Assistant Planner

Assistant Planner

At the City of New Braunfels, we seek out people ready to serve the community, plan for the future, and preserve our well-renowned natural beauty. Our five core values serve as a cornerstone of our work:
Integrity, Service, Visionary Leadership, Stewardship of Resources, and Cultural Heritage. Do our values speak to you?

The City of New Braunfels is seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join the Neighborhood & Community Planning Department in serving the current and future needs of the New Braunfels community. Under general supervision, the Assistant Planner will perform professional, technical, and specialized planning work by applying ordinances and City guidelines to development proposals, special projects, and land use plans.

The selected candidate will interact with and assist both internal and external customers, coordinate issues across various divisions and departments, build and maintain effective relationships, and may deliver presentations before boards and commissions.

The responsibilities you will be entrusted with:

• Researches, prepares written reports, and may be called upon to deliver presentations at public meetings and to boards and commissions-including, but not limited to, the Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, and Historic Landmark Commission-ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all information presented.
• Depending on specific assignment, assists with administering a variety of planning and historic preservation processes, procedures, and programs.
• Provides technical assistance and professional planning services to property owners and other City departments to achieve community goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Plan, ensure compliance with adopted ordinances, and meet state and federal requirements related to environmental, architectural and historic considerations.
• Assists with special assignments and projects; may be assigned to lead special planning projects based on expertise, area of assignment, or opportunities for professional development.
• Collaborates with team members to support the development and administration of the City's planning work program including planning initiatives, educational efforts, public outreach activities, and training functions.
• Answers inquiries and aids internal and external customers regarding zoning, the Comprehensive Plan, subdivision platting, land use, environmental matters, historic preservation, housing, and general planning issues, projects, and applications.
• Assists with tracking the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.
• Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Customer Bulletins, and Code Interpretations.
• Provides technical support to boards, commissions, and department leadership, and assists in coordinating board and commission proceedings.
• Prepares written correspondence, memoranda, letters, and related documents in support of assigned duties.
• Develops maps and other graphics to illustrate land use plans and planning concepts and performs GIS analysis for zoning and planning purposes.
• Performs research and gathers data on population, demographics, housing, land ownership, land use, long-range planning, transportation, compliance, historic resources, environmental factors, and economic studies; prepares reports and white papers, and conducts studies or surveys as assigned; some field research is required.
• Assists in maintaining records, files, and maps with the GIS system.
• Develops cooperative and professional relationships with internal and external customers.
• Performs other duties and fulfills additional responsibilities as assigned.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise most relevant to this role:

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's Degree in Urban, Community, or Regional Planning;
Urban Studies;
Geography;
Business;
Architecture;
Landscape Architecture;
Public Administration; or a related field. Preferred qualifications include one (1) year of experience in city planning, development services, public administration, or construction science, - ideally within the public sector. Internship experience may be considered. An equivalent combination of education and experience may also be accepted.

Required Licenses or

Certifications:

• Must possess a valid Texas Driver's License.

Required Knowledge:

• Structure, functions, policies, and procedures of local government organizations.
• Fundamental principles, terminology, and methodologies related to planning, zoning, community and land development, housing, urban design, historic preservation, and environmental stewardship.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and standards governing planning, zoning, historic preservation, and community development.
• Research methods and techniques.
• Principles and state laws associated with digital record keeping and records management.

Required Skills:

• Interpreting legal records, technical documents, and map specifications.
• Reviewing and verifying designs, details, plans, and specifications of…