Planner III (14915, Grade 28)

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Upper Marlboro (MD)

On-site

USD 75,000 - 136,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Telework opportunities

Flexible schedules

Onsite fitness center

Gym access across PG County

Free parking for employees

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Prince George’s County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is seeking a Planner III to join our planning team. This position focuses on reviewing proposed land use, development, and transit-oriented proposals, coordinating with county agencies, staff, and the public to advance compliant plans.

The ideal candidate will bring excellent writing, analytical, and presentation skills, demonstrate leadership in project teams, and possess the ability to

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in planning or related field is required.
Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional planning experience.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for 8 years total.
Valid driver’s license depending on assignment, with no encumbrances.

Responsibilities

Review land use, development, redevelopment, and transit-oriented development proposals.
Coordinate with department staff, county agencies, and citizens; provide zoning expertise.
Lead and participate in project teams; present findings at public hearings and to the County Planning Board.

Skills

Writing skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks & Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics

Job description

Description

The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission is seeking a Planner III to join our planning team. The Department provides land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s County, Maryland. As the second most populous county in Maryland, Prince George’s has a population of approximately 900,000 residents and is home to The University of Maryland at College Park, WMATA Headquarters, UMD Capital Region Medical Center, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and Joint Base Andrews. Prince George’s County is also home to attractions such as Northwest Stadium (formerly FedEx Field) and National Harbor. If you are interested in working for the Prince George’s County Planning Department, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Planner III position.

Examples of Important Duties

Under direction, the selected candidate will perform a wide variety of advanced and complex professional planning work requiring a high level of responsibility and technical expertise to review proposed land use, development, redevelopment, and transit-oriented development. Work assignments include the coordination and review of multi-faceted projects that typically involve coordination with other department staff, county agencies, and citizens. Incumbents in this class are regularly assigned project leadership and coordination responsibilities as well as independent work assignments and contribute their expertise as part of other project or work teams. Performs administrative work directly related to case assignments. Performs other related duties as assigned. Must be able to take direction in a high paced department, and meet and track critical deadlines. Must have excellent writing skills with the ability to explain complex issues in a concise and direct manner to individuals and to the County Planning Board, District Council and Zoning Hearing Examiner at a public hearing.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate for the Planner III position will be highly organized, have strong analytical skills, possess outstanding communication and leadership skills, and provide a directly related innovative approach to planning. In addition, they must be independently engaged in the work program, and highly dependable.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field.
Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience related to specific area of assignment such as transportation planning, environmental planning or urban planning.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total eight (8) years.
Valid driver’s license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

Supplemental Information

Classification Specification Planner III

The individual in this position should be a planner, landscape architect, or urban designer with zoning and/or land use experience capable of reviewing and analyzing development proposals, as well as managing on-going processes related to the assigned cases including variances. Primary duty will be the review of applications for conformance to the County Code including Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. This includes coordinating a Departmental recommendation on each application and various inquiries. The workload will include all types of applications, such as rezoning cases, site plans, special exceptions, departures, certified nonconforming uses, subdivisions, as well as providing zoning expertise to planning teams. The candidate must have very good plan review skills including engineered site plans. In addition, the candidate should have an understanding of basic land use law. Other duties may include participation in master plans or sector plans, working as part of an interdisciplinary project team. Requires negotiating solutions and making effective presentations on complex and controversial topics before public groups and in public hearings. Must possess strong oral, written, and visual communication skills; critical thinking skills; innovative problem-solving skills; and the ability to work well with people. Ability to express planning and design principles verbally, graphically and in writing is essential. Combined public/private experience is preferred.

Why Prince George’s Planning?

Telework opportunities
Flexible schedules
Onsite fitness center
Complimentary access to M-NCPPC gymnasiums throughout Prince George’s County
Free parking is available for employees
Tuition Reimbursement/Assistance Program, subject to annual budget allocations and program funding availability
Positions may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness assistance

The M-NCPPC offers a competitive salary range of $75,336 to $135,882 (salary is commensurate with education and experience) at the Planner III level with excellent benefits including generous leave, extensive health coverage, deferred compensation plan, and employee pension plan.

The Prince George’s County Planning Department is conveniently located in Largo, Maryland, near Metro and I-495.

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of application at 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1).

M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.

2026 Benefit Summary For Merit System Employees

Eligibility: You have 45 days from your hire date to elect your benefits. Your coverage begins on the first of the month following receipt of your enrollment forms and required documentation.

Retirement Programs

Defined Benefit Plan (Mandatory Participation) – Plan E excludes FOP members.

Plan Employee Contribution

Plan C 9.5%* of base salary (FOP members only)
Plan E 4% of base salary up to maximum Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) and 8% in excess of SSWB.

457 (b) Plan (Optional) [Pre-tax and Roth]
Traditional and Roth IRAs (Optional)
Retiree Healthcare – Eligibility requires, at least 10 years of eligible service and continuous enrollment in M-NCPPC plans (or proof of continuous enrollment in comparable plans) during the 36 months immediately preceding your retirement date. Premium cost share based on years of service

Health Insurance Plans (FOP Members Pay 23% for Medical, Prescription and Dental and same as all other employees for Vision.) All other employees pay percentage below.

Medical

Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – (15%)
UnitedHealthcare Select Exclusive Provider Organization Health Plan (EPO) – (20%)
UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Point of Service (POS) – (20%)

Prescription – CVS Caremark – (15%)

Dental – Delta Dental PPO and DeltaCare USA HMO – (20%)

Vision – EyeMed – (80% of Low Option plan paid by Commission. Any balance paid by employee.)

Low, moderate, and high options are available. Frequency of covered services differs.

Flexible Spending Accounts (Employee Pays 100%)

Medical Account – Maximum annual contribution: $3,300
Dependent Care Account – Maximum annual contribution: $7,500

Long-Term Disability Insurance (Mandatory Participation)

Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80% (FOP Members Pay 100%)
Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary, maximum of $6,000/month

Supplemental Long-Term Disability Insurance (Employee Pays 100%)

Benefits paid at 66 2/3% of base salary that exceeds $108,000; capped at $216,000

Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Employee Pays 20%: Commission Pays 80%)

Two (2) times base salary; maximum benefit is $200,000 for each
Automatic coverage with opt‑out provision

Supplemental and Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance (Employee Pays 100%)

Supplemental – 1,2,3,4, or 5 times base salary; maximum benefit is $750,000
Spouse/Dependent Combination - $10,000/$5,000, $20,000/$10,000, or $30,000/$15,000

Sick Leave Bank (Contribution and Benefit hours prorated for part-time employees)

Employees have 60 days from date of hire to enroll.
Employee contributes 8 leave hours each year
Annually covers up to 688 hours for own serious medical condition, and 480 hours for parental responsibilities (birth, adoption or foster care), and 80-160 hours for serious medical condition of an immediate family member

Leave Programs

Annual: 15 days per year
Personal: 3 days per year (12-month waiting period)
Sick: 15 days per year
Holidays: 11 days per year

Other Benefits

Credit Union
Employee Assistance Plan
Legal Services Plan
Tuition Assistance Program
Wellness Program
Work-Life Program

For a more detailed description of benefits, please contact the Commission’s Health and Benefits Office at benefits@mncppc.org or 301-454-1694.

High School Diploma or GED
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Doctorate

No Experience
Less than 2 years
2 years to less than 3 years
3 years to less than 4 years
4 years to less than 5 years
5 years to less than 6 years
6 years less than 7 years
7 years less than 8 years
8 years or more

No experience
Less then 2 years
2 years to less than 3 years
3 years to less than 4 years
4 years to less than 5 years
5 years to less than 6 years
6 years to less than 7 years
7 years to less than 8 years
8 years or more

No skill/experience
Beginner (little to no practical experience, no certifications)
Intermediate (1 to 3 years practical experience, including project work and/or 1 or 2 certifications)
Expert (more than 3 years practical experience and 2 or more certifications)