2026-A Assistant Planning & Development Director (10/2026)

City of Prattville; Prattville (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Prattville is seeking a qualified planning professional to assist in directing the Planning and Development Department operations, including supervising current planning functions, plan review, and field inspections.

Responsibilities include coordinating staff, applying zoning regulations, providing staff support to boards, and ensuring compliance with ordinances while engaging the public and advancing community planning goals in Prattville, Alabama.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning or related field.
• Three to five years of related planning experience.
• Valid Alabama driver's license.
• Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Responsibilities

• Assist in directing the Planning and Development Department operations and supervising current planning functions.
• Assist Director in developing and implementing department policies and procedures.
• Orient, train, assign, direct, supervise, and evaluate department personnel.
• Coordinate work activities; organize, prioritize, assign work; monitor status of work and inspect completed work.
• Assist staff in resolving complex or problem situations.
• Perform plan review and field inspections; review plans, plats, and permits; coordinate review process.
• Consult with city staff, realtors, developers, design professionals, and the public on planning matters.
• Interpret and apply city ordinances; enforce zoning and subdivision regulations.
• Provide staff support to boards/commissions; attend meetings; serve on committees.
• Attend seminars to stay current on planning issues.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Zoning regulations

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Prioritizing & planning

Oral & written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning

3–5 years related experience

Valid Alabama driver's license

AICP membership

Tools

GIS software

MS Office

Job description

This position assists in directing the operations of the Planning and Development Department, including supervising and administering current planning functions

• Assists the Director in managing department operations and personnel. (20%)
  • Assists the Director in the development and implementation of department policies and procedures.
  • Assists in orienting, training, assigning, directing, supervising, and evaluating department personnel.
  • Coordinates work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work.
  • Assists staff in resolving complex or problem situations.
• Performs plan review and field inspection duties. (60%)
  • Consults with city staff, realtors, developers, design professionals, and the general public on matters related to planning and zoning regulations.
  • Interprets and applies city ordinances.
  • Performs plan, plat, and permit application reviews; ensures that the review process is well coordinated.
  • Performs field inspections.
  • Prepares a variety of related reports and correspondence.
  • Enforces the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations.
• Provides support to related boards and commissions. (10%)
  • Provides staff support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment and Planning Commission; provides support to the Historic Preservation Commission and City Council as needed.
  • Attends board, commission, and council meetings to provide information.
  • Serves on assigned committees.
• Performs a variety of related duties. (10%)
  • Attends seminars and classes to remain current or to acquire new information on planning and related issues.

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with the completion of a baccalaureate degree in a course of study related to the occupational field.

• Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the diverse objectives and functions of the subunits in the division/department in order to direct and coordinate work within the division/department, usually interpreted to require three to five years of related experience.
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver's license issued by the State of Alabama for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
• Possession or ability to readily obtain membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of department and city policies and procedures and relevant federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Knowledge of city codes, zoning regulations, and subdivision ordinances.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of community planning.
• Knowledge of construction permitting processes.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
• Knowledge of planning and land use analysis principles.
• Skill in preparing clear and precise reports.
• Skill in interdepartmental coordination.
• Skill in researching and interpreting policies.
• Skill in reading and preparing maps, charts, and surveys.
• Skill in problem solving.
• Skill in prioritizing and planning.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Planning and Development Director assigns work in terms of department goals and objectives. The supervisor reviews work through conferences, reports, and observation of department activities.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include the city code, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, the comprehensive plan, floodplain regulations, and city and department policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK

• The work consists of varied management, supervisory, and professional planning duties. Strict regulations combined with the unique nature of each case in question contributes to the complexity of the position.
• The purpose of this position is to assists in directing department operations. Success in this position contributes to the positive growth and development of the city.

CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically with coworkers, other city employees, contractors, developers, business owners, elected and appointed officials, and members of the general public.
• Contacts are typically to exchange information, resolve problems, motivate persons, justify and settle matters, and provide services.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, bending, crouching, or walking. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects.
• The work is typically performed in an office and outdoors, occasionally in cold or inclement weather.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

This position has direct supervision over Chief Building Official, GIS Coordinator, Senior Planner, Planner, Office Manager, Planning and Zoning Technician, and Administrative Assistant.

EEOC COMMITMENT:

The City of Prattville is committed to maintaining equal employment opportunity by considering job applicants and employees for hiring and advancement on the basis of job-pertinent individual differences and not on the basis of extraneous factors such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetics, status as current or former uniformed service member, or any other classifications protected by law.