Planner Associate - Land Use

Salary: $53,174.00 - $66,944.32 Annually
Location : City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 05M00000084
Department: Planning and Development Review
Opening Date: 06/02/2026
Closing Date: 6/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity... YOU !!!


This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• T uition Assistance Program

Description
The Land Use Administration Division of the Department of Planning & Development Review (PDR), a division that works cross city departments to review land use entitlement applications and implement the comprehensive plan, is hiring for the position of Planner Associate. This is an entry-level planner position. The selected applicant will be an integral part of providing professional planning services, land use planning, preservation planning, zoning administration, and the monitoring, review, and evaluation of land use development proposals and urban design. The selected candidate will be the support staff of the Land Use Administrative Division on projects that will require the coordination of multiple City agencies and disciplines, including the review of site plans.


As assigned, work may include: reviewing applications, proposals, bids, plans, and reports for land use and zoning ordinance compliance; conducting field investigations; preparing and presenting reports; maintaining databases; coordinating city agency reviews, including determining review criteria; designing and developing comprehensive community and neighborhood development plans; determining project compliance; analyzing effects of plans on land use, redevelopment, and rehabilitation; providing technical assistance, and managing site plan review.
Supervision Exercised/Received:

• Exercised: This classification typically does not supervise other employees, but may serve as lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion.
• Received: This classification typically reports to a Program and Operations Supervisor or team lead.
• Note: Other reporting relationships may apply.

Duties include but are not limited to
Typical Percentage of Time (none less than 10%)

1. Assists various commissions through providing technical expertise, presenting applications, advising staff on the preparation of reports, assisting with long-range initiatives, and other administrative tasks. 30%
2. Reviews documents such as tax abatement projects, demolition permits, land use property proposals, applications, site plans, and building proposals. 25%
3. Assists with special projects such as census updates, the City's Master Plan, HUD-funded projects, Cell Tower Environmental Impact reports, GIS-based maps, and visionary small area plans and reports. 10%
4. Communicates with members of the community. 15%
5. Conducts site visits and takes measurements for purposes such as to develop site plans, floor plans, elevations, and 3D renderings. 10%
6. Organizes and conducts meetings. 10%

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Basic knowledge and application of planning and zoning, site plans, commercial and residential building plans, real estate, and development regulations.
• Basic understanding of engineering principals, land use and zoning law, landscape architecture, architecture, and construction methods
• Basic knowledge of zoning, subdivision, and site development ordinances.
• Knowledge of re-zoning and special use permit processes
• General knowledge of Site Plan and Subdivision review processes
• Understanding of phases of a project's lifecycle from pre-design through construction administration
• Graphic design
• General knowledge of urban planning and design; preservation planning principles, laws, and regulations; zoning ordinances and ordinance preparation; master planning; traditional neighborhood development; transportation planning; land title principles and surveying; and engineering principles
• Expertise with some combination of the following computer programs: Microsoft Office Suite; GIS; EnerGov; Legistar; Blue Beam; SharePoint; word processing programs; AutoCAD; SketchUp; ArcGIS; IRender nXt; and Adobe Creative Suite (i.e. - InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Providing excellent customer service, including dealing with difficult customers
• Being a clear and effective facilitator, including public speaking skills and defending recommendations/positions
• Managing databases
• Composing documents
• Negotiating and balancing the needs of citizens with economic demands, health and human service needs, goals of private corporations, and land use regulations
• Assessing and evaluating a project's conformance with Commission of Architectural Review Guidelines
• Utilizing a large-scale printer/plotter
• Preparing documentation according to state and federal standards
• Photographing sites for clarity and documentation
• Conducting research
• Reading and understanding building plans
• Leading effective meetings
• Conducting site inspections

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Analyze information
• Pay attention to detail
• Learn new programs quickly
• Communicate planning and local government policy issues to a range of audiences
• Interact and work with different groups of people
• Undertake complex projects with multiple deadlines and stakeholders
• Adapt to unique variables (i.e., physical, regulatory, political)

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in city/urban planning, civil or environmental engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, real estate, law, or a related field
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• None required

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, HR Division Chief by email at


This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company .

The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.
With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".


The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.
01


10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

02


5-point veteran's must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following:Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52-7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, civil or environmental engineering, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

04


What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• High School/GED
• Some College
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

05


Do you have at least three (3) years of related experience or an equivalent amount of graduate-level training?

• Yes
• No

06


How many years of experience do you have working in land use planning, urban design, landscape architecture, or similar field?

• less than (2) years of experience
• two (2) to three (3) years of experience
• four (4) to five (5) years of experience
• six (6) or more years of experience
• six (6) or more years of experience

07


How many years of experience do you have working in local government in an urban setting?

• less than (2) years of experience
• two (2) to three (3) years of experience
• four (4) to five (5) years of experience
• six (6) or more years of experience

08


How many years of experience do you have supporting boards and commissions?

• less than (2) years of experience
• two (2) to three (3) years of experience
• four (4) to five (5) years of experience
• six (6) or more years of experience

09


How many years of experience do you have reviewing site and/or building plans?

• less than (2) years of experience
• two (2) to three (3) years of experience
• four (4) to five (5) years of experience
• six (6) or more years of experience

10


What best describes your knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of land-use administration and zoning?

• no knowledge
• basic knowledge
• intermediate knowledge
• advance knowledge

11


What best describes your knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of urban design?

• no knowledge
• basic knowledge
• intermediate knowledge
• advanced knowledge

12


What best describes your skill level for developing conceptual plans, diagrams, sketches, and renderings?

• no skills
• basic skills
• intermediate skills
• advanced skills

13


What best describes your skill level for creating publications, presentations, and content for websites?

• no skills
• basic skills
• intermediate skills
• advanced skills

14


What best describes your ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both in writing and speech?

• no ability
• basic ability
• intermediate ability
• advanced ability

15


What best describes your ability to facilitate discussion and debate and resolve conflicts?

• no ability
• basic ability
• intermediate ability
• advanced ability

Required Question