Principal Planner

Arlington County Government; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Vacation and sick leave

Commuter benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan

Job summary

Arlington County Government is seeking a Principal Planner to lead transit-oriented mixed-use planning initiatives and implement urban design and land use policies. The role requires collaboration across divisions, managing complex projects, and coordinating with community stakeholders in a dynamic urban county.

The position offers a hybrid work environment with on-site presence as needed, occasional evening meetings, and a comprehensive benefits package including retirement and tuition

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field and 3 years of transit-oriented planning or landscape design experience.
• Substitution: Additional education may substitute for experience.
• Experience in land use policy development, zoning administration, urban planning, development review or urban design.

Skills

Zoning studies

Urban planning

Public engagement

Project management

Equitable engagement

Communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

AICP Certification

Tools

ArcGIS

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Cloud

Job description

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Community or Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a directly related field; and
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in transit-oriented mixed-use planning, land use policy development, zoning administration, urban planning, development review, urban design, or landscape design.

Substitution: Additional education may be substituted for experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• Managing highly complex zoning studies or planning projects and processes;
• Progressive responsibility in mixed-use and/or urban planning, community development, landscape design, or other related program areas;
• Preparing planning reports and multimedia presentations that effectively communicate related work to a range of audiences, including online and other social media platforms;
• Proficiency in computer software programs for urban planning analysis and urban design, such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Cloud;
• Senior-level project management of planning and development initiatives within an urban community and integration of equitable community engagement and/or facilitation; and/or
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification from the American Planning Association.

Special Requirements

Driver's License: Applicants for this position must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid driver's license, or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary work site. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire.

Economic Interest Form: Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon hire and annually thereafter.

Additional Information

Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday- Friday. Significant evening and weekend work will be required to attend meetings held by the County Board, the Planning Commission (and its committees), other commissions/advisory boards, and other community meetings. The CPHD Planning Division offers a hybrid work environment with minimum two days per week on-site office hours and with telework options pending supervisor approval.

The official title for this position is Principal Planner.

• This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.