Senior Planner

City-of-Redmond; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation & holidays

EAP

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

The City of Redmond seeks a Senior Planner to lead complex land use, zoning and development planning activities, ensuring alignment with adopted plans, regulations, and strategic goals. You will develop analyses and recommendations, coordinate multi-disciplinary review, and prepare clear work products for decision-makers.

This role may mentor junior staff and requires strong communication and public engagement skills to present recommendations in diverse settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design or related field.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Four to six years of professional experience in planning fields.
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex land use, zoning and development planning activities.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary review and prepare analyses for decision-makers.
• Develop and communicate recommendations under regulatory frameworks.
• Mentor junior staff and support staff as needed.
• Present findings and recommendations in public or formal settings.

Skills

Urban design

Land use planning

Public speaking

Collaboration

Communication

Analytical skills

Policy analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GIS software

Microsoft Office

Job description

The City of Redmond is a thriving, culturally diverse community and home to over 80,000 residents. Redmond is the hub of an array of commerce and industry, ranging from technology, aerospace, and gaming to biomedical and innovation start-ups. In this role, you will represent the City and our values of service, integrity, accountability, belonging, and stewardship.

The Senior Planner is responsible for leading complex land use, zoning, and development planning activities, ensuring that growth and development align with the City’s adopted plans, regulations, and strategic goals. Working under general direction, the Senior Planner independently develops analyses and recommendations, coordinates multi-disciplinary review, and prepares clear and well-supported work products for decision-makers. The position may provide direction, technical guidance, and mentorship to junior staff but does not exercise formal supervisory authority.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of and Skills in

• Principles, practices and techniques of urban design, site design, land use, subdivision, urban planning, community development, environmental management, or transportation planning
• Governmental processes and techniques and Federal, State and local regulations and policies with regard to land development, development review, subdivision, community planning, growth management, transportation, environmental management or historical preservation
• Use of GIS and associated software, as well as a variety of contemporary office software, hardware and business machines
• Statistical and forecasting research methodology and techniques
• Methods and techniques of community involvement
• Grant writing and coordination of grant funded projects

Ability to

• Develop and carry out program and project assignments to advance the City's vision and interests; formulate, organize and implement program activities and improvements
• Partner and collaborate effectively with a variety of people
• Communicate effectively in written, oral and graphic formats to other staff, elected officials, media and the public, including communication of topics that are complex and controversial
• Effectively staff boards and commissions
• Plan, organize and carry out work to meet deadlines and expectations for quality
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers
• Effectively prioritize and resolve problems and controversial issues
• Define and conduct research related to projects and issues assigned; gather and analyze data for compilation
• Define, conduct and interpret qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Conduct analysis and prepare and communicate recommendations in relation to the City's operational directives complying with applicable Federal, State or local regulations
• Present recommendations and resolve issues in public settings involving diverse groups of audiences
• Facilitate public outreach and community development meetings, including those that are highly controversial

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, urban design and development, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, environmental science, natural resources management, transportation, public policy, engineering or related discipline.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Four (4) to six (6) years of professional experience in the above fields;
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Licenses and Certificates

• Valid Washington State Driver's License and a driving record that meets city standards

Other

This class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the job.

Our employees earn competitive wages and enjoy an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• MEDICAL INSURANCE - Choice of two plans for employees and their eligible dependents: Premera or Kaiser Permanente. All employee healthcare premiums paid for by the City of Redmond.
• PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE - Included with each medical plan
• DENTAL INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• VISION INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• OTHER INSURANCE - Life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - For tax savings on healthcare and dependent care expenses
• PAID VACATION & HOLIDAYS – with (13) paid holidays per year
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
• RETIREMENT PLANS - Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plus additional options that include: Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (Social Security replacement plan) and MetLife 457 Plan
• Annual COLA adjustments
• Annual merit increases of up to 5%