Planner, Government, Environmental​/ Urban Planning

City of Kirkland

$97,108.45 - $ Annually

City Hall - 123 5th Ave, Kirkland, WA

Full-Time

Job Number:

Planning & Building - PB Team 03

Opening Date: 06/11/2026

Closing Date:
Continuous

Exempt

AFSCME

The Planner serves as a first-level professional planner. Implements the mission of the Department in order to assure the orderly growth of the City. Undertakes and coordinates professional planning services involving processing of discretionary and ministerial development applications, and providing public information about City planning policies, regulations, and activities. Assists with preparing land use plans and regulations, and collection and analysis of geographic and socioeconomic data.

• Provides information and interpretation of applicable City development regulations and policies to the general public, permit applicants, and public officials - over the telephone, at the counter, through e-mail, and at meetings.
• Performs technical review of building and other ministerial development permits to ensure compliance with zoning and related development regulations, comprehensive plan policies and conditions of approval for prior discretionary development permits. Makes decisions on behalf of the Department about ministerial development permit applications' compliance with regulations and policies.
• Processes minor development proposals requiring discretionary City approval, for example: variances, and short plats.
• Depending on availability of projects and planner workload, processes development proposals requiring discretionary City approval, for example: land use permits, Planned Unit Developments and subdivisions, including some complex and controversial projects.
• Reviews proposals and uses professional judgment to evaluate the compliance with zoning and related development regulations and comprehensive plan policies, coordinates with other departments and local agencies, prepares written staff reports and makes recommendations for decision makers.
• Reviews and issues formal decisions on Design Review applications.
• Reviews development proposals and planning projects for compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Presents staff reports at public meetings before the Hearing Examiner, Design Review Board, and City Council.
• Represents the Department at public meetings hosted by the City, developers, and civic groups.
• Works with applicants, individuals and interest groups to negotiate revisions, resolve disputes and facilitate consensus in issues pertaining to building permits, development permits and planning projects.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.

• Prepares legal documents associated with development permits. Monitors maintenance and performance securities, including wetland mitigation and landscaping.
• Performs research tasks as assigned.
• Creates and/or revises administrative procedures to implement changes to policies and codes.
• Works with other members of the Department in collaborative problem solving and completion of tasks.
• Supports the Code Enforcement Officer, including code analysis and site visits.
• Represents the department on interdepartmental service teams and technical groups.
• Collects and analyzes demographic, land use, and related data.
• Assists in preparing policies, regulations, and implementing programs influencing the growth and development of the City.
• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.

• Knowledge of planning practices and land use codes.
• Ability to analyze code provisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly both in writing and orally, including the ability to make public presentations before hearing bodies.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Ability to negotiate solutions and facilitate consensus on planning issues.
• Ability to operate personal computer programs, including those involving word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and permit tracking.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education:
  
  Undergraduate degree in planning or related field.
• Experience:
  
  1 year of professional planning-related experience is desired.
• Or:
  In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's license and ability to remain insurable under the City's insurance to operate motor vehicles.
• Ability to perform site visits.

Job involves desk work which may be interrupted with phone and counter calls. Involves attendance at meetings in City Hall or off-site and before or after normal working…