TEMPORARY - Urban Planner II

City of Alexandria; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Alexandria is seeking an Urban Planner II to support the Land Use + Preservation Division within the Department of Planning & Zoning. You will help review zoning and historic preservation matters, conduct research, and prepare professional recommendations for boards, commissions, and City staff.

You will interpret regulations, evaluate proposals, and communicate with applicants and the public while engaging with major zoning reform initiatives and AI tool implementations intended to

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban planning, Historic Preservation, Architecture, or a related field.
• Experience working in a government, regulatory, or development review environment.
• Experience reviewing architectural plans, construction documents, zoning applications, or historic preservation applications.
• Familiarity with zoning regulations, historic preservation standards, or special use permitting.
• Experience in preparing staff reports, presentations, graphics, or other materials for public meetings.
• Experience with GIS and Adobe Creative Suite or similar graphic design software.

Responsibilities

• Reviews building permits, site plans, construction documents, and other applications for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and adopted plans.
• Interprets and applies zoning regulations to a variety of development proposals.
• Assists applicants and property owners in resolving zoning issues.
• Conducts site visits and field inspections to evaluate existing conditions and proposed development.

Skills

Zoning analysis

Regulatory analysis

Written communication

Public service

Customer service

Time management

Education

Master’s degree in urban planning

Tools

GIS

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

TEMPORARY - Urban Planner II - GS / 19 - 12 Months

Planning & Zoning

Land Use Services Division

About Alexandria

The City of Alexandria is a vibrant, historic community of approximately 150,000 residents located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Alexandria offers planners the opportunity to work in diverse urban environments, including historic districts, mixed-use and transit-oriented neighborhoods, waterfront areas, established residential communities, and commercial corridors.

Work is driven by four Guiding Principles:

• Aligning the work we do with our strategic plan.
• Executing against our strategy and ensuring accountability for our results.
• Promoting and encouraging a culture of leadership and ownership at all levels of the organization.
• Promoting a culture of service excellence, creativity and entrepreneurship.
  

About the Department

The Department of Planning and Zoning works closely with the community in each area of the city to carry out City Council's Strategic Plan for vibrant, amenity-rich neighborhoods, protected historic resources, and vital local businesses. With the community as our partner in developing neighborhood plans and reviewing proposals for development projects and businesses, we continue to deliver on the City's Vision we have developed together.

Position Summary

The Urban Planner II is a professional planning position within the Land Use + Preservation Division of the Department of Planning & Zoning. The Division is responsible for zoning review, special use permitting, historic preservation review, zoning enforcement, and planning policy.

The Urban Planner II provides additional capacity to support the Division's development review workload and maintain timely review. The position's responsibilities span zoning compliance under the Zoning Solutions unit and historic preservation review under the Historic Preservation unit.

The position requires the ability to interpret regulations and plans, evaluate architectural and development proposals, conduct research, communicate clearly with applicants and the public, and prepare professional recommendations for boards, commissions, and City staff.

The Division's work also includes City Council work plan initiatives and organizational improvements, including major zoning reform efforts and the implementation of Artificial Intelligence tools and processes designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of planning services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A. Zoning Review

• Reviews building permits, site plans, construction documents, and other applications for compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and adopted plans.
• Interprets and apply zoning regulations to a variety of development proposals.
• Assists applicants and property owners in resolving zoning issues.
• Conducts site visits and field inspections to evaluate existing conditions and proposed development.

B. Historic Preservation Review

• Conducts architectural, historical, and zoning research for Board of Architectural Review administrative approvals, Certificates of Appropriateness, Permits to Demolish, and related applications.
• Reviews architectural plans, construction documents, product specifications, and other materials for compliance with historic preservation regulations and design guidelines.
• Conducts site visits to evaluate existing conditions and proposed work.
• Communicates preservation requirements and recommendations to applicants, property owners, boards, and the public.

C. Planning Research and Analysis

• Interprets and apply zoning and historic preservation regulations with sound judgment.
• Research complex planning issues and clearly explains findings and recommendations.
• Evaluates architectural and development proposals in relation to applicable regulations, plans, and design guidelines.
• Prepare professional recommendations for boards, commissions, and City staff.

D. Public Service and Communication

• Prepares clear and accessible staff reports, correspondence, graphics, presentations, and other planning materials.
• Participate in public meetings, workshops, hearings, and community engagement activities.
• Communicate effectively with applicants, property owners, the public, and City staff.
• Provides responsive and professional customer service.
• Coordinates with applicants, consultants, City departments, boards and commissions, and community members.
• Works collaboratively with applicants, City agencies, boards, and the public.

E. Work Organization and Project Management

• Manages multiple applications and assignments while meeting established deadlines.
• Organizes and prioritizes assigned planning work.
• Applies sound judgment in the review and analysis of planning, zoning, and historic preservation matters.

Artificial Intelligence and Organizational Initiatives

The Urban Planner II works within a Division that is undertaking organizational improvements and City Council work plan initiatives. These initiatives include major zoning reform efforts and the implementation of Artificial Intelligence tools and processes designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of planning services.

The position provides additional capacity for the Division's development review workload while existing staff dedicate significant time to these initiatives.

Work Environment and Professional Requirements

The position requires the ability to work with applicants, property owners, consultants, City departments, boards and commissions, community members, and the public.

The position involves reviewing plans and documents, conducting site visits and field inspections, participating in public meetings and hearings, conducting research, preparing written and visual planning materials, and coordinating development review and historic preservation matters.

The position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks, including but not limited to a criminal history records check.

ADA Statement

This job description provides a generalized representation of positions in this class. It is not intended to reflect essential functions pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), nor is it intended to list every specific function and task of this class title. A job class may also have a medical standard associated with specific physical or mental requirements that must be met.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban planning, Historic Preservation, Architecture, or a related field.
• Experience working in a government, regulatory, or development review environment.
• Experience reviewing architectural plans, construction documents, zoning applications, or historic preservation applications.
• Familiarity with zoning regulations, historic preservation standards, or special use permitting.
• Experience in preparing staff reports, presentations, graphics, or other materials for public meetings.
• Experience with GIS and Adobe Creative Suite or similar graphic design software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The position requires knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• Zoning and regulatory analysis.
• Architectural and construction document review.
• Historic preservation research and analysis.
• Written and oral communication.
• Customer service and conflict resolution.
• Project organization and time management.
• Preparation of staff reports, presentations, and graphics.
• Ability to work collaboratively with applicants, City agencies, boards, and the public.
• Ability to interpret and apply zoning and historic preservation regulations with sound judgment.
• Ability to review architectural plans, construction documents, and site plans.
• Ability to research complex planning issues and clearly explain findings and recommendations.

Salary Information:

$64,296.44 – $113,149.40 annually, depending on education and experience. The Department may offer a starting salary up to $86,127.86 (Step 8), based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, education, and experience.

Application Process

This position requires successful completion of pre-employment background checks to include but not limited to a criminal history records check.

Applicants must submit their resumes and a cover letter.

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.