Associate Planner

City of Battle Ground; Battle Ground (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Battle Ground seeks a planning professional to handle current planning, code updates, economic development and long-range planning. You will review land use applications, prepare staff reports, and coordinate with other departments to move projects from pre‑application to land use approval.

Responsibilities include presenting at hearings, assisting in comprehensive planning, facilitating public involvement, and ensuring records compliance under WA laws.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of zoning laws and comprehensive plans, including adoption, implementation and enforcement.
• WA Growth Management and State Environmental Policy Act knowledge.
• City government functions, policies, rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Reviews land use applications and prepares staff reports for compliance with requirements; guides projects through the approval process.
• Coordinates with departments to move a project forward from pre-application to land use approval.
• Provides information on land use regulations to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, owners and the public.
• Responds to citizens regarding planning and zoning regulations and ordinances.
• Appears before Hearing Examiner and Planning Commission to present development applications.
• Assists in planning tasks and public involvement meetings.
• Maintains, discloses and destroys public records per WA laws.

Skills

Zoning knowledge

GIS

Public speaking

Report writing

Project coordination

Tools

GIS software

Electronic plan review software

Permitting software

Job description

Position Summary:

This position performs a variety of professional and technical work in current planning, municipal code updates, economic development, and long‑range planning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews land use applications and prepares staff reports for compliance with various locals, state and federal requirements; guides projects through the approval process.
• Coordinates with other departments to move a project forward from the pre‑application stage to land use approval.
• Provides information on land use applications, ordinances, codes, plans and related planning programs, services or regulations to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, owners, community groups and interested persons.
• Responds to local citizens inquiring about local planning and zoning regulations and ordinances.

• Conducts field visits to observe land prior to development and at various stages of construction to assume development is occurring to the approved plans.
• Monitors compliance of permitted projects with land use conditions through construction and occupancy of the project.

• Appear before the city Hearing Examiner and Planning Commission to present on development applications and other planning projects.
• This position serves as the primary counter position, which involves responding to zoning, land use, planning, or project questions.
• Assists in comprehensive planning tasks and sub area plans.
• Facilitates community and public involvement meetings.
• Assists the Planning Supervisor and Community Development Director in planning or research tasks.
• Assists the Code Compliance Officer with research regarding zoning, land use, nuisance, or building violations.
• Conducts research, perform analysis and plan review and integrate complete work into composite reports or presentations of both narrative and graphic nature.
• Maintain, disclose and destroy public records in accordance with the requirements of the WA Public Records Act and WA State Archives records retention guidelines.
• Timely and regular attendance.
• Follow/adhere to all city policies and procedures, and safety program regulations and requirements.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Zoning laws and comprehensive plans, including their formation, process of adoption, implementation and enforcement; planning programs and process; and knowledge of GIS applications.
• Washington State Growth Management and the State Environmental Policy Act.
• Washington State laws relating to development.

• Modern office methods, procedures and office equipment.
• Computer literacy and experience using a personal computer.
• Regulations, principle and practices of a records retention system.
• Record keeping and administration.
• City government functions, policies, rules and regulations

Ability to:

• Read and analyze standard legal documents, and provide recommendations.
• Recommend creative solutions or alternatives to challenging zoning or building related requests.
• Deal with the public, engineers, and general contractors and suppliers courteously and tactfully.
• Interpret and enforce codes and ordinances tactfully and fairly with impartiality.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Make effective oral presentations at public hearings and meetings.

• Use permitting and electronic plan review software.
• Work under pressure, with challenging deadlines.
• Work independently on multiple tasks, copes with interruptions and meet deadlines.
• Prioritize tasks and coordinate efforts.
• Work as a team player.
• Maintain, disclose and destroy public records in accordance with the requirements of the WA Public Records Act and WA State Archives records retention guidelines.

• Perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships among co‑workers and other City personnel, contractors, other agencies, and the general public.

Licenses, Certificates and Other Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
• Must successfully pass all phases of the pre‑employment hiring process, including but not limited to, reference checks and a criminal background check.

Job descriptions are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, tasks, skills, efforts, working conditions or similar behaviors, attributes or requirement

Note: Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job will be considered.

Office environment, with the greater percentage of employee's time spent indoors; some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use developments and construction sitesin varying weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field. Walking, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. Position maybe required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends. Position may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.