Principal Planner- Countywide Planning

Prince William County Government; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

VRS retirement

401a and 457 plans

Paid annual leave

Paid personal leave

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Optional health plans

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Prince William County Government's Planning Office seeks an experienced Principal Planner to lead zoning text amendments and development regulations supporting the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Board priorities. This role involves coordinating with County leadership, consultants, and the public to keep the Zoning Ordinance current and effective in a fast-growing Virginia community.

You will manage complex projects, analyze state legislation, prepare staff reports and ordinance language, and

Qualifications

• Seven years of professional planning experience, including zoning ordinances or land use policy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for staff reports and public meetings.
• Experience leading complex zoning amendments and ordinance development.
• Ability to manage consultants, budgets, and schedules.
• Knowledge of state planning laws and the Comprehensive Plan.

Responsibilities

• Lead zoning text amendments and development regulations as project manager.
• Draft ordinance language and staff reports for boards.
• Coordinate with multiple county divisions and external stakeholders.
• Present recommendations to Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
• Monitor legislative changes affecting local planning.
• Oversee consultants and manage project timelines.
• Support Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update project progression.

Skills

Project management

Policy analysis

Public presentation

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Education

Master's degree in Planning

AICP certification

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Job description

The Prince William County Planning Office is seeking an experienced and innovative Principal Planner to lead the development, evaluation, and implementation of zoning text amendments and development regulations. This position is responsible for managing complex planning projects that support the County's long-range vision and ensure the Zoning Ordinance remains current, effective, and aligned with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, state legislation, and Board priorities.

The Principal Planner serves as a subject matter expert on zoning policy, ordinance development, and land use regulations while coordinating with County leadership, consultants, internal departments, the development community, and the public. This position requires exceptional project management, policy analysis, technical writing, and public presentation skills.

As a Principal Planner, you will help shape the future of one of Virginia's fastest-growing communities by leading transformative zoning initiatives that influence housing, economic development, sustainability, transportation, urban design, and community character. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-profile policy initiatives while collaborating with a talented team dedicated to creating innovative, resilient, and well-planned communities. The Principal Planner will work collaboratively across divisions, departments, agencies, and community stakeholders to develop innovative planning solutions that balance land use, infrastructure, economic development, environmental stewardship, and housing needs.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Assistant Director of the division.

About This Role:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as project manager for complex county-initiated Zoning Text Amendments (ZTAs).
• Research, evaluate, and draft amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and related development regulations.
• Analyze state legislation, court decisions, planning trends, and best practices to recommend policy changes.
• Prepare comprehensive staff reports, ordinance language, Board agenda items, presentations, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate ordinance amendments with the Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, and other adopted County policies.
• Lead consultant teams and manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Coordinate with County departments, legal counsel, state agencies, and external stakeholders throughout the ordinance development process.
• Conduct stakeholder outreach, facilitate public meetings, and present recommendations before the Planning Commission, Board of County Supervisors, and advisory bodies.
• Provide technical guidance on zoning interpretation and ordinance implementation.
• Develop administrative procedures and best practices that improve ordinance usability and review efficiency.
• Assist with the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update project progression
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting local planning and land use authority.
• Prepare or review Comprehensive Plan amendments, public facility reviews, special projects and other tasks that implement the Comprehensive Plan
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

High school diploma or G.E.D. and seven (7) years of related work experience in professional Planning (including preparation of zoning ordinances, development regulations, or land use policy). The equivalent combination of education and related work experience (including internships) may be considered.

Preferences:

• Master's degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related field.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
• In-depth experience in planning practices and principles, experience in developing Comprehensive Plans, reviewing development proposals, and managing projects/applications.
• Experience with GIS applications, development review, statistical analysis, and long-range planning initiatives is highly desirable.
• Experience leading comprehensive zoning ordinance updates or major development code revisions.
• Experience working directly with local government, including working with elected and appointed officials.
• Clear and effective presentation skills to communicate work and provide sound advice to County leadership, community stakeholders, and elected officials on elements of the Comprehensive Plan, land use policies, zoning regulations, and other implementation strategies; and
• Extensive experience collaborating among multi-disciplined professionals and stakeholders, contributing to high-level policy discussions, and identifying innovative opportunities;
• Experience with writing, facilitating, negotiating, explaining, planning terms and processes to customers, and working as a team member.
• Experience writing scopes of work for projects is highly preferred.

Work Schedule:

Full-time with occasional evening Public Hearings or County-led events

Starting Salary Range:

$100,000 - $108,000

We also offer great benefits, including:

• Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
• Paid Annual Leave
• Paid Personal Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
• Optional Group Life Insurance
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Career Development Opportunities

Full-time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Click here for PSLF additional information.

NOTE: The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. To view the class description in its entirety, click here.

Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.