Principal Planner

Principal Planner

The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) is seeking a motivated, team-oriented Principal Planner to join the Comprehensive Planning Section within the Planning Division. This Planner specifically serves as the Section's Zoning Ordinance Amendment Coordinator, who performs advanced level planning work with assignments that involve managing zoning studies and coordinating the Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission.

Major Job Duties:

• Leading and managing the development of County-wide policy and zoning studies resulting in zoning ordinance amendments with data, planning analyses and research, and well-informed recommendations, and supporting others who conduct similar studies;
• Managing the activities of interdepartmental teams, ad hoc working groups, and facilitating community engagement processes and interaction with community members, advisory commissions, and private industry, to consult, conduct and present planning research, and form recommendations;
• Developing and implementing project scopes of work and timelines to meet assigned work plan priorities and ensuring that project results align with the Planning Manager's and Planning Director's expectations;
• Serving as the liaison to the Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission, coordinating its monthly meetings and related administration duties including coordinating the zoning studies and amendments annual work plan;
• Exercising sound zoning principles and practice through ongoing coordination with the Zoning Administrator and County Attorney's Office, and applying a broad understanding of policies and guidelines for transportation, public spaces and facilities, biophilic and sustainable design, historic preservation, housing, economic development, and urban design;
• Supporting activities performed by the Comprehensive Planning Section, including reviews of Comprehensive Plan Elements, related amendments, and rezoning and special exception development proposals for consistency with adopted plans and policies;
• Preparing recommendation reports for assigned projects, including presenting recommendations to senior management, advisory commissions and community groups, the Planning Commission, and the County Board;
• Managing consultants and related procurement activities; and
• Assisting and/or coordinating with staff from the Planning Division and/or other County departments on inter-departmental tasks or issues with County-wide policy implications.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Ability to work independently and perform as a team player who can manage multiple tasks;
• Experience analyzing complex, politically sensitive and highly visible issues, interpreting them and their interrelationships, and using sound judgment with political acumen to address them and inform staff of recommendations;
• Land use and physical planning sense and experience planning for equitable development, smart growth and sustainable transit-oriented development;
• Extensive experience collaborating among multi-disciplined professionals and stakeholders, contributing to high level policy discussions, and identifying innovative opportunities;
• Clear and effective presentation skills to communicate work and provide sound advice to County leadership, community stakeholders and elected officials on elements of the Comprehensive Plan, land use policies, zoning regulations, and other implementation strategies; and
• Commitment to promoting and implementing equitable engagement to reach all communities including those who are vulnerable, marginalized, or traditionally underrepresented in public engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Community or Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a directly related field; and
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in transit-oriented mixed-use planning, land use policy development, zoning administration, urban planning, development review, urban design, or landscape design.

Substitution: Additional education may be substituted for experience.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master's Degree in the related field and experience or credentials in one or more of the following:

• Managing highly complex zoning studies or planning projects and processes;
• Progressive responsibility in mixed-use and/or urban planning, community development, landscape design, or other related program areas;
• Preparing planning reports and multimedia presentations that effectively communicate related work to a range of audiences, including online and other social media platforms;
• Proficiency in computer software programs for urban planning analysis and urban design, such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Cloud;
• Senior-level project management of planning and development initiatives within an urban community and integration of equitable community engagement and/or facilitation; and/or
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification from the American Planning Association.