Senior Planning Manager, Urban Development & Policy

City of Arlington, Washington; Arlington (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement plan with City match

Paid time off

Job summary

The City of Arlington, Washington seeks a Planning Manager to lead long-range planning and land-use regulation efforts, coordinating with multiple city departments, Planning Commission, and City Council. The role oversees complex projects, research, environmental reviews, and presentation of planning recommendations.

This senior position directs Planner I/II staff, participates in meetings, and represents the City in regional planning settings while ensuring compliance with laws and public

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Geography, or closely related field; and
• Four years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience involving comprehensive planning, zoning and development services; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CNU Accreditation (preferred) and AICP (preferred).
• Experience with form-based code (preferred).
• Valid Washington State driver license and driving record acceptable to the City.
• Background check successfully passed.

Responsibilities

• Oversees complex planning projects including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical review for routine project plans and applications, and making recommendations.
• Coordinates and performs research and analyses pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan, subarea plans, grant programs, related municipal ordinances and policy; prepares related reports and recommendations, and renders professional advice regarding planning issues.
• Writes and reviews initial studies; coordinates the preparation of environmental impact reports, recommends determinations of the environmental impact of projects; reviews environmental documents of other agencies.
• Provides direction to Planner I’s and Planner II’s on assigned projects; coordinates and reviews the preparation of various reports, correspondence, tabulations, and summaries; provides input regarding the quality of performance to supervisors.
• Coordinates and attends various meetings for the purpose of providing and receiving information regarding projects and proposals; as assigned, attends and represents the City’s interests or policy position on issues including making presentations before authoritative bodies such as the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, City Council, and the boards, task forces, and legislative bodies of other governmental agencies.
• Attends regional planning meetings representing the City’s interests and/or policy position on various planning issues.
• Conduct site inspections, including determining if projects are in compliance with laws, regulations, and ordinances; makes recommendations on changes.
• Oversees public notification as required by state and local laws and public participation.
• Promotes the department’s mission to provide professional customer service to both residents and developers alike.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or lower-level as assigned.

Skills

Urban planning knowledge

Communication skills

Project oversight

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Laws and regulations

Oral and written reporting

Public engagement

Education

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

Tools

GIS

Planning software

Job description

Summary

The Planning Manager position is a high-level planning position which requires an undergraduate degree in a closely related field and advanced planning experience. This position is primarily tasked with overseeing long-range plans (particularly the Comprehensive Plan) and City land-use regulations; coordinating the creation and amendment of plans and regulations with affected stakeholders, City departments, the Planning Commission and City Council; completing complex planning assignments; and attending relevant meetings and giving presentations as required.

Summary

The Planning Manager position is a high-level planning position which requires an undergraduate degree in a closely related field and advanced planning experience. This position is primarily tasked with overseeing long-range plans (particularly the Comprehensive Plan) and City land-use regulations; coordinating the creation and amendment of plans and regulations with affected stakeholders, City departments, the Planning Commission and City Council; completing complex planning assignments; and attending relevant meetings and giving presentations as required.

The Planning Manager is involved with larger and more complex planning assignments including review and processing of more complex land-use permit applications, and long range plan development such as the Comprehensive Plan and the Housing Action Plan.

The Planning Manager oversees the work of subordinate Planner series positions to ensure planning efforts are coordinated and consistent.

Essential Duties

• Oversees complex planning projects including analyzing and evaluating site and architectural plans, performing technical review for routine project plans and applications, and making recommendations.
• Coordinates and performs research and analyses pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan, subarea plans, grant programs, related municipal ordinances and policy; prepares related reports and recommendations, and renders professional advice regarding planning issues.
• Writes and reviews initial studies; coordinates the preparation of environmental impact reports, recommends determinations of the environmental impact of projects; reviews environmental documents of other agencies.
• Provides direction to Planner I’s and Planner II’s on assigned projects; coordinates and reviews the preparation of various reports, correspondence, tabulations, and summaries; provides input regarding the quality of performance to supervisors.
• Coordinates and attends various meetings for the purpose of providing and receiving information regarding projects and proposals; as assigned, attends and represents the City’s interests or policy position on issues including making presentations before authoritative bodies such as the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, City Council, and the boards, task forces, and legislative bodies of other governmental agencies.
• Attends regional planning meetings (e.g. PSRC, SCT, PAC, etc.) representing the City’s interests and/or policy position on various planning issues.
• Conduct site inspections, including determining if projects are in compliance with laws, regulations, and ordinances; makes recommendations on changes.
• Oversees public notification as required by state and local laws and public participation.
• Promotes the department’s mission to provide professional customer service to both residents and developers alike.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or lower-level as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, and trends in the field of urban planning and design;
• Knowledge of relevant land use, physical design, economic, environmental, and social concepts;
• Knowledge of project oversight techniques;
• Knowledge of software applications used in planning;
• Knowledge of relevant mathematical concepts;
• Knowledge of the application, modification, and interrelationships among ordinances, policies, standards, procedures, and practices;
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations;
• Knowledge of the terminology, symbols, methods, and techniques used in Planning;
• Knowledge of common reference sources;
• Knowledge of local government organization, and the functions and practices of City and other governmental work units with which coordination is required.
• Ability to perform varied and responsible assignments involving the use of initiative and judgment under minimum supervision;
• Ability to provide direction and coordinate the work of other professionals;
• Ability to perform and coordinate activities, such as the collection, analysis, and preparation of reports and recommendation pertaining to complex issues;
• Ability to interpret laws, policies, procedures, regulations, maps, specifications, site plans, graphs, and statistical data;
• Ability to make and defend decisions; prepare visual displays, such as maps, graphs, and illustrations;
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing;
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those encountered in the course of work.
  
  

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Geography, or closely related field; and
• Four years of increasingly responsible professional planning experience involving comprehensive planning, zoning and development services;
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job
• Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) Accreditation, preferred
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), preferred
• Experience working with form-based code, preferred
• Valid Washington State Driver License and driving record acceptable to the City.
• Successfully pass a background check
  
  

Supplemental Information

This is a management non represented position which is a part of a team of administration in the Community and Economic Development Department.

The City of Arlington offers a comprehensive benefit package for regular full-time employees.

Insurance Benefits

• Medical Insurance: choice of Regence Healthfirst 250, Regence HDHP, or Kaiser Permanente $200.
  
  

Employer pays 90% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Kaiser Permanent and 80% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Regence Healthfirst 250. Employer pays 100% of employee and dependent monthly premiums for Regence HDHP in addition to a Health Savings Account Contribution.

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• $26,000 Life Insurance Policy for Employee
• Long Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Health Reimbursement Account for Opt Out Insurance Incentive Program
• Vacation Accrual starting at 96 hours per year
• Sick Leave - 96 hours per year
• Eleven (11) paid Holidays and two (2) Floating Holidays per year
• Jury Duty/Bereavement Leave/Military Leave
• Longevity pay after five (5) years
  
  

Investment and Retirement Programs:

• State of Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS)
• 457 Deferred Compensation (voluntary) with 2% City match
  
  

Voluntary Benefits:

• Colonial Life or AFLAC optional plans for life insurance, cancer, hospital, critical illness, disability, and accident coverage
• Legal Shield: legal and identity protection
• Direct Deposit
  
  

For more information please visit the City's Human Resources website.