DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
The Senior Planner performs advanced professional planning work and serves as the primary staff resource for the Citys long-range planning program. The position directly develops, updates, and implements comprehensive, neighborhood, corridor, redevelopment, special-area, and other long-range plans and studies.
The Senior Planner independently performs the research, data analysis, mapping, field assessment, community engagement, policy development, technical writing, and plan preparation necessary to produce professional planning documents and implementation strategies. The position also assists in establishing the Citys Long-Range Planning work program, monitoring implementation of adopted plans, and translating planning recommendations into policies, regulations, programs, capital priorities, and other actionable measures.
The position is primarily focused on long-range and strategic planning rather than routine development review. Assistance with current planning may be required during staffing shortages, emergencies, extraordinary workload, or other operational needs. Work requires considerable independent judgment and is performed under the general direction of the Assistant Planning & Development Director.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This list is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.
- Leads and performs the professional and technical work necessary to prepare, update, amend, implement, and monitor the Citys Comprehensive Plan and other long-range planning initiatives.
- Develops neighborhood revitalization plans, corridor plans, redevelopment plans, special-area plans, and other planning studies from initial research and community engagement through final recommendations and implementation strategies.
- Conducts land use, demographic, socioeconomic, housing, infrastructure, development, redevelopment, and growth analyses to identify trends, needs, opportunities, and implications for future City development.
- Performs field assessments, land use inventories, neighborhood evaluations, and other research necessary to evaluate existing conditions and support planning recommendations.
- Develops goals, policies, strategies, maps, graphics, performance measures, and implementation actions for plans and planning studies.
- Prepares professional plans, reports, policy studies, technical memoranda, ordinances, resolutions, maps, graphics, presentations, and other planning documents.
- Develops and maintains an annual and multi-year Long-Range Planning work program identifying priority plans, neighborhoods, corridors, policy initiatives, studies, and implementation activities.
- Monitors implementation of adopted plans and develops systems to track accomplishments, priorities, performance measures, responsible departments, timelines, and outstanding actions.
- Evaluates City policies, development regulations, programs, and major initiatives for consistency with adopted plans and recommends amendments or implementation measures as necessary.
- Researches and drafts zoning, subdivision, development, and related regulatory amendments necessary to implement Comprehensive Plan policies and other adopted planning initiatives.
- Plans and facilitates public meetings, neighborhood meetings, workshops, surveys, stakeholder discussions, and other community engagement activities and incorporates public input into planning recommendations.
- Uses geographic information systems and other analytical tools to conduct spatial analysis, maintain planning data, and prepare maps and visual information supporting plans and policy recommendations.
- Coordinates long-range planning initiatives with City departments, governmental agencies, community organizations, institutional partners, property owners, businesses, and other stakeholders.
- Presents plans, studies, findings, and recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Commission, community organizations, neighborhood groups, and other boards or committees as assigned.
- Coordinates with the Special Projects Department on identifying potential funding opportunities and implementation resources that may support adopted plans, neighborhood revitalization efforts, and long-range planning priorities.
- Monitors changes in planning practices, development trends, demographic conditions, state law, and other factors affecting the Citys long-range planning program.
- Provides professional assistance to current planning and development review functions during staffing shortages, emergency conditions, periods of extraordinary workload, or other operational needs as directed.
- Maintains accurate planning records, project files, datasets, maps, reports, and public engagement documentation.
- Attend evening meetings, public hearings, workshops, and occasional weekend activities as required.
- Maintain regular and prompt attendance; physically present to work.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Additional Requirements:
- This position requires the use of personal or City vehicles for City Business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely and possess a valid driver's license and must have an acceptable driving record.
- Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon assignment.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED & EXERCISED
- Works under the general direction of the Assistant Planning & Development Director.
- This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES
Knowledge of:
- Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of municipal, urban, regional, and community planning.
- Comprehensive planning, long-range land use planning, neighborhood planning, revitalization, redevelopment, corridor and special-area planning, and plan implementation.
- Land use, demographic, socioeconomic, housing, development, infrastructure, and growth analysis.
- Methods for evaluating existing conditions, identifying trends and future needs, developing planning alternatives, and preparing implementable recommendations.
- Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting municipal planning, zoning, subdivision, annexation, and land development, including relevant provisions of the Texas Local Government Code.
- Zoning, subdivision, and development regulations as tools for implementing adopted plans and long-range planning policies.
- Public participation, community engagement, meeting facilitation, and stakeholder involvement techniques.
- Research methods, data collection and analysis, GIS, spatial analysis, mapping, and other tools used to support professional planning.
- Principles of professional and technical writing, policy development, project management, and preparation of planning studies and implementation strategies.
- Methods for establishing priorities, performance measures, timelines, and monitoring systems for implementation of adopted plans.
Ability to:
- Independently develop comprehensive plans, neighborhood plans, special-area plans, planning studies, policy reports, and other substantive professional planning products.
- Speak and communicate effectively in Spanish.
- Perform the research, analysis, mapping, community engagement, policy development, writing, and implementation work necessary to carry complex planning projects from initiation through completion.
- Analyze complex land use, demographic, socioeconomic, housing, infrastructure, growth, redevelopment, and related planning issues and formulate sound professional recommendations.
- Translate technical analysis and community input into clear goals, policies, strategies, regulatory changes, programs, projects, and implementation actions.
- Exercise independent professional judgment in addressing complex or less-defined planning and policy issues.
- Conduct field assessments, land use inventories, neighborhood evaluations, and other planning-related research.
- Prepare clear, accurate, and professional plans, reports, studies, technical memoranda, maps, graphics, presentations, ordinances, and other planning documents.
- Use GIS, data analysis, and other planning tools to evaluate conditions, identify trends, and communicate findings effectively.
- Facilitate public meetings, workshops, stakeholder discussions, and other community engagement activities and communicate complex planning concepts to diverse audiences.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, elected and appointed officials, governmental agencies, community organizations, residents, businesses, property owners, and other stakeholders.
- Manage multiple complex projects and priorities, meet established deadlines, and work independently with limited supervision.
- Develop and maintain a systematic long-range planning work program and monitor implementation of adopted plans and planning initiatives.
Education & Experience:
- A master's degree in urban planning, regional planning, public administration, or a closely related field is preferred and/or 6 years related experience and/or training; equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
- Bachelors Degree from a four-year college or university in urban planning, regional planning, city planning, geography, urban studies, public administration, architecture, or a closely related field; and/or 5 years related experience and/or training; equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
- A minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible professional planning experience is required.
Licenses, Certificates & Registrations:
- Valid Texas Driver's License.
- AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) Certification required; and must obtain within 18 months from date of hire.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The employee is regularly required to sit and use hands and fingers. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
SAFETY SENSITIVITY
This position is not classified as a safety-sensitive position.