Planner

Summit Design and Engineering is seeking a Planner I or Planner II to join our team. Our Planning Department is a small team of dedicated, flexible planning professionals who work primarily on behalf of local governments in long-range/comprehensive planning, zoning ordinance updates, and related projects.

The ideal candidate will be curious, optimistic, and passionate about planning. It is important that the Planner be principled, caring, and able to meet people where they are in small and rural localities throughout Virginia and North Carolina. We are looking for someone who wants to help grow our department and constantly strives to create better plans and planning processes.

Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive community planning
• Perform geographic analysis and create maps
• Provide demographic analysis, data collection and interpretation
• Use development scenario modeling and provide interpretation
• Attend, present and facilitate public meetings
• Create and design documents in support of projects
• Compile feasibility studies, market analysis and housing assessments
• Research best planning practices and evolving planning issues
• Support other Summit departments by doing entitlement work and site assessments

Minimum Skills and Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships
• Strong collaboration and research skills
• Ability to work independently as well as on a team
• Strong work ethic and desire for continual learning
• Strong design aesthetic
• Proficient in using a computer, Microsoft Office software, and file sharing programs, with a particular emphasis on the use of Microsoft Excel
• Ability to travel, including overnight stays (25% - 40% of time currently within VA and NC)
• Ability to attend evening and weekend meetings on occasion
• Must have a valid drivers license and an acceptable motor vehicle record

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Some combination of the following skills and qualifications is preferred:

• Proficiency with geographic analysis and map making using ArcGIS Desktop
• Project management and progress tracking experience
• Experience using Adobe software products including InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator
• Ability to create renderings using a combination of computer and artistic methods
• Experience with demographic analysis including accessing, analyzing and presenting census data
• Understanding of local government processes, land use law and zoning
• Understanding of and experience with community long range and comprehensive planning and small area plans