Senior Planner

Job Title

Planning Services

Under general supervision, performs planning and land-use duties and provides technical support to citizens, advisory boards, County administration, departments, and elected officials. Responsibilities include research, report preparation, development review, and assisting with zoning, land-use, and long-range planning, along with other related tasks as assigned.

• Leads the development, coordination, and implementation of complex planning projects that support County priorities, long-term strategies, and regulatory requirements.
• Engages with County divisions, external agencies, and stakeholders to identify needs, gather data, and ensure alignment of planning initiatives with County goals.
• Conducts advanced research, analysis, and forecasting on demographic, economic, land use, and environmental trends to inform policy and project recommendations.
• Prepares and presents reports, plans, maps, and technical documents for leadership, boards, commissions, and the public.
• Recommends updates to County ordinances, policies, and procedures to improve planning effectiveness, operational efficiency, and alignment with State and Federal requirements.
• Provides guidance, mentorship, and technical support to junior planning staff throughout project development and review processes.
• Facilitates cross-departmental collaboration to coordinate project timelines, deliverables, and resource needs.
• Participates in public meetings, hearings, and community engagement efforts, ensuring accurate communication and incorporating public input into planning recommendations.
• Reviews development proposals, zoning requests, and long-range planning documents for compliance with County codes, standards, and policy objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge in federal, state, and local laws, statues, and regulations affecting planning, zoning, and public policy; GIS mapping and data management techniques commonly used in planning.

Skill in strong written and verbal communication skills; using GIS applications; data visualization; facilitating meetings, workshop, and public sessions.

Ability to think strategically, identify emerging planning issues, and guide policy development to support County priorities and long-term goals; manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced governmental environment; establish effective working relationships with County leadership, staff, community groups, developers, and partner agencies; and exercise sound judgment, maintain professionalism, and represent the County in public, interagency, and advisory settings.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Spreadsheet and Word Processing software.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in urban planning, Public Administration, Environmental Science, or a related field and 5 years of experience within County or municipal setting. Master's degree in planning or related field preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present verbally and in writing information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply these concepts within formulas in spreadsheet/reporting software.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

ACIP certification preferred

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to assume a stationary position, move or transverse, operate, activate, use, prepare, inspect, detect, position, and communicate, convey, express oneself, exchange information. The employee frequently is required to reach, detect, perceive, identify, recognize, observe, inspect, assess and position self (to), move. The employee is occasionally required to ascend/descend, traverse, and detect, distinguish, determine.

The employee must regularly transport, move, position, put, install up to 10 pounds and occasionally…