Planner 2

This is an internal job posting. Only former Multnomah County employees on an active recall list may apply for this opportunity through this site.

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$40.27 - $49.52 Hourly

Department:

Department of Community Services (DCS)

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

September 08, 2026

The Opportunity:

*only apply for this position once*

 

OVERVIEW

Multnomah County Land Use Planning is looking to hire a public service-focused Planner 2 to join the team! 

An ideal candidate will be adept at solving both routine and unique property/land use problems with creativity and clarity. They will be curious and skilled at helping applicants find solutions within County code and state land use laws. They will meet deadlines and anticipate issues before they arise by working with applicants and partner agencies. They are astute about the roles of stakeholders, leaders, staff, and the community, ensuring that customer service is at the forefront of their work. They will recognize their role as a core member of a small team at the County, contributing to the team’s cohesion, and the navigating changes that will come with the development and adoption of the new Zoning Code with an open mind. They like working in a small shop and functioning as a generalist.

The Planner 2 is a mid-level professional position in the planning series here at Multnomah County Land Use Planning. As a Planner 2, you will be responsible for holding pre-file and pre-application meetings, and preparing increasingly complex land use reviews, including cases within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and Type 3 cases that go before the County’s Hearings Officer. You will be expected to manage time effectively, and balance your case work with public service shifts. 

In this role, the majority of your time will be spent on permit case work and providing direct customer service through in-person, virtual, and phone appointments and at the planning counter. However, depending on Current Planning case loads, there may be opportunities to contribute to the development of the team through process updates, and to support the needs of other programs within the Land Use Planning Division, which also includes Long-Range Planning and Code Compliance. 

Duties include:

• Managing Type I, Type II, and Type III (public hearings) land use cases from intake to decision or recommendation. This includes writing staff reports with land use findings and conditions, and presenting at public hearings for Type III decisions. The Planner 2 may review all types of decisions, but will be expected to take on more complex land use cases, such as preparing zoning action requests such as variances, lots of exception, Willamette River Greenway reviews, and others.

• Translating complex land use regulations for community members and applicants into easy to understand language.

• Researching land use and permitting history.

• Assisting the public by finding solutions to land use issues in person, over the phone, via email or via video calls.

• Seeking opportunities to identify opportunities to improve processes, procedures, and methods of communication with internal and external partners.

• Working with partner agencies to coordinate reviews, including the Columbia River Gorge Commission.

• Providing staff support to the Planning Commission and Board by preparing staff reports, presenting staff recommendations at hearings, and writing final decisions

• Providing public engagement support at public meetings and events, attending neighborhood meetings as assigned.

 

Who We Are

The Department of Community Services’mission is to preserve harmony between natural and built environments, keep people and pets safe, and ensure every voice is heard through a diverse group of programs including transportation, land use planning, animal services, elections, and budget and operations support. This department is an incredibly diverse department and your role will be too. 

Multnomah County Land Use Planning serves the unincorporated, mostly rural, areas of Multnomah County with three primary functions. Current Planning helps property owners and applicants with their development and land use proposals, and Code Compliance ensures implementation. Long Range Planning serves the broader community by creating and updating zoning and codes and the Comprehensive Plan, working closely with stakeholders to align local, regional and state land use priorities.

 

What We Can Offer You

DCS comprises unique and essential government services, including Elections, Land Use Planning, Animal Services and Transportation.

The common mission of these diverse lines of business is articulated in this very simple statement: Inclusive community. Accessible services. So, with us, you will be challenged, you will be encouraged to excel, you will be given the opportunity to build a rewarding career. You will become a part of a strong organization dedicated to providing outstanding services to the community.

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our website. 

 

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*

• Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, or a related field (equivalent experience may substitute for a degree); 

• Two (2) years of progressively responsible professional planning experience;

• Experience with administering the Oregon land use planning program in a rural, preferably County, setting; and

• A valid driver license.

 

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• A strong interest in helping applicants through the land use process.

• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex issues, verbally and in writing. 

• Experience providing excellent customer service to the public.

• Ability to work calmly under pressure, think clearly and quickly, and make sound and reasoned decisions.

• Ability and willingness to navigate change as the County updates the Zoning Code.

• Advanced skills in working cooperatively and harmoniously with staff, peers, superiors, community members and special interest groups to gain cooperation and support.

• An openness to learning, and an interest in identifying how the County can meet the needs of its rural residents.

• Ability to learn and understand the program area subject matter and related laws, regulations, and policies, and understand the local context.

• Interest in the Oregon statewide land use system and potentially have an interest in growing expertise in key regulatory areas.

• Prior public sector experience in planning (municipal or county level), or experience preparing land use approval submittals for applicants in a private sector role, or serving in an “extension of staff role.”

• Masters degree in planning or a related field.

• Project management experience.

• Experience and strong interest in rural planning.

*Transferable skills:Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

 

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

Be sure to provide the required materials below in your application submission:

• Online application:Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.

• Resume: Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications. Attach the PDF document to the on-line application. Be sure to explain in detail, including dates, all related work experience, paid or unpaid.

• Cover letter (One Page): Explain why you are interested in the role, and core skills you will bring to the position. ​

Note: The application, resume, and cover letter should clearly demonstrate your work experience/skills and how they relate to the descriptions provided in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of this job posting.  Please be thorough, as these materials will be used to determine your eligibility for an interview. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice. This recruitment will be used to fill any current and future full-time, part-time, on-call, temporary and limited duration positions while the eligible for hire list is active. 

Internal candidates:After you have applied, you will receive the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox.Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you fill out and submit the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire.

 

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications

• Evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates

• Consideration of top candidates, which may include phone interviews, panel interviews, and/or additional testing

• Professional reference checks

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position:This hourly, union-represented position is eligible for overtime.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. There is some flexibility with the regular start and end times. There may also be the option to work a 9/80 schedule.

Work Location: This position primarily works onsite at the John B. Yeon Annex, located at 1600 SE 190th Ave. Portland, OR 97233. This position is designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you may be working both remotely (from home) and in person at an onsite location. The person in this position is currently expected to regularly work two days a week in person at the Yeon Annex, but the team is planning to move to a three-day in-office schedule by July 2027. Prior to the transition to three-days a week, additional days may be required to support training and to provide coverage for colleagues when they are out of the office on an ad-hoc or as-needed basis. Both the number of in-person work days, and the designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Full time at an onsite location is also available. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.  

Equal Pay Law: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Marisa Messina

Email:

marisa.messina@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 3139319

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6075 - Planner 2