Senior Planner

Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $65,447  - $73,628 

Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm

• ALL EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL HIRES WITH A START DATE OF 7/1/2024 OR LATER WILL WORK A 40 HOUR PER WEEK SCHEDULE.

The City-County Planning Department helps plan and direct Durham's vision for growth that supports a high quality of life, a robust economy and a sustainable, inclusive, equitable and accessible Durham for generations to come. We work collaboratively with other agencies and the community in a fast-paced, innovative environment looking for solutions to today's land-use and community planning challenges. If you're talented, creative and focused on customer service, join our team!

The Planning Department is committed to improving racial equity, including hiring staff that reflect our community's demographics and those with strong ties to Durham. Working in the field of planning, we recognize the historic inequities that have been designed into the fabric of our cities and are committed to doing our part in changing that. Creating a more equitable community and recognizing the strength in diversity is a core part of our work in the Planning Department. We believe our work is best fulfilled when our workplace reflects a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences. We believe that creating an environment for diversity to thrive requires an enduring and evolving commitment to inclusion in our department's culture, values, and behaviors. We encourage people with lived experiences and diverse perspectives and identities to apply including people of color, people who have experienced or are experiencing housing insecurity, people with low-wealth, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.  

This position is devoted to professional urban planning services for the City and/or regional organizations including land use planning, development review, parks and open space planning, and historic preservation. Decision-making includes providing input into management objectives, establishing work goals and objectives of a unit to carry out management direction, and selecting the method to address a problem or issue, subject to the constraints established by management objectives and direction.

Position is responsible for managing development projects and/or planning processes/plan development; performing advanced professional analyses and recommendations; providing technical assistance and addressing escalated issues; preparing and presenting graphic and narrative reports; coordinating with regional planning organizations and federal/state agencies; and making complex presentations to diverse audiences.

• Manages large land-use and master planning processes as assigned; and ensures adherence to project schedules and budgets.

• Manages large development review projects, as assigned; conducts pre-application meetings; evaluates project risks and opportunities; conducts negotiations; serves as a point of contact to applicable parties; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Conducts advanced professional analyses; develops and makes recommendations on planning and development issues, including regulatory and policy-related recommendations; conducts research studies; coordinates development review operations; conducts development case reviews; may oversee property inspections and identification of ordinance violations.

• Prepares, maintains, reviews, and/or approves graphic, narrative, and other reports, development proposals, plans/plats, permits, maps, articles, applications, and other documents; approves and issues certifications and notices; prepares and conducts complex presentations to diverse audiences; maintains records, websites, and databases; researches, reviews and analyzes data; develops and makes recommendations; and ensures compliance with applicable ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures.

• Coordinates with customers, regional planning organizations, federal or state agencies, and other City departments; attends community forums and hearings; participates in or leads meetings; plans and implements public engagement and outreach events; provide technical assistance; addresses escalated issues and responds to inquiries; and serves as a representative of the City and the planning function.

• Bachelor's degree in planning, engineering, or a directly related field

• Five years of professional planning experience in the area of assignment.

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

• Master's degree in planning, engineering, or a directly related field is preferred.