Associate or Senior Planner

About the Positions: 

The City of Grand Junction is seeking an Associate or Senior Planner to perform a broad range and advanced set of professional level duties associated with various aspects of the City's Community Development program. This entails the planning, development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regula­tions. In this role, a successful candidate will perform planning and development review of subdivision site plans, conducts field site inspections, and assists with planning studies.

About the Community Development Department:

The Community Development Department works to guide and promote development that is vibrant, safe, provides a healthy lifestyle, and has a broad and balanced range of land uses. We strive to support a community that provides quality employment opportunities with a mix of job types, has a diversity of housing, has exceptional medical and educational facilities, and is child and senior-friendly.

What You'll Do:

SENIOR PLANNER 

• Provide customer service by providing information and assistance to City staff, the general public, and consultants/developers regarding City plans, zoning matters, and development requirements.
• Perform advanced professional level duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations. 
• Review, interpret, and analyze applications with respect to the City's regulations, compliance with zoning requirements, requirements of service providers, and good planning practices.
• Perform complex planning and development review. 
• Write staff reports, resolutions, and ordinances for land use cases which typically include: background research, a thorough analysis, and staff recommendations.
• Conduct background research and assist in the preparation of reports for short-term, long-term, and special projects as assigned; present research and projects.
• Serve as a staff liaison to various boards, commissions, and/or committees involved in the development, adoption, and implementation of City plans and policies; prepare agendas, prepare and present staff reports and other technical or necessary correspondence; provide staff input and recommendations. 
• Prepare grant proposals for state and federal funds; administer and monitor programs and grant funds to achieve stated goals; prepare grant status reports as required.
• Coordinate and implement City and community-wide sustainability initiatives.

ASSOCIATE PLANNER 

• Perform professional level duties in the development, implementation, and modification of city plans and regulations.
• Provide information and assistance to City staff, the general public, and consultants/developers regarding City plans, zoning matters, and development requirements; conduct pre-application meetings with engineers, developers, architects, general public, and City staff regarding the development process and requirements.
• Perform planning and development review of subdivision site plans, vacations, and other permits of processes to ensure compliance with all requirements; provide recommendations on development proposals; assist developers to ensure all requirements comply within established time frames; inspect development sites to ensure compliance.
• Serve as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees involved in the development, adoption, and implementation of City plans and planning regulations; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Assist in the preparation of grant proposals and applications for state and federal funds; administer and monitor programs and grant funds to achieve stated goals; prepare grant status reports as required.
• Participate in code administration; interpret City ordinances, zoning and development codes, and state and federal regulations regarding community development; conduct research of applicable statutes/regulations and other planning examples.
• Conduct field site inspections to gather data relevant to development projects and verify that the development complies with approved plans.
• Assist with planning studies to gather data for evaluating long-range and special planning and studies in the community; research applicable statutes, laws, and regulations to identify planning guidelines and restrictions placed on local planning activities by state and federal authorities.
• Compile and analyze statistical and descriptive data; prepare tables, graphs, and narratives.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of community development and planning. 

What We're Looking For:

SENIOR PLANNER 

• Three years of increasingly responsible urban planning and development experience.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning or related field.

ASSOCIATE PLANNER 

• One year of responsible professional urban planning and zoning experience.
• Equivalent to a Bachelors's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning or related field.

Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.