Principal Planner

Overview

Conveniently situated in Montgomery County, just 15 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., Rockville, Maryland is hailed as one of the nation’s leading small cities and one of the top 10 most diverse communities in the nation. Rockville offers a mix of urban and suburban lifestyles with a variety of engaged residential communities. Rockville also has two Metro stations that provide convenient access to the DC Metropolitan Area and opportunities for new transit-oriented development.

The Principal Planner leads exciting planning projects to ensure compliance with the City’s variance development requirements. In addition, this professional facilitates high quality cohesive development, transit-oriented development, and works with diverse communities to promote equity and inclusion. Our value-driven department seeks someone who has proven skills in project management, community engagement, research, interpreting and conveying complex zoning requirements, and producing written reports.

Please join our Community Planning and Development Services Department where our employees thrive due to a culture of empowerment, professional growth, collaboration, creativity, diversity, and innovation. We offer a flexible, family-oriented work schedule and opportunity for regular teleworking several days a week.

• Job functions will be focused on long range planning, historic preservation, plan implementation, and/or development review and zoning.
• General - Identifies and analyzes problems, develops goals and objectives, and designs programs to meet departmental and citywide objectives.
• Represents the City and Department - actively participates in meetings with elected officials, boards and commissions, government agencies, property owners, developers, neighborhoods, and community groups to discuss planning as it relates to development projects, including transportation and urban design issues.
• Coordinates work with other planners and employees in other departments and divisions, including Public Works, Transportation, Recreation and Parks, Environmental Management, and Economic Development.
• Performs other duties as required.
• Development Review and Zoning - Assists applicants and the public to locate useful information, to comply with City requirements and to follow procedures.
• Interprets complex zoning and development regulations and conveys information to the general public in an understandable format.
• Evaluates site plans and other development applications as assigned for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
• Manages the review of development review applications of high complexity, resulting in written analysis and recommendation of proposals to Approving Authorities.
• Presents recommendations in written form, with graphics and oral presentation to Approving Authorities.

Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) with major coursework in planning, public policy, architecture, civil engineering, geography, or closely related field from an accredited university or college; plus six (6) years of progressively responsible work in planning, or comparable combination of relevant education and experience.

Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) encouraged.

As a condition of employment
, all new hires, including part-time, temporary and seasonal employees, reporting to the worksite, as well as working remotely, are required to have received at least the first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine prior to their start date. New hires will be required to receive any additional doses (including the booster shot) of the COVID-19 vaccine in a manner and schedule consistent with the current CDC guidelines.

Weekly COVID-19 testing will be required until fully vaccinated.
New hires, except individuals who have worked for the City any time after October 8, 2021, may submit a request for a religious or medical accommodation (exemption). All requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
New hires will be required to submit weekly COVID-19 test…