Principal Planner

Salt Lake City Corporation; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 67,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

Paid vacation and personal leave

Paid parental leave 6–12 weeks

Pension/401(k) contributions

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Tuition reimbursement up to 4000

Discounted supplemental benefits

Job summary

Salt Lake City Corporation seeks a Principal Planner in the Community and Neighborhoods Department to support long-range planning and complex development projects. The role focuses on ensuring General Plan alignment, zoning compliance, and effective public engagement.

Responsibilities include preparing policies, staff reports, and coordinating with city bodies and external agencies. Strong background in urban planning and GIS is preferred, with eligibility for full-time city benefits and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning or related field + 2 years full-time professional city planning experience or equivalent.
• Familiarity with planning policies, zoning, and subdivision regulations.
• Ability to prepare professional staff reports and planning policies.

Responsibilities

• Perform planning analysis for complex projects and ensure General Plan goals.
• Prepare policies for general plan and community plans; deliver staff reports to Mayor, City Council, and commissions.
• Manage citizen participation for long-range plans and complex projects.

Skills

Urban planning

Public policy

Staff reports

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning

Relevant professional experience 2+ years

Tools

Geographic Information Systems

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

SketchUp

Job description

Position Title:

Principal Planner

Job Description:

We are looking for a Principal Planner to support our Community and Neighborhoods Department.

Position Salary Range:

E28 - $67,121/yr. to $91,689/yr.

The established market rate for this position is $91,689/yr.

Relevant Experience Counts Toward Your Leave!

Salt Lake City values the professional experience you bring. Eligible new hires in full-time, benefit-eligible non-represented positions may receive leave accrual credit for prior full-time, benefit-eligible work that is directly related to this role or earned within a comparable public career service system. If selected, details about your credited leave time will be included in your offer.

This position is eligible for full city benefits, including:

• Health Insurance

• Dental, Vision and Life Insurance

• Paid vacation and personal leave

• Six to twelve weeks of paid parental leave from day 1 of employment

• Retirement contributions toward a pension plan and/or 401(k)

• A robust Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

• Up to $4,000 tuition reimbursement annually

• Discounted supplemental benefits like pet insurance and legal services

Learn more about our benefits here: https://www.slc.gov/hr/benefits-and-wellness/.

IMPORTANT: Early application submittal is encouraged. This position will remain open until filled and may close at any time without notice. The first review of applications will begin on Thursday, August 27th. The hiring team will review applications and establish an initial interview pool. Once the interview pool has been selected, further application review may be placed on hold.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performs planning analysis for complex planning projects to ensure implementation of General Plan goals, policies and zoning and subdivision ordinance regulations. Analyzes general plan policies, zoning, and subdivision ordinance compliance, negotiated development exactions, performance standards and initiates staff recommendations.

• Prepares in narrative, statistical, and graphic format comprehensive policies for the general plan, community plans, small area master plans and other projects as assigned. Prepares professional staff reports for the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, Administrative Hearing Officer and Appeals Hearing Officer and other groups as assigned. Also prepares information about plans and planning review process for the public.

• Manages the citizen participation process for long range plans and complex development projects; maintains required records, meeting summaries, other mandatory information; facilitates solutions with citizen councils, developers, officials from the City, other municipalities, counties, regional planning agencies, the State of Utah and the Federal government.

• Reviews, interprets, and approves plans and applications for compliance with planning and development regulations for conditional uses, special exceptions, subdivisions certificates of appropriateness, Conditional Building and Site Design Review and Planned Developments and/or Capital Improvement Projects, or refers individuals to the appropriate governing agency.

• Initiates and manages the consultant selection process, implementation of plans, and contract monitoring and payment for consultant planning projects.

• Attends and/or conducts meetings to explain planning and development activities, propose conflict resolution solutions, and respond to inquiries. Makes formal presentations of planning.

• Issues to community groups, the Planning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, Appeals Hearing Officer, Administrative Hearing Officer, Mayor, and the City Council.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning or a closely related field and two years of full time, paid, professional experience in city planning OR an equivalent combination of education and full time, paid, professional urban planning experience on a year for year basis.

• Specialized planners may require specific, specialized experience as described specifically in a job announcement.

• Ability to perform the compilation, analysis, and preparation of professional written reports and technical statistical analyses and forecasts.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of urban planning, building construction, site development, zoning ordinances, urban design, historic preservation, architecture, and landscape architecture as applied to city planning and other Federal and environmental standards, processes, and policies.

• Demonstrated ability to compose professional staff reports and planning policies. Must communicate effectively, with individuals from diverse organizations and backgrounds.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with division heads, supervisors, employees, and the public.

• Ability to visit various site locations and participate in citizen/committee meetings.

Desired Qualifications:

• Membership in the American Planning Association (APA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) or the Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

• Possession of an AICP certificate.

• Demonstrated proficiency with the use of current graphic, design and art techniques and technologies including Adobe Creative Suite, (In Design, Photoshop, Illustrator) and Sketch-up.

• Demonstrated ability in computer applications related to planning Including Geographic Information Systems.

Working Conditions:

• Intermittent exposure to stressful situations as a result of human behavior.

• Primarily stationary position with light to moderate movement. Usually, pleasant working conditions with occasional exposure to environmental hazards and extreme climatic elements resulting from on‑site project inspections.

• May be required to work nontraditional hours such as evenings and weekends.

Offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a criminal background check in accordance with City policy and applicable law. Criminal offenses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and do not automatically disqualify a candidate from City employment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Position Type:

Full-time

Department:

Community and Neighborhoods

Full Time/Part Time:

Full time

Scheduled Hours:

40