Planner II

City of Lincoln NE

Lincoln, NE

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JOB DETAILS

SALARY

$76,169.60–$101,608 Per Year

SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite, Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), Architectural Design, Cloud Computing, Communication Skills, Community Development, Compensation and Benefits, Creative Design, Dental Insurance, Design Services, Employee Assistance Plan, Entertainment and Media, Graphics, Life Insurance, Organizational Skills, Policy Development, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Project Planning, Project/Program Management, Public Policy, Recreation, Regulations, Reporting Skills, Residential Construction, SketchUp, Social Engineering, Social Sciences, Software Design, Strategic Planning, Team Player, Technical Analysis, Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Vision Plan, Wireless Communications, Wireless Facilities, Writing Skills

LOCATION

Lincoln, NE

POSTED

8 days ago

Planner II

Salary

$76,169.60 - $101,608.00 Annually

Location

Lincoln, NE

Job Type

Full time/probationary or status

Job Number

202600352

Department

Planning and Development Services Department

Division

Long Range Planning

Opening Date

07/01/2026

Closing Date

7/19/2026 11:59 PM Central

Description
Benefits
Questions

Job Posting Information

Help Shape the Future of Lincoln

Are you passionate about creating vibrant, walkable, and resilient communities? Do you enjoy blending creativity, urban design, and planning to make a lasting impact?

The City of Lincoln is seeking an Urban Design Planner to join our Planning and Development Services Department. In this role, youll help shape the future of a fast-growing Midwest city by leading transformative planning and urban design initiatives that influence neighborhoods, commercial districts, redevelopment projects, and public spaces.

This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with architects, planners, engineers, developers, elected officials, neighborhood organizations, and residents to create a city that is safe, livable, economically strong, and welcoming for generations to come.

About the Planning and Development Services Department

The Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) partners with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders to create a safe, livable, and economically vibrant Lincoln. Through planning, building compliance, housing, and community development, PDS provides responsive, accessible service that helps move projects forward while supporting the Citys long-term vision.

As a member of the Long Range Planning Division, youll work on both long-term planning initiatives and current urban design projects that directly influence Lincolns continued growth and success.

What Youll Do

As an Urban Design Planner, you will:

Lead and participate in complex urban design and planning projects, including special planning studies, neighborhood and subarea plans, and redevelopment initiatives.
Review residential and commercial development proposals for consistency with adopted urban design standards, planning policies, and City regulations.
Help develop and update urban design standards, planning policies, ordinances, and regulations.
Serve as professional staff support for one of the Citys design review boards.
Collaborate with City departments, private design professionals, developers, attorneys, and community members throughout the planning and development process.
Prepare reports, presentations, graphics, and recommendations for public meetings and decision-makers.
Develop creative design concepts and visualizations that communicate planning ideas and enhance community engagement.
Provide technical expertise on challenging planning and urban design issues while exercising sound professional judgment.

What Were Looking For

Were seeking a collaborative professional who enjoys solving complex planning challenges and communicating design ideas to a variety of audiences.

Successful candidates will have:

Strong verbal and written communication skills.
The ability to interpret and apply planning principles, design standards, regulations, and public policy.
Experience balancing technical analysis with creative problem-solving.
The ability to build productive working relationships with colleagues, elected officials, consultants, developers, and members of the public.

Experience using visualization and design software such as SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar programs is highly valued.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree with major coursework in one of the social or engineering sciences.
Professional experience planning or urban design experience in current or long-range planning or in one of the following specialties: transportation planning, historic preservation, wireless telecommunication facilities or other specialized planning function.
Or equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who possess:

Masters degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a closely related field.
Certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and/or licensure or certification through the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Experience with urban design guidelines, professional planning, or design review.
Strong graphic communication and visualization skills.

Why Youll Enjoy Working Here

Youll join a collaborative team that values thoughtful planning, innovative design, and public service. Your work will have a visible impact on Lincolns future by helping create great neighborhoods, thriving commercial districts, and high-quality public spaces.

This position offers opportunities to work on projects ranging from redevelopment initiatives and long-range planning to design review and policy development-providing meaningful variety and professional growth.

Why Lincoln?

Home to more than 300,000 residents, Lincoln has experienced steady growth for more than three decades and consistently earns national recognition for its quality of life, strong economy, and affordability.

As Nebraskas capital city and home to a vibrant university community, Lincoln offers the amenities of a larger metropolitan area while maintaining the accessibility and friendliness of a smaller city. Residents enjoy nationally recognized trail systems, outstanding parks, excellent schools, low crime, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Benefits

The City of Lincoln offers a competitive benefits package, including:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer-paid group life insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Employer-matched retirement plan
Professional public service career with opportunities for growth and development
Remote work option after six months of employment, subject to department and supervisor approval

Join Our Team

If youre excited about helping shape the future of one of Americas most livable cities through thoughtful planning and exceptional urban design, we encourage you to apply.

Bring your creativity, technical expertise, and passion for community building to the City of Lincoln and help create places where people want to live, work, and thrive.

We value each City of Lincoln employee and one way we demonstrate this is by providing an attractive and competitive total compensation package that adds value to our employees professional and personal lives. The following benefits are available for this position:

Pay increases are available upon completion of the 6-month new employee probationary period, and annually thereafter based on performance.
We encourage a healthy work-life balance by offering 11 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave annually that you begin accruing upon hire; plus 11 paid holidays and 2 personal convenience days.
All medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family begin the first of the month following hire, no need to wait!
30 days of Paid Parental Leave
Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.
Up to 4 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave
$70,000 of Life Insurance
$1,250 of Tuition Reimbursement
401(a) Retirement Plan. If you make a 7% contribution, the City will contribute 9%
Employer provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses that occur after you leave City employment.
Optional benefits include:
Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Allstate Voluntary Plans
Supplemental Term Life
Deferred Compensation Plans

APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGMENT: 1. This application process is hand scored. 2. All questions must be fully answered to receive full credit. 3. Copied/pasted answers will not receive full credit. 4. "See resume" in lieu of providing detailed responses will not receive full credit. 5. All employers, work and volunteer experience, and education referred to on this questionnaire must also be listed in the Work and Education sections of the application for verification and to receive credit. 6. I am responsible for the accuracy and completeness of my application.

Acknowledge

Indicate if you have college-level coursework in the following.

Community/Regional Planning
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Other Design Profession
Urban Design
Other related coursework (specify below)
No related coursework

Specify other related coursework. If not applicable, enter N/A.

Indicate if you have a degree in one of the fields listed in question 2.

No degree
Bachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Associates Degree

Do you have experience as a planner, architect, or urban designer at the professional level?

No experience
Yes, less than 2 years of experience
Yes, more than 2 years of experience

If yes, please list the employers from our application where you acquired this experience. If not applicable, enter N/A.