Planner I

City-of-Ocala,-F; Ocala (FL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Ocala Planning Department is seeking a professional planning position to conduct research projects and independent studies, and to respond to public inquiries. The position reports to the Senior Planners.

Key duties include preparing staff comments on zoning, land use, annexation, site plans, and traffic studies, plus developing elements of the comprehensive plan and coordinating with boards and outside parties.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 1-year related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Researches and prepares staff comments for zoning, land use, annexation, special exception, and variance cases.
• Reviews and prepares staff comments on site plans according to the Land Development Regulations.
• Helps review traffic studies and coordinates comments with senior staff and other departments.
• Researches and writes elements or revisions to elements of the comprehensive plan.
• Performs annexation analysis.
• Reviews and either approves or denies tree removal applications in accordance with the City's Tree Preservation Code.

Skills

Research

Public speaking

Analytical thinking

Policy analysis

Data analysis

Written communication

Staff coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PowerPoint

Spreadsheet

Database

Word Processing

Job description

This is a professional planning position in the City's Planning Department carrying out research projects, independent studies, and responding to public inquiries. Reports to the Senior Planners

1. Researches and prepares staff comments for zoning, land use, annexation, special exception, and variance cases.
2. Research specialized planning studies such as land use, traffic, economic base, utilities, neighborhood, and housing studies.
3. Reviews and prepares staff comments on site plans according to the Land Development Regulations.
4. Helps review traffic studies and coordinates comments with senior staff and other departments.
5. Researches and writes elements or revisions to elements of the comprehensive plan.
6. Performs annexation analysis.
7. Reviews and either approves or denies tree removal applications in accordance with the City's Tree Preservation Code.
8. Provides staff support to one or more of the following city boards: City Council, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Downtown Development Commission, North Magnolia CRA Advisory Board, Ocala Tree Commission or West Ocala Neighborhood Revitalization Council.
9. Designs and develops project maps and databases as needed.
10. Meets with members of the public, outside firms, other governmental agencies, etc. to verbally respond to questions on subjects relevant to a specific area or to planning in general.
11. Compiles and analyzes statistical information.
12. Identifies grant programs, prepares applications, and administers grants.

Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma or GED required. Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography, public administration, or related field, master’s degree preferred. Minimum of 1-year related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Florida operator driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane, algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under general direction, working from policies and general directives. Rarely refers specific cases to supervisor unless clarification or interpretation of the organization's policy is required.

PLANNING

Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work, in addition, the work operations of a group of employees, all performing basically the same type of work.

DECISION MAKING

Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision-making of minor importance and also frequent opportunity for decision-making of major importance, either of which would affect the work operations of medium organizational component and the organization's clientele.

MENTAL DEMAND

Intense mental demand. Operations requiring sustained directed thinking to analyze, solve, or plan highly variable, administrative, professional, or technical tasks involving complex problems or mechanisms.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING

Moderately directed. Activities covered by wide-ranging policies and courses of action and generally directed as to execution and review. High order of analytical, interpretative, and/or constructive thinking in varied situations.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS

Occasional personal computer support, technical help, and/or, basic software support, database analysis, level I technician, project coordination, installation and help desk.

ACCURACY

Probable errors would normally not be detected in succeeding operations and could possibly affect organization-patron relationship, involve re-work, or additional expenditures in order to properly resolve the error. The possibility of such errors would occur quite frequently in performance of the job. May also cause inaccuracies or incomplete information that would be used in other segments of the organization as a basis for making subsequent decisions, plans, or actions.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Regular contacts with patrons where the contacts are initiated by the employee. Involves both furnishing and obtaining information and, also, attempting to influence the decisions of those persons contacted. Contacts of considerable importance and of such nature, that failure to exercise proper judgment may result in important tangible or intangible losses to the organization.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Contacts with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems which necessitate judgment and tact in presentation to obtain cooperation or approval of action to be taken. Also, important contacts with associates as required in advanced supervisory jobs, plus frequent contact with senior level internal officials.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED

Advanced: Presentation/PowerPoint, Spreadsheet, Word Processing/Typing
Intermediate: Database
Basic: Accounting, Payroll Systems, Programming Languages

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit, talk, or hear; regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is not indicated.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Must be able to present ideas and findings clearly and concisely in written and oral form. Must be able to think in terms of spatial relationships and visualize the effects of their plans and designs. Must have strong analytic and problem-solving abilities. Should be flexible and able to reconcile different viewpoints and to make constructive policy recommendations. Must have strong interpersonal and customer service abilities. Has working knowledge of planning regulations, urban planning and growth management laws in Florida. Ability to apply planning concepts, practices, and procedures in performing the majority of duties while working under general supervision. Knowledge of the principles and practices of neighborhood planning and historic preservation is highly desirable. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other city departments or governmental agencies, neighborhood groups, members of community-based organizations, developers, engineers and consultants. Requires occasional participation in public speaking and presentation engagements. Requires exercising judgment in applying the principles of planning and departmental policies and objectives to a variety of situations.