Senior Planner

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Class Title

Senior Planner

Class Code

5939

Salary

$105,955.20 - $128,814.40 Annually

+ Definition

+ Benefits

Classification Description Summary

Under direction, leads, oversees, and participates in the more complex and difficult work of staff responsible for providing professional planning services to the City involving economic development, growth management, redevelopment, and regulation administration; reviews development proposals and prepares master plans in accordance with established policies and procedures; and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level class in the professional Planner series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed and the complexity of duties assigned including exercising technical and functional supervision over lower level planning staff. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series including the most controversial and complex land development and planning cases. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Essential Functions

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Lead, plan, train and review the work of staff responsible for providing professional planning services to the City involving economic development, growth management, redevelopment and regulation administration; participate in performing the most complex work of the unit.

Train assigned employees in their areas of work including professional planning methods, procedures and techniques.

Verify the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.

Collect, compile and analyze complex planning issues including the fiscal impacts of growth and development; review the fiscal analysis of development projects submitted by private developers.

Prepare specific plans, new ordinances and amendments, and take them through the approval process; prepare Master Plan policies and sections.

Oversee the preparation and reproduction of Master Plan maps; research various open space areas and other issues within the Master Plan; provide staff support for preparation of revised ordinances.

Conduct a variety of complex policy research projects including air quality, noise, transportation, housing and employment; prepare and convey appropriate code amendments resulting from research.

Communicate with developers and convey policies on development related matters; prepare and present staff reports for the Planning Commission and City Council regarding development proposals.

Review and approve the bimonthly development review memo for new planning cases; prioritize and assign cases to planning staff.

Research, analyze and prepare reports for various boards, commissions, City Council and the general public regarding planning issues; make oral presentations and respond to policy and code questions at public hearings.

Review building permits, tentative and final maps for subdivisions, development applications, site plans and other planning proposals; review requests relating to City statutes, policies and zoning ordinances; negotiate changes to plans, applications and reports as appropriate.

Prepare grants for assigned area of planning; oversee project staff hired with grant monies; monitor grant budgets and program to ensure satisfactory fulfillment of scope of work per contract.

Attend and participate in a variety of group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of planning.

Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within the area of assignment; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

Estimate time, materials, and equipment required for jobs assigned; requisition materials as required.

Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

Operations, services, and activities of a community planning and development program.

Principles of lead supervision and training.

Complex planning theory, principles, practices and trends.

Modern principles, practices, and techniques of planning including land use, environmental policy analysis, natural resource management, municipal service delivery, physical design, landscape architecture, demographics, and economic and social concepts as applied to municipal planning.

Development review procedures and requirements.

Site planning and architectural design principles.

Recent developments, current literature, research methods, and sources of information related to municipal planning, urban growth, and development.

Methods and techniques of effective technical report preparation and presentation.

Methods and techniques of research and analysis.

Statistical methods and research techniques applicable to the preparation of municipal planning studies. Methods and techniques of eliciting community participation in planning and development issues.

Modern and complex principles and practices of grant funding and administration.

Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.

Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.

Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws underlying general plans, zoning and land divisions, and applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Ability to:

Perform professional level planning duties in the development, implementation, and modification of City plans and regulations.

Lead, organize, and review the work of professional planning staff.

Independently perform the most difficult planning functions.

Interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.

Comprehend and interpret land use laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances applied to land use planning.

Develop, interpret, and promote complex population and land use modeling.

Explain complex mathematical and planning data to the general public and present recommendations to discretionary bodies.

Develop and discuss statistical methodology and recommend best practices

Apply policies, procedures, and standards pertaining to the municipal planning process.

Interpret maps, site and building plans and specifications, graphs and statistical data.

Interpret, analyze, apply, implement, and explain pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including City codes and departmental policies and administrative directives.

Interpret planning and zoning programs to the general public.

Analyze and compile statistical and technical information

Develop recommendations regarding the use of property.

Make sound recommendations regarding urban and community planning activities.

Review proposed state legislation for possible fiscal and/or operational impacts on the City.

Analyze projects and potential projects for consistency with planning regulations, general planning principles, and architectural quality.

Prepare and analyze technical and administrative reports, statements, and correspondence.

Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, council members, committee and commission members, and the general public.

Perform difficult and complex review and analysis of planning assignments.

Conduct a variety of complex policy research projects.

Prepare grants for assigned area of planning.

Operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications.

Work in a team based environment to achieve common goals.

Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.

Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban/regional planning or a related field.

Experience:

Three years of increasingly responsible urban planning experience at a level comparable to an Associate Planner, and including some lead supervisory responsibility.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Possession of AICP certification from the American Planning Association is desirable.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some travel from site to site and exposure to an outdoor field environment.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate a motorized vehicle; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Other Requirements

RAPG Pro

R32

Last Update: 9/2018

JD 11/2018

Please use this Health and Welfare Benefit Link ( to learn more about the City of Reno's great employee benefit plans and wellness programs.

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