Salary : $79,399.68 - $96,598.68 Annually
Location : Everett, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2024-02190
Department: Planning and Development
Division: Planning and Dev Svcs Permitting
Opening Date: 11/07/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
The mission of the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department is to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations by promoting protection of natural resources and facilitating the development of safe, sustainable and resilient communities.
PDS is seeking a highly motivated, self-directed, solution-oriented individual to perform professional current planning work within the Permitting Division of PDS. This position will be responsible for the project management, review and administration of land use and commercial development permit applications submitted to the county. These include short subdivisions, site plan approvals, multifamily, townhomes, industrial/commercial, administrative conditional use permits, and other ministerial and discretionary permits. A planner may also be assigned to minor quasi-judicial permits that require public hearings. Applicants should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work in a collaborative environment, coordinating reviews and responding to inquires with applicants, architects, engineers, attorneys, other county staff and the general public.
A successful candidate will have knowledge of the following: federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to land use planning and permitting; principles and practices of planning, organizing and supervision; principles of workplace and process design/redesign; and the ability to plan, lead, and coordinate land use and construction permit reviews. Candidates are expected to: work well across a group of teams effectively delivering excellent customer service, establish and maintain effective working relationships; and promote continuous improvement practices.
Not sure you meet the minimum qualifications? Apply and let us decide. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage everyone to apply.
Benefits Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family and will be invested in your success and growth. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, pension opportunities, and employer paid ORCA cards. Snohomish County will be invested in your success and growth and offers the following benefits to our employees. Your salary is only part of your Total Compensation Package:

• : County employees participate in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) administered by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
• benefits: The County offers a choice of three comprehensive medical insurance plans with low deductibles. The county's contribution to this benefit is significant.
• Flexible work schedules for some positions.
• Career development training.
• Sick leave: You will accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month.
• Vacation Leave: You will start out accruing 8 hours of vacation leave per month totaling 2.4 weeks of vacation in your first year. Your leave accruals increase based on your years of employment with the County.
• Holiday Pay: The County observes 11 paid legal holidays per year and provides employees with two floating holidays annually.
• Benefits: The County offers a wide range of benefits including medical and dental, vision, life insurance, Long Term Disability, deferred compensation and more.
• : If you choose to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP), the County will match your contributions up to 1 percent of your base monthly salary.
• Pay Increases: Each year you will be eligible for a step increase until you reach the top step.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): County employees typically receive yearly cost of living adjustments.

Teleworking Options The work associated with this position can be performed with a hybrid of remote work and in-office work as needed and assigned. For employees who prefer to work in the office full time, that option is available. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop; and when working remotely, must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. A Snohomish County Telework Agreement is required for employees assigned to telework. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their Snohomish County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
About Snohomish County Snohomish County, , is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
Snohomish County - The Future We Choose - video
Job Duties
BASIC FUNCTION
To act as a technical member of an assigned planning/development review team, with the ability to function independently or as a coordinating member of that team.
STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Serve as staff participant for assigned short and long range planning functions; provides customer service and technical assistance to groups and individuals both inside and outside the department.
2. Conducts extensive short and long range research and data analysis; respond to inquiries for plan, codes and development information; interpret existing plans, policies and codes for the public.
3. Analyze issues and develop land use policy proposals; assist in formulating plans and regulations; present, as assigned, policy recommendations and plan proposals to policy makers and the general public.
4. Serve as staff member in the development application review process which determines permit application completeness and conformance with comprehensive plans and applicable policies, regulations and codes; inspect and evaluate properties to determine physical characteristics and compatibility with adjacent land uses; route applications to other interested agencies and groups for comment; schedule and participate in technical review meetings with applicants and other affected parties; assist in project redesign as appropriate; prepare and schedule cases for public hearings; review final site plans, landscape plans, clearing plans, final plats, boundary line adjustments, flood hazard permits, temporary dwellings and similar ministerial permits.
5. Schedule and participate in public meetings, hearings, and council sessions for comprehensive plan and code amendments and development application review; prepare staff reports and recommendations and graphics, displays, brochures, leaflets and slide/tape shows; prepare oral and written presentations including findings and reports; responds to questions and solicits input as appropriate; performs in a lead staff role for public hearings, development review or other planning projects of a lesser complexity as determined by the number of governing regulations or a limited need for discretion.
6. Participate in monitoring plans and implementation strategies; contribute to amendments and plan revisions as necessary; contribute to revision of codes and other land use control provision amendments.
7. Review and contribute to documents in the environmental reviews under SEPA and SCEPO of the department and in review of other agencies' environmental assessments.
8. Review plans, regulations, and other proposals prepared by other agencies and jurisdictions.
9. Implement portions of public involvement and information processes; assists in support of county boards and committees; participates in county planning teams and processes and/or the development application review.
10. Participate as a team of senior planners, planners, cartographers, demographers and secretaries in performing plan preparation or development review and technical study tasks.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree in planning or related field; AND, two (2) years of planning experience; OR, any combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. Must pass job related tests.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
A valid Washington State Driver's license is required for employment.
Additional Information
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

• principles and practices of urban planning
• planning related procedures and standards
• research and data collection techniques
• current literature, trends, regulations and developments in the urban planning field
• computer technology

Ability to:

• gather, evaluate and document technical planning data
• read, interpret and apply legal documents and descriptions
• synthesize research and use these results as a basis for recommendations
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective work relationships
• read, interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and policies governing assigned duties
• communicate effectively with people of all ages and from a variety of cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds
• work with a minimum of supervision
• operate computer terminals and applied software packages

SUPERVISION
Employees in this class receive direction from an administrative superior. The work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed through meetings, periodic status reports and results obtained.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The work is performed in the usual office environment with frequent field trips to locations throughout the county for the purpose of making site visits.
Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.
Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
Snohomish County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees that receive a regular appointment who work at least 20 hours a week.
Visit to learn more about the following benefits.
County Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Retirement
• Basic Group Term Life Insurance/ Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Commuting Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Partners for Health Employee Wellness Program
• Leave & Holidays

Voluntary Benefits

• Deferred Compensation 457(b)
• Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance
• Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Supplemental Individual Insurance Policies

Healthcare Premiums

• Regular full-time employees: If you work 35 or more hours per week, you will pay these for medical insurance. The County pays the for vision, dental, and basic life insurance.
• Regular part-time employees: If you work between 20 and 34 hours per week, you will pay for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The County's contribution toward the premium for an employee in a regular part-time appointment will be pro-rated in an amount equal to the F.T.E. percentage the employee is assigned.

Note: Temporary employees, seasonal employees and paid interns may be eligible for medical insurance benefits. Review the County's to learn more.
01
Following are a series of supplemental questions designed to assess your job related experience and qualifications. Please note that as part of the screening process your responses will be reviewed in conjunction with your general online application. The employment history and education detailed in your general application must validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process.
A resume may be submitted, but it will not substitute for the general online application or supplemental questions; responses such as "see resume" or "see application" will not be considered.
Do you agree to answer each question truthfully and that your responses can be supported by your general application/work history and by your references?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have a degree in planning or related field?

• No Degree
• Degree, but not in related field
• Associate's Degree
• BAchelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or greater

03
Do you have any planning experience?

• 0 to less than 2 years of experience
• 2 to less than 4 years of experience
• 4 to less than 6 years of experience
• 6 or more years of experience

04
I am proficient in the use of: (check all that apply)

• MS Office Suite
• Bluebeam Revu
• Permit tracking systems such as AMANDA, eTRAKIT or similar
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

05
Which of the following best describes your experience reading building and development plans and applying state and local laws and regulations.

• i have no experience
• I have limited experience
• I have completed this under close supervision
• I can do this independently with a high level of expertise

06
Describe your specific experience and involvement in reviewing and coordinating different types of land use and development permit applications. (20 pts.)
07
Describe your experience developing or improving processes and procedures including specific projects and the resulting outcomes. (10 pts.)
08
Keeping in mind that your customers may include the public, co-workers, other agency staff, outside cities, and elected officials, describe in detail and provide examples of how you would provide excellent customer service to individuals and various groups at different levels of the organization. Provide an example of a project where you provided excellent customer service. (10 pts.)
Required Question