Senior Planner

City of Santa Fe Springs; Burgaw (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pender County is seeking an experienced planning professional to lead long-range planning initiatives, manage complex projects, and oversee regulatory updates to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The role focuses on research, analysis, and collaboration with staff, boards, and the public to advance sustainable development.

Responsibilities include preparing technical reports, interpreting state and county codes, drafting amendments, and providing transportation planning recommendations.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of planning principles and practice.
• Ability to analyze and compile technical information.
• Ability to present technical information clearly to lay groups.
• Ability to supervise staff and maintain effective working relationships with public and officials.

Responsibilities

• Manage long-range planning projects, including implementation of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
• Draft and write amendments to regulations through research and collaboration with staff and boards.
• Provide transportation planning recommendations to county staff and officials.
• Seek and apply for grant opportunities aligned with organizational goals.
• Prepare and present project cases to county boards and the public.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Supervisory skills

Policy analysis

Public presentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field

Master’s degree and AICP preferred

Job description

General Definition of Work

Performs difficult professional work in long range planning to include providing project management for active projects, updating and maintaining the comprehensive plan and land development regulations, community and transportation planning, grant administration, extensive research, compiling technical data, preparing and presenting project cases and plans before various boards and commissions, drafting revisions and amendments to County ordinances, overseeing long range planning staff, preparing and interpreting maps, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Planning Director. Assist with other duties as needed or assigned.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

• Manage long range planning projects including implementation of the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.


• Continually work to ensure policy priorities as codified in the County’s various policy documents (Land Use Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, Small Area Plans, etc.) are being implemented through regulatory updates.


• Devise and write amendments to current regulations through thorough research, technical expertise, and collaboration with staff, County boards and the public.


• Provide transportation planning recommendations to County staff, appointed officials, and elected officials in consultation with local, regional and state partners.


• Seek and apply for grant opportunities that align with organizational goals.


• Perform research for long-range planning objectives and make recommendations on implementation; assist in making project recommendations to County boards.


• Research, prepare, and present project cases to County boards, civic and public groups.


• Interpret and apply applicable state and county codes, ordinances, and regulations in the performance of assigned duties and to citizens, developers, and County officials.


• Conduct reviews and issue approval of various development applications including text amendment requests, rezoning requests or other applications as assigned.


• Responsible for extensive research in specific or general project areas to include community plans, land use development, and County ordinances.


• Compile and analyzes data on social, economic, and physical factors affecting land use.


• Write and prepare formal and technical reports, working papers, and correspondence.


• Assist Planning Director on regional planning projects to include transportation planning, sustainable development and other topics as necessary. Utilize existing tracking systems for development records including text amendments, map amendments, variances and subdivisions as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education & Experience

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of planning; thorough knowledge of current literature and recent developments in the field of planning; ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and to prepare technical reports; ability to prepare and present technical information clearly and in an interesting manner to lay groups and the public; ability to plan and supervise the work of subordinates; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, developers, engineers, surveyors, elected officials and the general public.

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in planning, geography, or related field and moderate experience in planning and development review including some supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree and AICP certification are preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license in the State of North Carolina is required.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires standing and walking and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Benefits

There are a wide variety of benefits available to eligible Pender County employees. These benefits include: health, dental, vision, life insurance, optional life and disability insurance plans, flexible spending account, retirement program, 401(k) program, deferred compensation program, credit union membership and an employee assistance program.

Benefits Overview can be viewed here.

01 Do you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent?

• Yes


• No

02 Do you have a North Carolina driver license, a valid driver license from another state due to military exemption, or the ability to obtain a North Carolina driver license within 30 days of hire?

• Yes


• No


• Required Question