Principal Planner - Internal

Principal Planner – Internal Only

At the City of Lone Tree, we are committed to hiring individuals who are passionate about their community, eager to grow in their careers, and motivated to make a meaningful impact. Here, you won’t just take on a job, you’ll join a dedicated team working to shape a vibrant, forward-thinking City. Whether you’re driven by public service, energized by problem-solving, or simply seeking purposeful work alongside exceptional colleagues, you’ll find your place with us.

At the City of Lone Tree, we lead the way with exemplary service, collaborative partnerships, and continuous improvement. The City’s Six Big Ideas are demonstrated by our mission to do things the best way- not just the expected way, our ability to work together using all areas of expertise to achieve a common goal, and our commitment to fulfilling the needs of our community through thoughtful interactions.

Lone Tree’s Planning team is a division within the City’s Community Development Department, along with the Building and Code Enforcement Divisions. The Planning Division manages a wide variety of current development and long-range planning projects and activities in fulfillment of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Under the direction of the Planning Manager, this position oversees a range of advanced level planning projects and activities, while serving in a leadership and supervisory capacity. This position applies experience, outstanding communication, and collaboration skills to identify issues, advance solutions, and build relationships. Critical thinking, collaboration and strong communication skills are central to this position.

This position requires comprehensive mastery of the principles and practices of local government and current and long-range planning and development processes and functions at an advanced level within the profession. This position makes recommendations for action on land use matters to the Planning Commission and City Council and is responsible for overseeing a wide variety of planning services in fulfillment of the City’s vision and goals.

This position manages complex projects with direct influence on each project. This position guides and supports other planners both as a direct supervisor and as a professional mentor. The ideal candidate applies experience in both current and long-range planning to achieve the broader goals of the organization and the community vision.

The following essential job functions and examples of duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive. Duties may be modified, added or deleted at the discretion of Planning Manager.

• Model the core values of the organization. Seek to connect current work assignments to the goals and objectives of the organization and the community.
• Manage, train and coach direct reports and serve as a knowledgeable resource to the planning teams and our customers.

• Evaluate and administer complex land use development projects including, but not limited to site improvement plans, rezonings, subdivisions and special use permits.
• Prepare staff reports, project packets and agenda items within required deadlines.
• Effectively present information (privately and publicly) to supervisors, City Council, boards and commissions as well as the general public.
• Draft and present a variety of reports and presentations for varying audiences, to include technical analyses, informational reports, media articles, legislative comments, and public and professional presentations and trainings.
• Respond to public inquiries in a professional, transparent and politically sensitive manner.
• Establish and curate Division policies,…