Planner 1 or Planner 2

Position: Planner 1 or Planner 2: Comprehensive & Development Planning

The City of Gresham is seeking to hire two (2) Planners at the Planner 1 or Planner 2 level(s), depending on qualifications, in the Urban Design & Planning Department.  The Planners will support the City's comprehensive planning and/or development planning effort(s), including transportation development review.  

This position will remain open until filled.  First review of applications will take place the week of August 28, 2023.  This recruitment may be used to fill future regular status or limited term vacancies.   

The City of Gresham provides a generous benefits program including medical and dental coverage (City's core plan EE+1), long-term disability insurance, life insurance, HRA plan, and PERS 6% contribution. For more information, please go to: Employee Benefits | City of Gresham (greshamoregon.gov).     

As Oregon's fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve, and go 'one step beyond' to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.  

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

The Planner 1 or 2 works within a collaborative team environment that handles a variety of projects assigned by the Urban Design & Planning Department. The list of duties is a representative sample of the work and does not include all the essential or marginal duties that may be assigned to a position.

Comprehensive Planning
The Comprehensive Planning Division is seeking a Planner 1 or 2 to assist with a variety of innovative long-range planning projects Gresham recently initiated. It’s an exciting time in Gresham with major planning initiatives related to updating Gresham’s Comprehensive Plan and Transportation System Plan, evaluating Gresham’s Pleasant Valley Concept Plan, and updating Gresham’s Tree Regulations, Development Code, and Environmental Overlays. The team is also working to implement new rules related to Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC). You will provide critical support on these important projects. Successful candidates will be detail-oriented and highly organized.

What you will get to do: 

• Assist with a variety of long-range planning projects, including comprehensive plan amendments
• Prepare research, technical reports, and public information materials on land use and transportation
• Facilitate community engagement; make presentations to the Planning Commission and other advisory bodies.
• Depending upon desire and ability, review development proposals for compliance with transportation standards
• Be a reliable team member: Understand that being diligent, problem-solving, and reliable with individual work assignments helps create a work environment that is conducive to collaborative work.

Development Planning
The Development Planning Division is seeking a Planner 1 or 2 to work within a collaborative team environment that handles all public inquiries related to zoning, land development, transportation planning, and a variety of other planning issues for the Urban Design and Planning Department.
 
What you will get to do:

• Development Review: Prepares for and presides over pre-application meetings; Process and review development proposals for consistency and compliance with applicable policies and standards; Coordinates public comments and negotiates and resolves differences to assure consistent compliance with applicable policies and standards; Review building and sign permits for compliance with planning requirements. 
• Planner-on-Duty: Responds to public inquiries relating to planning regulations and requirements and other planning projects and developments; process tree removal permits, business licenses, and zoning verification letters. 
• Process Improvement: Works independently and/or collaboratively to improve the development review process by improving existing or introducing new forms and information packets for internal and external customers; provides input and/or draft policies related to improving the development review process.
• Be a reliable team member: Entails being able to listen to planning and development professionals within UDP and the larger organization in support of reviewing and processing land use inquiries and applications; and providing exemplary customer service.
• Tackle a variety of other work: In addition to reviewing and processing development applications, this position may work with long-range, transportation, parks, and natural resource planning staff depending upon capacity, desire, and knowledge, as directed by the Manager.

Qualities we are looking for: 
The ideal candidate should demonstrate excellent organization, attention to detail, the ability to work autonomously in a highly collaborative team setting, have enthusiasm to learn and help others, be a problem solver, communicate effectively (orally and in writing) and with professional judgment, and have the ability to manage and deliver work within set timelines, short deadlines, and constant interruptions. In addition, the City of Gresham's core competencies are:

• Collaborative: A customer-service (internal and external) oriented professional who values partnerships and forms relationships with team members and related disciplines to get things done. One who will work independently but within a highly collaborative team.
• Practical: An organizer and planner who thrives on information and process details and can juggle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Inventive: A strategic problem-solver who enjoys a challenge.
• Nimble: A quick thinker who navigates obstacles with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Equitable: Seeks to remove barriers. Accept, respect, value and support the diverse cultures and identities within our organization and our community. Be mindful and intentional in creating equitable outcomes and opportunity through our policies and systems.

Knowledge of:

• Practices, principles, procedures, regulations, and laws affecting City policies and operations related to transportation, planning and land use 
• Environmental, social, economic, and other demographic factors affecting local governments
• Principles and practices of contract, grant, and project management
• Data gathering, analysis, and research
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff
• Communication principles, practices, and techniques
• Modern office practices and methods, computer equipment, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and software applications

Ability to:

• Proficiently operate office equipment and technology tools such as the Office 365 productivity suite including spreadsheet software (Excel) and Outlook, Word, Teams, SharePoint, etc.
• Perform research; analyze and interpret data; draw valid conclusions; develop reports
• Read, understand, and explain technical language and requirements
• Influence and gain cooperation when there are competing or conflicting priorities; conduct effective negotiations and represent the City with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, regulatory and legislative organizations
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external contacts
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; present information, proposals, and recommendations clearly and persuasively
• Physically perform the essential job functions 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Design/Planning or related field 
• Planner 1: A minimum of up to one (1) year of experience in transportation planning, comprehensive planning, urban design, urban planning, or related work.
• Planner 2:  A minimum of one (1) to four (4) years of experience in transportation planning, comprehensive planning, urban design, urban planning, or related work. 

Any combination of a minimum 4-5 years (Planner 1) or 5-8 years (Planner 2) of qualifying education, training and/or experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Planner 1: One or more years of experience in transportation planning or comprehensive planning, urban design, urban planning and/or related work
• Planner 2: Three or more years of experience in transportation planning or comprehensive planning, urban design, urban planning and/or related work 
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Experience in participating in the land use "entitlement" process (private or public) 
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Sound judgment
• Work independently with minimal direction 
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

Salary Ranges 
Planner 1: $70,019.00 - $89,466.00 Annually 
Planner 2: $77,619.00 - $99,113.00 Annually

To apply for this position, click 'Apply' at the top of this job posting.
 
Required application materials:

• Complete online application
• Response to supplemental questions
• Resume 
• Cover letter (no more than 1 pages) describing interest in the position and summarizing related experience and skills

 
If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability, please provide your request in writing to [email protected], upon submitting the required documents.
 
Veteran's Preference
The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with state law. Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veteran's preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.
 
Our Commitment
The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, Oregon, or local law.
 
Please direct questions about this position to [email protected].