Planner I

Yakima County; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits (medical, dental,

Retirement benefits

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Yakima County Public Services, Planning Division, seeks a Planner I to provide professional planning expertise on routine to moderately complex development projects and to support public outreach and education efforts. The role involves assisting the public, coordinating with agencies and contributing to plan updates.

Requirements include an associate degree or two-year certificate and 2 years in planning or related fields; a US driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Two years of related experience in planning, permitting, or real estate.
• US driver’s license is required.
• Education equivalent to an associate degree or higher.

Responsibilities

• Provide policy information and technical assistance to the public and agencies.
• Perform planning analyses for development projects and coordinate with agencies.
• Prepare goals, policies and updates for review by management.
• Develop public education/outreach for land use and growth planning.

Skills

Customer service

Public speaking

Policy analysis

Public outreach

Education

Associate degree

High school diploma

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity
• Common Sense
• Innovation
• Accountability

Position Data: Planner I-J23-U30-H

Regular

Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range: $28.67 - $36.36 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, B25 Step 1-13)

Hiring Range: $28.67 - $30.43 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, B25 Step 1-4 DOQ)

Job Closing Date: October 30, 2026

There is one Planner I opening with Yakima County Public Services, Planning Division. This position provides experienced professional planning expertise and recommendations on routine to moderately complex development projects and other assignments; provides technical assistance to the public and acts as a resource for Section or Division within area(s) of expertise; participates in plan and regulatory updates; special studies, public outreach and education efforts for one of three divisions: natural resource planning and environmental protection, land use and development, and/or long range growth management planning.

Benefits included in position:

• Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave

Note: This position is a Yakima County Public Services Department Clerical, Technical & Professional Employees Group Bargaining Unit Position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

• Provides policy information and technical assistance to the public, agencies and county staff relating to: plans, policies, ordinances, standards, regulatory and non-regulatory programs, federal and state statutes and administrative codes governing land development, transportation, environmental protection and growth management, within area(s) of assignment or expertise.
• Performs, conducts or assists with planning analyses related to processing of routine to moderately complex new development project applications. Duties include: initial project review with customer, completeness review, preparation of required notices, YCWRS, SEPA review, project review and coordinating with other agencies / organizations and drafting of final written analyses.
• Drafts and assists in preparing Department goals, policies, planning, programming and/or regulatory options and updates, and other project assignments for review by Section/Division management or others.
• Develops, coordinates and participates in public education/outreach efforts and special studies related to land use, transportation, environmental and natural resource planning issues and other program or project assignments. Schedules and facilitates meetings and provides technical expertise to organizations and media as needed.
• Performs other duties as required including site inspections and may participate in public hearings.

Education and Experience:

Associate Degree or two-year technical certificate in Land Survey and Construction Design, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Geographic Information Services, Real Estate, paralegal or a field directly related to the area(s) of assignment AND two (2) years’ experience in the areas of permitting, code enforcement, real estate, architecture, land development, planning, engineering, construction or related industry environment functioning in a professional or administrative or program / project support role; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.

NOTE: This would be defined as a High School Diploma/GED and four (4) years of experience functioning in a professional or administrative or program/project support role in the areas of permitting, code enforcement, administrative support, program coordination, project management, real estate, architecture, land development, planning, engineering, construction or related industry environment.

Required:

• US Driver’s License at time of appointment; and,
• successful completion of general employment verification.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• bilingual in Spanish
• Experience with Washington State land use and environmental protection law
• Specialized training in environmental or natural resource issues, projects (SEPA, GMA, Critical Areas, Shorelines)
• Additional degrees, professional certifications, recognitions, awards and licenses that demonstrate acquisition and application of the required knowledge, and abilities to be successful in this position are preferred.

Equipment Used: Telephone, computer, calculator, audiovisual equipment, copy machine, fax machine, typewriter, microfiche, shredder, passenger vehicle.

Working Conditions:

This position is rated as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment:

multiple work locations, field work, may be exposed to hostile/angry individuals, and may work outside of standard business hours.

Physical Demands:

bending, carrying, handling, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, kneeling, hearing, smelling, talking, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands:

ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instructions, and ability to follow verbal instructions.

Knowledge:

• customer service techniques and teambuilding concepts;
• presentation and meeting facilitation, including use of technology for displaying, analyzing and evaluating research data;
• research and analytical methods for planning projects including using fundamental mathematics, statistics, demographics, scientific methods and field practices for gathering and evaluating data;
• principles of site impact analysis for development projects; Principles of geography, geomorphology and natural systems functions;
• legal descriptions, cartography and GIS systems; U.S. Census geography and methodology; micro-economic theories as applied to the effects of land use regulations;
• principles, methods and practices of planning related to the area of assignment, including: urban, regional, environmental, natural resource, transportation, and community development;
• public participation theory and practice including: methods of assessing areas of agreement and conflict among individuals or facilitation groups and techniques for mediating disputes and guiding them to consensus or informed consent;
• applicable transportation planning policies, laws, regulations, ordinances, code principles and practices;
• roles and responsibilities of federal, state and other local public and private organizations; and,
• rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation used in professional report writing.

Skills (and abilities):

• critically analyzing and resolving customer service and internal work related problems;
• analyzing environmental, transportation and land use information to identify options, resolve problems, apply solutions, guidelines and policy to field problems and other work assignments;
• prioritizing multiple projects within established timelines and parameters;
• writing routine to moderately complex technical reports and other documents;
• interpreting, applying and implementing land use policies and procedures;
• giving presentations, public speaking, and facilitating meetings;
• establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with County and other officials, at all organizational levels and with the public;
• ability to clearly speak, write and graphically illustrate in order to convey general and technical information;
• ability to: give and receive direction; understand, interpret and follow County and department personnel policies and procedures;
• researching, interpreting, evaluating and applying a wide variety of inter-related data, policies, laws, codes and legislation to work assignments; technical data, legal descriptions, maps and aerial photos;
• using a personal computer and related software applications, and operating basic office equipment such as scanners, plotters; public address systems and audio-visual presentation equipment;
• applying basic math, algebra and statistics in researching, gathering, organizing and analyzing data from a variety of sources; and,
• maintaining files.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”

Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.