Principal Planner

The City of Opelika is hiring a Principal Planner to join our team.  Opelika is a vibrant city anchored by its historic downtown, but experiencing dynamic growth and revitalization.  This position will play a pivotal role in shaping the City’s future by leading comprehensive and long-range planning initiatives. The successful candidate will help administer planning and development activities, prepare specific area and corridor plans, and update and modernize regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage long-range planning efforts including comprehensive planning, specific area plans, and zoning ordinance and regulatory amendments.
• Coordinate project schedules, supervise planning staff, and oversee consultant contracts.
• Analyze planning data and community needs, and provide strategic recommendations for land use and development.
• Review and evaluate current planning applications, ensuring alignment with city regulations and long-range goals.
• Draft high-quality plans, reports, and maps and present findings, plans, and amendments to the public, stakeholders and boards and commissions.
• Provide expert guidance and education to staff, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public on planning-related topics.
• Perform supervisory duties including training, assigning tasks, and reviewing work for quality and compliance.
• Attend and present at public meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Qualifications:

• Requires bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or a closely related field, plus three years of professional planning experience, or a master’s degree in urban planning or a closely related field, plus two years of professional planning experience.
• Requires a valid State of Alabama Driver’s License.
• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification highly preferred.
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training which provides the required knowledge, abilities and skills may be considered as determined by the hiring authority.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of planning principle, land use management, and zoning practices.
• Proficiency with GIS platforms including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.
• Skilled in project management, public speaking, community engagement, and staff supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to interpret ordinances, analyze data, and provide innovative solutions.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Apply Online and review the detailed job description at:

https://ss.opelika-al.gov/ess/employmentopportunities/default.aspx

Pay Range: $64,532.30 -  $70,985.53 annual compensation

Job Posting Closing: Thursday May 15, 2025