Principal Planner – Long Range Planning

The City of Burlington is hiring for a new position, Principal Planner – Long Range Planning

Job Description: Performs responsible professional work in the management of a variety of assignments within the Planning and Transportation Department, primarily in the areas of long range planning work as required.

An employee in this class has broad responsibilities in long range planning related to the City’s comprehensive plan, Destination Burlington, and long-range development goals. Coordinates special planning efforts such as small area studies and growth analysis, corridor overlays, land use analysis, etc. Work may include evaluating long range efforts related to the comprehensive plan and presenting City leaders planning needs that address an active versus passive approach to future issues and anticipating problems. Employee exercises decision making regarding the allocation of time and resources to project management, including the comprehensive plan and other adopted planning policies.  Position requires the ability to coordinate with and provide support to boards and commissions and the public, and attend meetings as needed. Work performance is evaluated through daily discussions and under the regular supervision of the Planning Manager. This classification is considered non-exempt in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Ensuring the initiatives in the comprehensive plan, Destination Burlington, are kept at the forefront of planning efforts;
• Managing comprehensive planning initiatives in an orderly and thoughtful way which will require coordination with other departments, legal, management, and City Council;
• Providing assistance and guidance to other planning and city staff related to long-range planning;
• Revising City policies and preparing reports regarding long range planning efforts;
• Conducting small area studies to help the city plan for organized and methodical/logical growth considering all aspects (land use, transportation, utilities, annexation laws, etc.);
• Prepares occasional grant applications, and administers occasional grant projects;
• Performing data capture, plan preparation, public meetings, and revisions to long range planning;
• Creating corridor studies and corridor overlays;
• Conducting land use analysis, including the processing of Rezoning and Annexation requests;
• Serving as the knowledge base for the City regarding long range planning;
• Supervising interns and providing assistance to other planning staff;
• Managing consultant contracts as needed; and
• Creation of graphics, maps, etc. in an efficient manner as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of planning theory and practice;
• Comprehensive knowledge of state statutes and local ordinances with an emphasis on specialty planning areas;
• General knowledge of computer applications in planning, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, GIS, Google Earth, SketchUp, Adobe products (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator), and other public engagement tools such as Canva, Mailchimp, and MonkeySurvey;
• Ability to function independently and to communicate orally and writing in an accessible manner;
• Ability to prepare for and conduct public meetings and presentations for diverse groups of stakeholders; and
• Understanding of implementation impacts and steps of long range plans on daily planning practice and development.

Qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Planning, Public Administration or a related field, and at least five (5) years of experience in local government planning, or some substantially equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree is preferred.