Senior Planner

City of Redmond, WA; Redmond; On-site; AUD 129,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation

EAP

Job summary

City of Redmond is seeking a Senior Planner to lead complex land use, zoning, and development planning activities, ensuring that growth and development align with the City’s adopted plans, regulations, and strategic goals.

The Senior Planner will coordinate multi-disciplinary reviews, prepare staff reports, and provide technical guidance. The role may mentor junior staff and involves public outreach and presentations to decision-makers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, design or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 4–6 years of professional planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects across land use, zoning, and development.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary reviews and prepare staff reports.
• Provide direction and mentorship to junior staff.
• Communicate with City Council, boards, and the public.
• Support grant applications and contract management.

Skills

Urban design

Land use planning

GIS

Public engagement

Policy analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GIS software

Job description

JOIN REDMOND! The City of Redmond is a thriving, culturally diverse community and home to over 80,000 residents. Redmond is the hub of an array of commerce and industry, ranging from technology, aerospace, and gaming to biomedical and innovation start-ups. In this role, you will represent the City and our values of service, integrity, accountability, belonging, and stewardship.

The Senior Planner is responsible for leading complex land use, zoning, and development planning activities, ensuring that growth and development align with the City’s adopted plans, regulations, and strategic goals. Working under general direction, the Senior Planner independently develops analyses and recommendations, coordinates multi-disciplinary review, and prepares clear and well-supported work products for decision-makers. The position may provide direction, technical guidance, and mentorship to junior staff but does not exercise formal supervisory authority.

Role & Responsibilities

• Serves as a planning project/program lead in areas such as: storm water, watershed, parks, transportation, human services, environmental/ecological, land use, development review, comprehensive and long-range planning, developing policies and processes, and coordinating efforts to advance the City's initiatives and vision
• Responsible and accountable for activities related to development, evaluation, amendment and implementation of the program criteria, policies and management plans; defining scope of projects, conducting technical research and studies, collecting and analyzing data, evaluating and formulating options and solutions in relation to operational directives, preparing staff reports, and presenting recommendations
• Project management, including such things as, defining scope of work and consultant selection, steering and refining project design, refining project plans and specifications, managing project implementation
• Prepares technical reports on comprehensive plan updates, zoning and other code updates, functional plans, master plans, and technical studies.
• Coordinates and communicates with internal departments and external agencies; persuades and resolves issues related to planning procedures, policies and codes
• Communicates with City Council and members of boards and commissions
• Facilitates and attends public outreach meetings related to programs and projects assigned
• Explains and answers inquiries related to program and project issues
• Performs code research and provides technical assistance in the interpretation of codes and regulations related to assigned programs
• Reviews, processes and works with land use or zoning permit applicants/developer to ensure compliance with comprehensive plan, applicable codes and regulations; conducts field audits as necessary
• Explains and provides information related to codes, policies and procedures
• Staffs and coordinates meetings for commissions and boards, adjusting and preparing schedules, agenda and material for discussion and working effectively with commission and board members
• May identify and underwrite grant applications for programs assigned, including coordinating activities necessary to secure the grants and coordinating grant administration
• May review and evaluate work, products, processes and methods of consultants and contractors, including negotiating and monitoring contracts and authorizing payments
• May assist department management in budget development and resources allocation for the biennium process and assist in formulation of department goals and work programs

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of and Skills in

• Principles, practices and techniques of urban design, site design, land use, subdivision, urban planning, community development, environmental management, or transportation planning
• Governmental processes and techniques and Federal, State and local regulations and policies with regard to land development, development review, subdivision, community planning, growth management, transportation, environmental management or historical preservation
• Use of GIS and associated software, as well as a variety of contemporary office software, hardware and business machines
• Statistical and forecasting research methodology and techniques
• Methods and techniques of community involvement
• Grant writing and coordination of grant funded projects

Ability to

• Develop and carry out program and project assignments to advance the City's vision and interests; formulate, organize and implement program activities and improvements
• Partner and collaborate effectively with a variety of people
• Communicate effectively in written, oral and graphic formats to other staff, elected officials, media and the public, including communication of topics that are complex and controversial
• Effectively staff boards and commissions
• Plan, organize and carry out work to meet deadlines and expectations for quality
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers
• Effectively prioritize and resolve problems and controversial issues
• Define and conduct research related to projects and issues assigned; gather and analyse data for compilation
• Define, conduct and interpret qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Conduct analysis and prepare and communicate recommendations in relation to the City's operational directives complying with applicable Federal, State or local regulations
• Present recommendations and resolve issues in public settings involving diverse groups of audiences
• Facilitate public outreach and community development meetings, including those that are highly controversial

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design and development, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, environmental science, natural resources management, transportation, public policy, engineering or related discipline.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Four (4) to six (6) years of professional experience in the above fields;
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Licenses and Certificates

• Valid Washington State Driver's License and a driving record that meets city standards

Other

This class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the job.

Please review the Planner – Senior job description for more information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, working conditions, and physical requirements.

Benefits

• MEDICAL INSURANCE - Choice of two plans for employees and their eligible dependents: Premera or Kaiser Permanente. All employee healthcare premiums paid for by the City of Redmond.
• PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE - Included with each medical plan
• DENTAL INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• VISION INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• OTHER INSURANCE - Life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - For tax savings on healthcare and dependent care expenses
• PAID VACATION & HOLIDAYS – with (13) paid holidays per year
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
• RETIREMENT PLANS - Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plus additional options that include: Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (Social Security replacement plan) and MetLife 457 Plan
• Annual COLA adjustments
• Annual merit increases of up to 5%

Benefit rates are subject to change without notice due to federal and state mandates and contractual changes as applicable.

To learn about benefits at the City of Redmond, please visit C2MB (ajg.com)

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