Planning Manager

Tulsa County; United States; On-site; USD 66,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Organization Development Services seeks a Planning Manager to lead the Planning Department, supervise staff, and ensure timely, compliant planning services for unincorporated Tulsa County.

You will administer zoning code and subdivision regulations, coordinate with local governments and partners, and prepare reports for boards and commissions while guiding long-range planning initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or related field.
• 8 years of urban planning experience with 2 years in a supervisory role.
• Ability to read, analyze financial reports and legal documents.
• Excellent communication and public meeting facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional planning services to the public with clear communication.
• Lead team on zoning code updates and long-range initiatives.
• Coordinate with local government and partner agencies.
• Supervise planning staff and manage departmental workflow.
• Administer zoning and subdivision regulations for unincorporated Tulsa County.
• Prepare reports and present analyses to boards and commissions.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Project management

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning

Tools

Spreadsheet

Word Processing

Job description

Organization Development Services

Pay $6,488.25

Pay Frequency Monthly

Full Time / Part Time Full time

Job Summary

Under administrative direction, the Planning Manager provides leadership, oversight, and coordination for the Planning Department. The Planning Manager supervises planning staff, manages departmental operations and workflow, and ensures the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of all planning services for the unincorporated areas of Tulsa County. This includes administering the Tulsa County Zoning Code and Subdivision Development Regulations processes and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and procedures.

Job Description

Safety‑Sensitive Position: Yes (as defined under Oklahoma Statute Title 63 § 427.8) All candidates conditionally offered transfer, promotion or initial hiring into a DOT/safety‑sensitive position shall submit to testing for drugs and alcohol and test negative before performing any job functions that are safety‑sensitive or require a CDL. External job applicants with a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test result shall be denied employment and shall be required to wait one year before applying for another position within Tulsa County.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide professional planning services to the public, ensuring clear communication, responsive service and adherence to applicable regulations.
• Lead team in completing projects such as zoning code updates, comprehensive plan amendments, and other long‑range initiatives, while coordinating process with local government organizations and partner agencies.
• Works closely with community groups, organizations, and neighborhood associations to share information and educate residents about growth, development, and planning initiatives within their communities.
• Provide leadership, direction, and supervision to planning staff, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and ensuring adherence to departmental standards and procedures.
• Manage and coordinate daily operations of the Planning Department, ensuring efficient workflow and timely completion of all planning activities and services.
• Administer the Tulsa County Zoning Code and Subdivision Development Regulations for the unincorporated areas of Tulsa County, ensuring consistent application and compliance.
• Conduct reviews and evaluations of development proposals, zoning requests, subdivision applications, and other planning‑related submissions.
• Prepare and present reports, recommendations, and technical analyses to boards, commissions, and other governing bodies.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert on complex planning issues and complete the department’s most technically challenging assignments.
• Maintain current knowledge of planning best practices, regulatory updates, and emerging trends to support effective policy development and decision‑making.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge in principles, practices, and methods of urban, rural and regional planning, including zoning, land use, subdivision development, and long‑range planning; applicable laws, codes, regulations and procedures; and organizational management.

Skills in interpreting and applying zoning and development, and land use regulations; conducting research, analyzing data, preparing technical reports, and presenting recommendations; project management; communication, both oral and written; and facilitating public meetings and discussions with community groups or stakeholders.

Ability to lead, mentor and evaluate staff; fostering a collaborative work environment; resolve problems; manage multiple projects; remain flexible and adapt to changing community needs, regulatory updates and departmental objectives.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Spreadsheet and Word Processing software.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise 2 employees in the Planning Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities can and may include interviewing, training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning field or a related field and 8 years of experience in urban planning or a related field, including 2 years of supervisory experience; or any combination of education or experience, substituting one additional year of satisfactory full‑time paid employment for one year of the required education for a maximum substitution of two years.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present verbally and in writing information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to apply these concepts within formulas in spreadsheet/reporting software.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid Oklahoma Driver’s License possessed for at least 6 months Defensive driving with Tulsa County within 6 months of hire. ACIP certification preferred

Physical Demands

The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to assume a stationary position, move or transverse, operate, activate, use, prepare, inspect, detect, position, and communicate, convey, express oneself, exchange information. The employee frequently is required to reach, detect, perceive, identify, recognize, observe, inspect, assess and position self (to), move. The employee is occasionally required to ascend/descend, traverse, and detect, distinguish, determine. The employee must regularly transport, move, position, put, install up to 10 pounds and occasionally transport, move, position, put, install up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EEO STATEMENT

Tulsa County does not discriminate against any individual because of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, or political affiliation (except when such person advocates or belongs to an organization which advocates the overthrow of our constituted government by force or violence) with regard to all terms, conditions, eligibilities, and privileges of employment for all positions in the County.

NOTE: Job descriptions are subject to change based on changing business needs and conditions.

Location

HQ Working for Tulsa County means your expertise will be valued at a place that aims to help you succeed while empowering you to expand your skills. It also means you’ll get great, comprehensive benefits including:

• Competitively priced health care package
• Paid time off including vacation pay, holidays and personal time
• Retirement benefits, including a pension
• Education assistance
• Much more

Equal Opportunity Policy

Tulsa County is dedicated to providing an equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals. It is the policy of Tulsa County to recruit, to employ, to compensate, and to promote the most qualified persons for all classified positions within the divisions under the Board of County Commissioners and other participating County offices, solely on the basis of job‑related qualifications and competency. Therefore, it is the policy of the participating County offices, including all Board of County Commissioners divisions, that there shall be no discrimination against any employee or applicant with regard to their race, color, religion, sex (including, pregnancy, gender identity, or sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, age, or other non‑merit based factors or other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws with regard to all terms, conditions, eligibilities, and privileges of employment for all positions in the County. The complete text of the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity statement is available from the Human Resources Division.

918-596-5095