Senior Planner

Meade County Senior Planner

The Senior Planner performs advanced professional planning and administrative work involving County planning, development review, GIS, building inspection, floodplain management, stormwater permitting, and 911 addressing. The position applies professional planning principles and technical expertise to development proposals, regulatory programs, and special projects; coordinates assigned planning and development activities; assists with the development and application of County ordinances and regulations; and provides technical information and recommendations to County officials, boards and commissions, staff, development professionals, and the public.

Major duties include:

• Performing advanced professional planning work; coordinating County planning activities; assisting with the development, review, and revision of County plans, ordinances, regulations, standards, and procedures; preparing and presenting planning-related items to the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners; conducting and managing planning studies and special projects; preparing technical reports, findings, and recommendations; and providing professional planning assistance to developers, engineers, surveyors, property owners, and the public.
• Assisting with GIS-related activities in support of County planning and development functions; working with GIS staff to obtain, review, and analyze mapping and property data; utilizing GIS to prepare planning reports, maps, and analyses, including agricultural land assessment data; assisting with the preparation of mobile field maps and other GIS products; providing planning and development information for GIS mapping applications; and assisting with maintaining accurate and up-to-date planning-related GIS data.
• Assisting with permitting, plan review, building inspection, and development activities; providing technical assistance regarding permitting, plan review, construction inspections, and related requirements; assisting with recommending revisions to building and construction ordinances and standards; assisting with the review and approval of residential and commercial wastewater systems; assisting with subdivision inspections involving roadways, water systems, water retention systems, fire protection systems, and related infrastructure.
• Investigating and enforcing County codes and ordinances; responding to nuisance and other code-related complaints; preparing nuisance orders and other enforcement documents; issuing tickets and court summons as authorized; coordinating corrective actions; and providing testimony in court as needed.
• Assisting the County Floodplain Administrator with the administration of the County floodplain management program; reviewing and evaluating floodplain development permit applications; providing technical information regarding floodplain development requirements; assisting with FEMA audits and the Community Rating System; assisting with investigating potential violations of the floodplain ordinance; assisting with maintaining required FEMA files and records; assisting with stormwater permitting activities; and assisting with preparing annual reporting requirements for the State of South Dakota.
• Assisting with the County 911 addressing program; assisting with assigning and maintaining physical addresses for properties and structures; reviewing addressing requests associated with new development, subdivisions, and property changes; assisting with maintaining accurate addressing records and related GIS data; coordinating with appropriate County staff, emergency services, municipalities, postal services, utilities, and other agencies regarding addressing issues; and applying applicable County and emergency response addressing standards.
• Providing technical guidance, training, and assistance to department staff and other County personnel on planning, permitting, GIS, inspection, floodplain management, addressing, and related requirements; promoting consistent application of County policies, ordinances, standards, and procedures.
• Performing related duties.

Knowledge required by the position includes:

• Planning principles, practices, procedures, and applicable state statutes, County ordinances, regulations, and policies.
• Development review, permitting, subdivision, building inspection, construction, wastewater, and water systems.
• GIS principles, mapping applications, property data, and related planning uses.
• Floodplain and stormwater management requirements and applicable SDDNR rules and regulations.
• 911 addressing standards, policies, and procedures.
• Computers, mobile devices, and job-related software.
• Data collection, analysis, recordkeeping, and report preparation.

• Skill in reviewing development proposals, plans, applications, and technical documents.
• Skill in interpreting and applying ordinances, regulations, standards, and applicable state requirements.
• Skill in using GIS software and analyzing geographic and property data.
• Skill in investigating and enforcing applicable codes and ordinances.
• Skill in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data and preparing technical reports and recommendations.
• Skill in conducting research and presenting information to boards, commissions, officials, staff, and the public.
• Skill in oral and written communication and establishing effective working relationships.

The Planning Director assigns work in terms of department goals, priorities, and objectives. The Senior Planner performs work with considerable independence and exercises professional judgment in carrying out assigned responsibilities. The Planning Director reviews work through conferences, reports, and observation of work activities and provides guidance on unusual, complex, or policy-related matters.

Guidelines include applicable state statutes and administrative rules, County ordinances and policies, ICC building codes, planning and development standards, floodplain and stormwater regulations, SDDANR requirements, engineering manuals, technical references, and department policies and procedures. These guidelines require professional judgment, interpretation, and selection in their application to planning, development review, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and related activities.

The work involves varied professional planning, regulatory, administrative, and technical duties requiring judgment, research, analysis, and interpretation of applicable requirements. The purpose of this position is to support the Planning Director in County planning and development activities and contribute to orderly growth, effective implementation of regulations, and enforcement of County ordinances.

Contacts include County employees and officials, Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners members, property owners, developers, engineers, surveyors, attorneys, contractors, state and federal agencies, and the general public. Contacts are typically to exchange information, provide technical assistance, interpret planning and development requirements, coordinate activities, resolve issues, and present findings and recommendations.

The work is typically performed in an office and in the field and involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, and stooping. The employee may occasionally lift or carry equipment and materials and may use tools or equipment requiring manual dexterity. Fieldwork may occur in varying weather conditions and may involve exposure to dust, dirt, uneven terrain, construction areas, and moving equipment. The use of personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, gloves, hard hats, or other protective devices, may be required when performing field or inspection activities.

Supervisory and management responsibility: This position has no direct supervisory or management responsibilities. The Senior Planner may provide technical assistance and guidance to department staff as needed in the performance of assigned duties.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning, community development, geography, public administration, or a related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible professional planning or related experience, preferably including experience in development review, zoning, permitting, GIS, code enforcement, or related local government functions.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid South Dakota driver's license appropriate for the vehicles or equipment operated.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, applicable International Code Council (ICC) Residential and Commercial Inspector certifications.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, applicable SDDANR wastewater certification.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, applicable floodplain management certification.