regarding development applications and processes.
• Reviews commercial building permit applications for compliance with approved plans.
• Performs site inspections to ensure compliance with approved plans.
• Represents the department in meetings with other Town departments, elected officials, and outside agencies as needed.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints with tact and professionalism.
• Understands North Carolina statutory requirements as they relate to vested rights and other regulatory land use topics.
• Seeks guidance and leadership when needed to navigate complex issues and develop solutions and courses of action.
• Provides feedback and recommendations to departmental leadership on changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and internal processes/procedures.
• Serves as a mentor, leader, and team player for the department, Town, and in interactions with the development and business community and residents of Clayton.

Special Requirements, Education & Experience

Knowledge of North Carolina State Statutes Chapter 160D and how these statutes apply to local government planning practice and regulations. Knowledge of planning best practices. Knowledge of municipal government operations. Knowledge of planning department applications, permit types, and the levels of reviews required to process and approve each application. Skill of applying design standards to architectural building elevations for compliance to the Unified Development Ordinance. Skill in negotiating conditions during review of a Conditional Rezoning application to ensure a high-quality product. Skill in researching properties utilizing mapping tools and information available in the Register of Deeds. Skill in reading and understanding site, building elevation, grading, topography, utility, landscape, and lighting plans. Skill in utilizing tools and software applications to provide technical review comments. Skill in using electronic equipment and software applications, such as Microsoft Word, to prepare and review documents. Skill in using analytical tools and software applications, such as Microsoft Excel.

Ability to identify and articulate planning best practices to applicants to promote high-quality development. Ability to provide analysis and recommendations for planning projects, text amendments, and land use policy development while maintaining a reasonable, development supportive context. Ability to prepare staff reports, complete agenda packets, and deliver required public notices within required deadlines for the department's various boards (e.g., Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, and Town Council). Ability to conduct a thorough analysis of discretionary applications in order to advise applicants how to achieve success and to provide confident recommendations to Town leadership. Ability to meet department and State-mandated review deadlines for applications. Ability to clearly communicate Town land use regulations that may conflict with an applicant's objectives and to identify reasonable alternatives or solutions where appropriate. Ability to prepare and deliver professional presentations to elected and appointed officials and to communicate complex planning concepts effectively to the general public during public meetings and public hearings.

Education and Experience: A high school diploma or GED is required. A bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, geography, or a related field is required. A master's degree in urban and regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field is preferred. Requires a minimum of six years local government or private sector planning experience with a bachelor's degree, or four years with a master's degree. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is required within two years of employment. North Carolina Certified Zoning Official (CZO) certification is required within two years of employment. OR Depending on the position, the Town may consider an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.