Senior Planner

Job Description

The City of Avondale has an opportunity for a Senior Planner with the Development Services Department. This is an FLSA‑exempt, full‑time position with benefits. This recruitment will remain open until filled. The first review of applications will be on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and weekly thereafter.

Performs an advanced level of professional and technical city and urban planning work associated with community planning and development. Manages, reviews, and implements both current and long‑range planning and development projects. The distinction between this position and a Planner position is the emphasis on managing more complex planning assignments, exercising greater independence and judgment, having greater expertise with building and site design, and providing guidance to the Planner position as needed.

Acts as project manager and reviews development proposals. Provides technical support, information, and guidance to property owners, developers, Planning staff, other City departments, outside agencies, elected and appointed officials, and the general public on adopted ordinances, policies, plans, and procedures.

• Serves as project manager for planning projects and land development proposals by administering applications, directing consultants and coordinating staff, scheduling meetings and public notifications, planning data research and analysis, and mediating with developers.
• Manages complex planning projects including high‑profile economic development‑oriented, controversial, and sensitive master‑planned single‑family residential communities, commercial and office developments, multi‑family residential, and industrial business parks.
• Reviews plans for compliance, makes recommendations, resolves issues, and coordinates application review process with affected parties including applicant, property owner, developer, City staff, architects, engineers, landscape architects, traffic engineers, and legal counsel.
• Conducts technical site‑plan review and analysis of preliminary and final subdivision plats, development site plans, and construction plans for compliance with City development policies and design guidelines.
• Conducts design reviews of site plans, building architectural plans, landscape plans, and signage for commercial, industrial, residential, mixed‑use, and other project types.
• Conducts residential design reviews for production and custom single‑family residential homes and multi‑family residential.
• Conducts field inspections of projects under construction, including final site inspection and approval of residential, commercial, and industrial development projects.
• Prepares various amendments to City documents and maintains long‑range planning functions by gathering, analyzing, and presenting data and making recommendations on changes, compiling information on special studies, and preparing reports.
• Participates in or manages updates to specific plans, design manuals, General Plan, and similar long‑range planning documents.
• Assists in the interpretation and application of City codes, ordinances, regulations, standards, guidelines, policies, and procedures pertaining to planning, zoning, land development, land use, and development design proposals.
• Researches code‑related issues as needed and makes new policy recommendations to management.
• Evaluates complex land development proposals for pre‑applications, General Plan amendments, text amendments, rezoning, conditional use permits, variances, annexations, land subdivisions, and other development requests.
• Reviews and provides recommendations on development agreements and maintenance improvement districts, formulates staff recommendations and conditions, schedules legal notifications and public hearing dates, and presents findings and recommendations before the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, and City Council.
• Serves as the City’s project manager at neighborhood meetings and drafts and reviews ordinances and resolutions.
• Prepares and manages the creation of maps, exhibits, and aerial photographs through GIS, Adobe Acrobat, PowerPoint presentations, and other visual aids for staff reports and presentations…