Planner (Tier 1)

Salary: $24.67-$43.19

Job Overview

Researches and analyzes information to write reports supporting the development, evaluation, monitoring and implementation of comprehensive studies, plans, programs, and land development regulations.

Ideal Candidate

The Hillsborough County Community and Infrastructure Planning Department guides processes of community, land use, transportation, and other facility planning in the unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. The Department bridges the long-term visions established in the Comprehensive and Long Range Transportation Plans and the implementation of specific projects in the development review and capital improvement processes.

Unincorporated Hillsborough County comprises an area of over 800 square miles, approximately 79 percent of the County as a whole. The population in the unincorporated area is just over one million people, approximately 69 percent of the total County population. Hillsborough County is jurisdiction of diverse contexts ranging from rural to urban, including significant natural, agricultural, and suburban areas. The community is under significant pressure to respond to population growth while maintaining and enhancing the character and quality of life that current residents value and enjoy.

An ideal candidate for this position has a master's degree in community planning or a related field or a bachelor's degree with two years of professional experience.

Applicants should have a desire to develop skills as a planner in a fast paced, multi-disciplinary department with a focus on plan implementation. Applicants should be able to apply creative solutions to planning challenges related to land use and transportation for the variety of contexts found across unincorporated Hillsborough County. Applicants should be adaptable in the face of evolving organizational priorities set by the Board of County Commissioners and implemented by the County Administrator.

Interest in greenways, trails, and active transportation are desired, as is proficiency with GIS and graphics applications such as Sketchup and Adobe InDesign.

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one''s personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Tier 1

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below.

• Collects, summarizes, analyzes, and presents facts and trends for use in evaluating land development proposals and community growth and development plans, studies and reports.
• Conducts studies and extracts information to be used in reports relating to land use, economic bases, transportation systems, utility systems, community facilities, population housing, community, and neighborhood plans and programs.
• Writes drafts of zoning, subdivision and other land development regulations.
• Writes future land use, transportation, community facility, and other elements of comprehensive plans.
• Summarizes, analyzes, and presents data for use in the development of capital improvement plans and programs.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of comprehensive planning principles and practices.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing comprehensive planning.
• Knowledge of data collection methods and statistical analysis techniques.
• Skill in making presentations to groups.
• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to collect, organize and evaluate data and to develop logical conclusions and presentations and reports.
• Ability to use appropriate computer applications.

Physical Requirements

• This position typically takes place in an office environment.
• Requires sitting for an extended period of time.

Work Category

Light work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg control requires exertion of forces greater than that of sedentary work and if the worker sits most of the time, the job is considered light work.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Master's Degree; OR
• An equivalent combination of education (Not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee's department, the County's Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Career Progression

Employees in this classification that acquire the competencies and minimum qualifications for the next tier will be able to apply for promotional opportunities through a competitive selection process. Employees will not automatically be upgraded to the next tier. Reclassifying a position is based on business need and financial impact and is not based solely on the job competencies or qualifications of the incumbent.