Planner III

Job Description

Under the direction of the Planning Division leadership, the Planner III serves as a lead individual contributor responsible for administering current planning activities within Gwinnett County. This position functions as the technical lead for the Current Planning section, providing advanced professional expertise in zoning administration, code interpretation, and development review.

The Planner III is expected to develop and maintain subject matter expertise in Gwinnett County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and application of recommendations from the Unified Plan. This individual evaluates development proposals, prepares recommendations, and ensures consistency with applicable County policy and regulations. The role performs highly technical planning work independently with minimal supervision and provides guidance, mentoring, and quality control support to Planner I and Planner II.

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for current planning activities, ensuring successful execution of projects and initiatives that align with Gwinnett County’s vision and goals and comply with the Unified Development Ordinance.
• Provide technical support to Division leadership in managing the Planning Commission, Board of Commissioners, and the Zoning Board of Appeals processes.
• Independently analyze and manage complex rezonings, special use permits, and change‑in‑conditions applications, developing clear, well‑supported recommendations consistent with County policy and regulations.
• Review land disturbance permits, special administrative permits, plats, plans, applications, and related documents for compliance with zoning code and other applicable ordinances, laws, rules, and regulations.
• Assist or lead special projects such as UDO amendments, technology enhancements, and the development or updating of standard operating procedures and/or training materials.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced team members on code interpretation, report writing, plan review and other daily operations; including providing quality control for plan review comments and reports drafted by less experienced team members.
• Assist with planning and zoning inquiries, ensuring accurate information is provided within a timely manner to customers by phone, email, and in‑person.

• Planning Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, urban design/architecture, public administration, or related fields AND
• Minimum four years of full‑time experience in urban planning and/or a related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
• Valid Driver’s License from the state of residency.
• Extensive knowledge of planning principles, best practices, and trends related to zoning, land use, housing and transportation.
• Profound understanding of the rezoning/special use permit/change‑in‑conditions process as well as the variance process.

• Master’s degree in urban planning, urban design/architecture, public administration, or related fields.
• Minimum six years of full‑time experience in urban planning or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication and project management skills.
• AICP Certification or desire to acquire within 12 months.

The class specifications listed on this website are not the official class specifications for Gwinnett County and are subject to change.

Gwinnett County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information regarding our hiring process, please contact the Hiring Process or FAQs (links removed).

Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities may be requested. If you need an accommodation during the application, interview, or testing process, contact Human Resources at  or HREmploye This email is only for accommodation requests; for questions related to job postings, use

Gwinnett County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information (including sex), race, color, national origin (including ancestry), gender (identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status (including pregnancy), disability, military or veteran status, religion, political affiliation, immigration status, homeless status, or any other category protected by law.