Principal Planner

City of Arlington; Virginia; On-site; USD 82,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Arlington seeks an experienced planning manager to oversee planning staff, direct long-range and current planning activities, and coordinate with departments on zoning, development and ordinance revisions. The role includes negotiating professional service contracts and presenting staff reports to City leadership.

Successful candidates will guide projects from planning through implementation, supervise multidisciplinary teams, and ensure compliance with city policies and regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field plus six (6) years of related experience; or a Master's degree plus four (4) years of related experience.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of GIS, zoning, Comprehensive Plan, and public planning processes.

Responsibilities

• Direct planning staff and oversee long-range and current planning activities, preparing staff reports, ordinances, and negotiating contracts.
• Develop project objectives, programs, design guidelines, neighborhood plans, and budgets aligned to Council priorities.
• Oversee zoning reviews, variances, and development applications; ensure compliance with plans and ordinances.
• Respond to inquiries and provide technical guidance to the public and City departments.
• Coordinate multi-department recommendations and administer zoning processes and planning meetings.

Skills

Urban planning concepts

GIS analysis

Project management

Public speaking/writing

Data interpretation

Contract negotiation

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Master's degree in related field

Tools

GIS software

Database software

Job description

SALARY

$81,642.50 - $102,053.16

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision, oversees and directs the activities of other planning staff responsible for performing planning assignments, and acts as project manager and project coordinator on long-range plans and studies and current planning activities, including negotiating professional service agreements, monitoring consultant contracts, preparing and presenting staff reports and ordinance revisions, and providing technical planning and zoning assistance to the public and city departments.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manage and supervise planners and planning teams responsible for assignments of long-range plans and studies and current planning activities, preparing and presenting staff reports, ordinance revisions, and providing technical planning and zoning assistance to the public and city departments to ensure the city's policies and standards are met, including negotiating complex consultant and professional service contracts and supervising the development of plans and documents.
• Research and develop project objectives, development programs, design guidelines, neighborhood plans, and budgets based on Council priorities, the department's work plan, and public input.
• Manage and review the department's planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan and its related activities, development and related land‑use permit applications, development plans, and variance applications; examine applications for compliance with established plans and ordinances, and applicable regulations; schedule hearings, monitor approval processes, and enforce compliance.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

• Respond to inquiries from departments, citizens, commissions, City Council, developers, civic leaders, and other professionals to provide technical and professional guidance in planning, economic development, and community development.
• Lead and coordinate recommendations from departments, divisions, and external groups in reviewing zoning cases, development applications, long‑range plans, and special reports.
• Administer zoning processes, platting, variances, special exceptions, ordinance and code amendments, and related activities; facilitate meetings for Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Landmark Preservation Commission, community groups, consultants, and City Council.
• Write reports requiring limited editing; evaluate demographic, zoning, economic, geographic, historic, and infrastructure information; design and organize databases supporting demographics, growth and development monitoring, and application reviews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of fundamental principles, concepts, practices, and theories of urban planning.
• Knowledge of comprehensive and neighborhood planning principles, urban design/architecture, transportation planning principles, economic development, finance, engineering, and GIS analysis.
• Knowledge of professional service procurement, contract negotiation, and contract administration.
• Knowledge of GIS and methods for creating maps and audio‑visual presentations.
• Knowledge of research methods for organizing and analyzing complex data, including project management, spreadsheet, database, and word‑processing software.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws/regulations relating to planning, zoning, site planning, and urban development.
• Knowledge of budget preparation and governmental accounting practices.
• Knowledge of internal departmental processes, ordinances, and policies.
• Skill in communicating clearly with employees, the public, consultants, boards, commissions, and City Council using oral, graphic, and written methods.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, and generating data, and in developing conclusions and recommendations.
• Skill in presenting complex issues to the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, boards, commissions, and the general public.
• Ability to evaluate subdivision plats, development plans, and zoning cases comprehensively.
• Ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary and diverse project teams.
• Ability to supervise professional and technical staff and organize/schedule workloads and priorities.
• Ability to initiate, design, coordinate, and manage planning projects and multi‑departmental efforts.
• Ability to operate computers, GIS systems, graphics tools, visualization software, digital cameras, scanners, and related applications.
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting, seeing, typing, writing, and entering data.

Qualifying Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, geography/GIS, political science/public administration, architecture, environmental science, landscape architecture, business, or related field plus six (6) years of related experience including one (1) year of progressively responsible supervisory experience; or a Master's degree in one of these fields plus four (4) years of related