Urban Planner II

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

Job summary

City of Alexandria, VA, is seeking an Urban Planner II to support the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development Division in high-impact long-range planning, community engagement, and neighborhood development projects. The role emphasizes graphics, GIS analysis, and collaboration with multiple city departments and the public.

Qualified candidates will have a four-year planning degree and several years of related experience, with a preference for a master’s degree and demonstrated

Qualifications

• Minimum: Four-Year College Degree in regional, urban planning, or closely related field; three years of experience or master’s degree with 1 year experience; or any equivalent combination.
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in urban planning with at least two years of professional experience in urban planning and related skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team on long-range planning projects with extensive public participation to foster equitable solutions.
• Produce graphics and maps for presentations, plans, and staff reports, translating complex issues into clear concepts for community groups and officials.
• Review development projects for consistency with the Master Plan.
• Assist with community engagement strategies and work with stakeholders in plan development.
• Assist with implementation of long-range planning initiatives and coordinate with other divisions and departments.

Education

Four-Year College Degree in regional or urban planning or closely related field

Tools

Adobe Suite

ArcGIS Pro

SketchUp Pro

Job description

Urban Planner II - GS 19

Neighborhood Planning and Community DevelopmentDivision (NPCD)
Department of Planning & Zoning

About Alexandria

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for ourUrban Planner IIposition.
Our work is driven by our 4 Guiding Principles:

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

An Overview

This position is located within the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development (NPCD) Division of the Department of Planning & Zoning (P&Z). The Planner will perform professional planning work primarily but not limited to small area plan development, community outreach, research and analysis, development review, and coordination among different departments and agencies

What You Should Bring

The incumbent should be a highly responsible and organized planner with outstanding planning, communication, technical, and analytical skills. You must have a strong knowledge of and experience with the principles and practices of urban planning, urban design, and community engagement as well as excellent graphics, GIS, and plan review skills.

The Opportunity

• Collaborating as part of a multi-disciplinary team on long-range planning projects involving extensive public participation to facilitate equitable solutions for complex neighborhood issues.
• Producing graphics and maps for presentations, plans and staff reports, transforming complex issues into concise and easy to understand concepts for community groups, property owners, and appointed and elected officials.
• Reviewing development projects for consistency with the Master Plan.
• Assisting with design and execution of community engagement strategies and working closely with community stakeholders in the development of plans.
• Assisting with implementation of long-range planning initiatives.
• Collaborating with other divisions within P&Z as well as other departments and external partners.

About the Department

P&Z 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 Vision we have developed together.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of the principles and best practices of City planning and urban design; ability to work efficiently and effectively to execute tasks; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, members of the community, elected and appointed officials, consultants, and other jurisdictions; ability to analyze data and prepare technical reports; ability to develop creative approaches to and concepts for planning problems; ability to manage consultant work; ability to evaluate development proposals for consistency with the master plan.

Job Family, Contribution Level and Career Ladder

Job Family: Medical/Scientific/Engineering/Technology Professions
Contribution Level: 3
Career Ladder: This job class is part of the Urban Planner Career Ladder program

FLSA Status and Basis

FLSA Status: Exempt
FLSA Basis: Admn
EEO Category: Professionals

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

This class specification provides a generalized representation of positions in this class. It is not intended to reflect essential functions pursuant to 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.

Minimum:

Four-Year College Degree from an accredited college or university in regional, or urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Physical Sciences, Historic Preservation, or Environmental Studies; three years of experience or master's degree with 1 year experience; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred:

Master's Degree in urban planning or a closely related field and at least twoyears of demonstrated professional experience and expertise in urban planning (or a closely related field) applying the following skills: neighborhood planning, community development, community engagement/facilitation, urban design, environmental planning, excellent communication skills, strong written, graphic, and presentation skills, the ability to handle multiple complex projects with established deadlines simultaneously, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced team environment within the Department, with other City staff, and with the public and elected officials. Preferred technical expertise includes Adobe Suite, ArcGIS Pro, and SketchUp Pro.

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.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• At least two (2) professional writing and/or portfolio samples of work (may submit hyperlinks if too large to submit)

Applications that do not include all required materials may not be considered.

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.