Senior Planner- Land Use Review

Prince William County Government; Virginia; On-site; USD 88,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

VRS retirement

401a and 457 plans

Paid annual leave

Paid personal leave

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Health plans (optional)

Life insurance (optional)

Employee assistance program

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Prince William County Planning Office seeks a Senior Planner with strong planning and project management skills to handle land-use entitlement reviews and minor modifications. The role covers rezoning and special use permits, from submission through staff reports to final action by the Board of County Supervisors.

The incumbent provides recommendations to the Planning Director and supports local and regional boards, with occasional evening public hearings and a need for independent judgment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in planning, urban and regional planning, or a closely related field.
• Master's degree and AICP certification are preferred, along with land development and planning experience.
• Knowledge of local and regional planning practices, research techniques, drafting, and engineering concepts.
• Experience with rezonings and special-use permit processes.

Responsibilities

• Review land development applications as part of the entitlement process.
• Prepare staff reports and memoranda with findings and recommendations.
• Research and evaluate projects involving various land uses in the county.
• Present findings to boards and commissions and explain complex concepts clearly.
• Represent the agency at public meetings and manage deadlines.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and respond to inquiries from the public.

Skills

Planning

Project management

Report writing

Public speaking

Policy analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning or related field

Master's degree and AICP preferred

Job description

Are you passionate about shaping the future of a diverse, growing, and vibrant community? Prince William County Planning Office is seeking a Senior Planner who is a highly motivated team player with strong planning skills, project management experience, excellent judgment, and an innovative mindset to tackle complex planning challenges. This is a position in the Land Use Review division, which reviews and provides case management services for rezoning and special use permit applications from initial submission to preparing reports that include staff recommendations for presentation to the Planning Commission through final action by the Board of County Supervisors regarding the application.

About This Role:

The Senior Planner works under general supervision and exercises a high level of discretion and independent judgment in performing the full range of routine to complex responsibilities spanning the entire spectrum of the planning function and exercising primary responsibility for the review and evaluation of land use entitlement and minor modification applications, as well as other special projects as assigned by the Assistant Director of Land Use Review. The incumbent also provides recommendations to the Planning Director, Planning Commission, and the Board of County Supervisors, negotiates on behalf of the County, and provides staff support to local and regional boards, committees, and commissions.

Routine tasks in this role include:

• Reviewing and preparing reports for land development applications as part of the land entitlement process.
• Research and develop reports that evaluate public and private projects involving the full range of land uses in the County (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.); verify the accuracy of applications; evaluate consistency with plans and policies of the County region.
• Presenting to a range of small and large audiences, and the ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner.
• Production of Staff Reports and Memoranda.
• Compliance with time-sensitive deadlines.
• Represent the agency at regularly scheduled public meetings, some of which may take place outside normal work hours.

Minimum Requirements:

High school diploma or G.E.D and 6 years of planning-related experience. The equivalent combination of education and related work experience (including internships) may be considered.

Preferences:

• Bachelor's degree in planning, urban and regional planning, or a closely related field.
• A master's degree and AICP certification are preferred, along with land development and planning experience.
• Knowledge of the practices, theories, methods, and objectives of local and regional planning, research techniques and methods, drafting, and engineering designs.
• Experience working with land use applications that involve rezonings and special use permits.
• Experience working independently and leading teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to prepare accurate and concise reports, and to present data in an effective manner.
• Direct experience in local government and communicating with policymakers, senior-level managers, interdepartmental staff, and intergovernmental entities.
• Experience with technical writing, presenting, facilitating, negotiating, explaining, planning terms and processes to constituents, and working as a team member.
• Be a self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws on a wide variety of planning topics.
• Knowledge of zoning and development regulations and strong research skills.

Special Requirements:

None

Work Schedule:

Full-time with occasional evening Public Hearings

Starting Salary Range:

$88,000 to $101,000

We also offer great benefits, including:

1. Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
2. 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
3. Paid Annual Leave
4. Paid Personal Leave
5. Paid Sick Leave
6. Paid Holidays
7. Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
8. Optional Group Life Insurance
9. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
10. Career Development Opportunities

Full-time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). For more information on PSLF, please click here: PSLF.

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.