SENIOR PLANNER

Description:

Cary is looking for a passionate and driven professional to share in our goal of creating the Local Government That Doesn’t Exist through innovation, evolution and excellence. We emphasize the importance of taking care of our employees and citizens. We strive to live inspired while working together to impact lives through exceptional service.

This senior level position will join the Planning and Development team to perform complex professional work with a focus on rezonings and plan review for Cary’s most complex development projects. We are seeking candidates that have extensive experience with land development ordinance amendments, reviewing or designing infill and redevelopment site plans, and managing rezoning requests, a mindset to help facilitate high-quality projects, and demonstrated ability to facilitate issue resolution through internal and external collaboration.

We believe Cary offers the best benefits, which support our diverse workforce, providing employees with choices. A competitive salary is offered depending on qualifications and experience. Our highly comprehensive total compensation package is unprecedented, allowing Cary to value and support our employees’ whole selves, and sets us apart as an employer of choice.

This is an exciting time to be a part of the transformational development occurring in Cary!

This position requires excellent written and verbal skills to communicate with various audiences including boards, commissions, development professionals, and the community. Successful candidates will collaborate in a fast-paced, evolving environment and must be able to adapt to change through continuous learning while empowering others through shared knowledge. Demonstrated knowledge of land use principles, zoning practices, urban design, mixed-use concepts, architecture, and engineering are desired.

Work is performed under the general supervision of senior members of the staff and requires independent judgment and discretion in the performance of duties. Specific duties and requirements are determined by the area of assignment.

Anticipated hiring range: $71,531.20 – $90,000.00

Typical Tasks:

• Reviews development plans for various land uses and levels of complexity. Plan review requires the application of Cary’s policy documents, Land Development Ordinance and Community Appearance Manual. Plan review responsibilities involve collaboration and effective communication with other departments within Cary as well as the development community.
• Manages rezoning cases for various types of projects including greenfield sites as well as complex infill and redevelopment projects. Case management for rezonings requires coordinating with Cary’s Development Review Committee, the applicant team and members of the public to address issues and questions. Case management responsibilities also require collaborative staff report preparation, and preparing and presenting to various audiences including members of the public, boards and commissions, and council.
• Develops, interprets, amends, and enforces ordinances regarding zoning and development standards;
• Drafts Requests for Qualifications and Requests for Proposals and manages consultants for specific projects;
• Assists in the planning and implementation of various programs related to transit, land use, design guidelines, transportation-related plans and other small area plans;
• Reviews permits including signs, zoning verification letters, and building permits;
• Provides staff support to the Zoning Board of Adjustment; processes applications and prepares staff reports for variances, administrative appeals and appeals of civil penalties; presents cases to the Zoning Board of Adjustment;
• Responds to inquiries from citizens, businesses, landowners, developers and elected and appointed officials regarding matters such as population and demographics, status of current projects, interpretations of the Land Use Plan, zoning matters, current and proposed ordinances, area plans and studies and on issues related to environmental, historic preservation, and development;
• Coordinates and organizes public meetings; facilitates in-person and virtual public meetings, open houses, and inter-governmental meetings;
• Assists in the development and implementation of Council initiatives and goals related to long-range planning; prepares, plans, develops and implements elements of the comprehensive plan; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of land use planning, planning research, zoning, and annexations; thorough knowledge of municipal planning, landscape architecture principles and practice, and urban design; thorough knowledge of municipal development ordinances and its applications; bicycle and pedestrian planning; thorough knowledge of transit operations and planning; thorough knowledge of growth management methods and practices; thorough knowledge of statistical methods and their application; thorough knowledge of the sources of data and information; thorough knowledge of principles and practice of community facilitation and conflict resolution; ability to read and interpret ordinances, statutes, plans, maps, etc.; ability to plan, organize, supervise and carry out complex research projects effectively and simultaneously; ability to present the results of research effectively in oral, written, and graphic form; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, municipal officials, representatives of other agencies, and members of the general public and development community.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications:

Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in city and regional planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a closely related field and considerable experience in professional planning and development. Candidates may also have a background and/or related degree in the areas of site design, land development or construction management with a desire to learn planning.

Preferred candidates will have the following:

• 8-10 years of experience in public or private sector land planning or development
• Master’s degree in city and regional planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture, urban design, public administration, or engineering
• Experience with land use principles, zoning practices, urban design, mixed-use and redevelopment projects
• Experience with rezonings, and site plan review
• Experience interpreting and researching ordinances
• Proficiency navigating plan review software platforms and GIS
• Experience writing staff reports and making presentations
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience completing complex projects in a dynamic, collaborative environment
• Desire to build collaborative groups within the organization
• Ability to learn and adapt in a dynamic environment
• Ability to work on a variety of tasks while being extremely organized and detail-oriented
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Certified Zoning Official (CZO) or other related professional certifications

Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal check, education verification and credit history review) prior to employment.

Requires a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.