Principal Planner

The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) is seeking a Principal Planner to join our award-winning Planning Division. This position is located in the Current Planning Section and will collaborate with the Comprehensive Planning and Urban Design teams to support the planning work program and manage complex site plan development projects.

Specific duties include: 

• Presenting site plan projects in public hearings with the Planning Commission and County Board;
• Conducting site plan review committee meetings and composing detailed reports for assigned site plan projects;
• Coordinating site plan project reviews and related activities between various County departments, civic associations, community stakeholders, and other entities;
• Managing local government land use planning processes, including direct engagement with interdepartmental staff, citizens, civic groups, developers, and elected officials;
• Conducting field inspections and providing recommendations and observations associated with pending and approved site plans; and
• Performing analysis of other applications and initiatives including negotiating changes and alternative design solutions with applicants.

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor's degree in community/urban planning or related field; and
• Three (3) years of project management and plan review experience in urban planning/design, transit architecture, land policy program administration, community development, or related areas.

Substitution: Additional education may be substituted for experience.

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with a Master’s Degree in related field and designation/experience in one or more of the following:

• Working in the public sector;
• Managing local government land use or transit planning processes;
• Using programs such as ARCGIS, SketchUp, 3D modeling software, Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, PhotoShop, and online permit processing systems; and 
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Designation.