Planning Systems Developer – Full Time Job Opportunity

City of Sugar Hill; Buford (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sugar Hill is seeking a Planning Systems Developer to maintain and expand its GIS program and to implement the staff permitting system. This full-time exempt role supports planning, development, and operations with GIS data, analysis, and applied technology.

You’ll deploy GIS infrastructure, update public maps, run spatial analyses, and collaborate across departments to improve workflows and data integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in GIS, Geography, CS, Information Science, or related field.
• Three years GIS experience including data analysis, db management, and web mapping.
• Proficiency in SQL, Arcade, and Python with scripting/automation in GIS.
• Experience maintaining spatial databases and publishing web maps or apps.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve workflow or data problems in production systems.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and maintain the City’s GIS infrastructure.
• Configure, support, and improve the development permitting system and workflows.
• Assist with planning studies and updates to land use policies.
• Provide mapping, analysis, and project support for multiple programs.
• Maintain GIS databases, datasets, and public-facing maps/apps.
• Develop integrations between permitting system and GIS data.

Skills

SQL

Arcade

Python

Web mapping

Education

Bachelor's degree in GIS/Geography/CS/InfoSci

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

CityView

Accela

Tyler EnerGov

REST APIs

Job description

Job Title

Planning Systems Developer

FLSA Status

Exempt, Salary

Pay Classification

TBD

Department

Planning and Development Department

Reports To

Planning and Development Director

Job Summary

The Planning Systems Developer is a full-time exempt position in the Planning and Development Department. This role is the point person responsible for maintaining and expanding the City’s GIS program, as well as implementing and supporting the development permitting system used by staff. The position requires the creative application of GIS data, science, and technology to support informed planning and operational decisions across the organization.

Core Responsibilities

• Deploy and maintain the City’s GIS infrastructure.
• Implement, configure, and support the City’s development permitting system, including workflow improvements, reporting, and data integrity.
• Assist with planning studies, maintenance of long-range plans, and updates to land use policies.
• Provide mapping, analysis, and special project support for community and economic development, public arts initiatives, transportation planning, public works, utilities, public safety, and related programs.

Typical Duties

• Maintain and update the City’s GIS databases, layers, and maps, ensuring data accuracy, quality, and currency.
• Update and manage public-facing spatial tools, web maps, and web mapping applications.
• Perform spatial analysis and produce maps and data products for staff, officials, and the public.
• Analyze the City’s impervious surfaces annually to inform the City’s stormwater billing process.
• Diagnose and resolve permitting system issues and inefficiencies in close collaboration with the Permit Technician, Building Inspector, and Planning Technician, and recommend and implement process improvements that reduce manual work for staff.
• Develop and maintain integrations between the permitting system and GIS, such as parcel, address, and zoning data.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Design, collect, integrate, manage, distribute, maintain, update, back up, and archive GIS data and information processes to maintain an efficient, accurate, and effective municipal GIS.
• Configure and administer a permitting or land management system, including workflows, user roles, forms, fees, and reports, and coordinate with the software vendor on upgrades and issue resolution.
• Analyze staff business processes and translate them into system configurations and automated workflows.
• Create or revise maps and data products for current, proposed, and historic projects.
• Research, review, interpret, and verify the accuracy of property records, including property descriptions, surveys, plats, plans, and sketches.
• Develop, publish, maintain, and update the City’s GIS web-based content and interactive data products.
• Assist public and private GIS users with technical questions and the retrieval of GIS data and products.
• Understand zoning, subdivision, and land use regulations sufficiently to support planning studies and policy updates.
• Keep current with changes in GIS science, technology, and best practices.
• Establish effective working relationships with public and private partners and promote the efficient acquisition, integration, and sharing of GIS data among organizations and agencies.

Supervisory Controls

The Planning Systems Developer reports directly to the Planning and Development Director and will often work collaboratively with other staff within and outside the Planning and Development Department. This position does not supervise any employees but is expected to work cooperatively with all City staff, consultants, and customers representing the regulatory and public interest of the City.

Work Environment

The Planning Systems Developer primarily works indoors in an office setting and must be available to attend some evening and possible weekend meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field. Professional experience and a portfolio that clearly demonstrate technical proficiency and creative problem solving may be considered in place of a degree.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in GIS, including data analysis, database management, and web mapping or application development.
• Demonstrated proficiency in SQL, Arcade, and Python, including scripting and automation within a GIS environment.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining spatial databases and publishing web maps or applications.
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve workflow or data problems in a production system.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field.
• Experience implementing or administering a permitting, licensing, or land management system (such as CityView, Accela, Tyler EnerGov, or similar).
• Proficiency in additional languages and technologies such as JavaScript, HTML/CSS, R, C#, or .NET.
• Experience with REST APIs and system-to-system data integration.
• Experience in local government, planning, or community development.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Georgia driver’s license is required.

The City of Sugar Hill is a Drug Free Workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.