Senior Planner

Prince William County Government; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension/Retirement (VRS)

Paid leave and holidays

Telework up to 2 days/week

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Prince William County Government’s Department of Parks and Recreation seeks a Senior Planner to lead long-range planning, manage park and trail inventories, and coordinate land acquisitions and easements.

The role requires reading deeds and plats, writing staff reports, grant research, and coordinating with county agencies and community partners. This is a full-time position with occasional evening meetings and up to two days of telework.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Landscape Architecture, or related field.
• 6 years of experience in planning, parks and recreation, or land development.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret deeds, plats, land acquisition and easement documents, and site plans.
• Production of staff reports and resolutions for Board of County Supervisors’ approval.
• Negotiating solutions and developing recommendations related to land acquisitions and easements.
• Communicating with other County Departments, senior staff/County leaders, and the public.
• Reviewing and preparing reports for long-range park planning studies/initiatives.
• Conducting research and analysis and providing concise summaries and recommendations to the Planning Manager/senior staff.
• Making presentations and providing staff support to local planning organizations, stakeholders/commissions, and other community partners.

Skills

research skills

communication

analytical skills

project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Landscape Architecture, or related field

Tools

LRMS (County records)

Job description

Introduction:

Are you interested in planning parks and recreation facilities for a diverse, dynamic, and growing community? The Department of Parks and Recreation is looking for a creative and talented planning professional interested in promoting the redevelopment and expansion of our park and recreation facilities, with a focus on improving the health, wellness, and quality of life for County residents. The Planning Team within the Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for performing the long-range planning tasks of the Department, which include negotiating and processing land acquisitions and easements, maintaining the parkland and facility inventory, and guiding recreational trail planning efforts. We are seeking a candidate with a diverse background in planning, parks and recreation, and/or land development to help advance these efforts.

Prince William County is a growing, diverse, and dynamic community located within easy commuting distance from Washington, D.C. and the Northern Virginia area. Prince William County Government is an organization where elected leaders, staff, individuals, families, and businesses work together to make Prince William County a community of choice. We rely on leadership at all levels to achieve our Vision. We are a continuous learning organization, providing no-cost access to training and career development opportunities; comprehensive, affordable health care options; generous leave accrual; paid holidays and personal days; flexible work scheduling; and VA State Retirement and 401 and 457 investment plans. The Department of Parks and Recreation provides over 5,500 acres of parkland and an extensive array of recreational facilities for county residents. We also partner with regional, state, and federal park providers to offer one of the largest and most diverse parks and recreation portfolios in Northern Virginia.

Join our team of dedicated professionals and put your planning, collaboration, and leadership skills to use in creating parks that offer tangible health and wellness benefits for the public. We are an organization where you can truly make a difference, and we are looking for a motivated individual to help us achieve our vision of doing right by our customers and the community.

About This Role:

The Senior Planner position performs difficult professional and technical work related to the long-range planning efforts of the Department. Work scope involves managing the land and facility inventory of the Department, including processing deeds, plats, and land acquisition and easement documents. Familiarity with LRMS (County court records database) and an ability to read and understand deeds and plats is therefore a plus. This work will include writing and processing staff reports and resolutions for Board of County Supervisors’ approval, researching and writing grant applications, and managing written updates to Department webpages, so the ability to communicate clearly in a written format is a must. The Senior Planner will also assist with trail and master planning efforts, to include site planning, database management, and stakeholder meetings/presentations. This position will work with fellow team members to maintain the parks and facility inventory, to include updating the Park Inventory publication on a regular basis and communicating inventory information/details to external customers and stakeholders. The Senior Planner will also provide support to local planning organizations/commissions, and serve as a liaison to the County Planning Office for Department updates to County Planning Documents such as the Parks Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, DCSM updates, zoning amendments, and similar.

This position is part of a small 5-person team of dedicated professionals responsible for producing a high volume of reviews and reports, and the preferred team member needs to be motivated and able to work in a fast-paced environment. This position requires excellent research, communication, organizational, and analytical skills.As a summary, routine tasks in this role include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Reading and interpreting deeds, plats, land acquisition and easement documents, and site plans
• Production of staff reports and resolutions, park and trail master plans, or similar
• Negotiating solutions and developing recommendations related to land acquisitions and easements
• Communicating with other County Departments, senior staff/County leaders, and the public
• Reviewing and preparing reports for long-range park planning studies/initiatives
• Conducting research and analysis and providing concise summaries and recommendations to the Planning Manager/senior staff
• Making presentations and providing staff support to local planning organizations, stakeholders/commissions, and other community partners

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Urban Studies, Landscape Architecture, or related field and 6 years of experience.

Preferences:

• Work experience in a park planning-related area of interest such as land acquisition, park planning, environmental interpretation, Geographic Information Systems, or similar
• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) Certification
• Experience writing official documents such as staff reports and resolutions for approval by a governing entity/body
• Experience reviewing deeds, plats, and/or land development/subdivision plans
• Experience researching land records including historical records related to land sales, such as deeds, plats, and subdivision plans
• Experience writing grant applications, preferably grant applications that deal with outdoor recreation, open space preservation, and/or protection of environmental resources

Special Requirements:

N/A

Work Schedule:

Full-time, with occasional attendance at evening meetings. Typical office hours are M-F between 8:00-5:00. Up to 2 days of telework per week are currently approved for this position; however, this is not guaranteed and may be subject to change.

Hiring Salary Range

$90,000.00 - $95,000.00 Annually

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. PSLF for 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.

SEE YOURSELF HERE!