Senior Planner - Historic Preservation Focus

The Planning Division is seeking an individual with a strong preservation planning background and excellent communication skills. The primarily responsibility of this position is administering the City’s historic preservation planning program. This role also includes preparing staff reports and presenting to the Historic Landmark Commission, Planning Commissions, and City Council.

The ideal candidate will be dedicated to a high level of customer service when meeting and consulting with applicants or citizens regarding proposals to maintain, alter, demolish or redevelop historically significant properties. Knowledge and expertise in preservation building technologies and architectural design is of paramount importance to the division.

This person will work closely with Planning staff experienced in Historic Preservation and expected to be a team lead in this subject area. The position also includes senior level project management on citywide development projects, master plans and zoning code ordinance amendments.

Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in historic preservation, urban design, and knowledge and expertise in technical building technologies. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in Planning, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Historic Preservation, or a closely related field.

This position serves as advisor and resource to planning staff members. As team leader on various complex issues, coordinates the development of the City's most difficult, multifaceted master plans and other major planning projects. Coordinates with other jurisdictions on urban design issues. Performs under the general direction of various Planning Managers.

This position requires planning expertise in complex, current and long-range planning research, analysis, team coordination and the political processes necessary for review and adoption of multifaceted master plans and other complex planning projects.

Early application submittal is encouraged. This position will remain open until filled and may close at any time without notice.

TYPICAL DUTIES:

• Serves as a resource to assigned or requesting Planning Division staff. Prepares or assists in the presentation of narrative, statistical and graphic data regarding comprehensive master plans, small area master plans and/or block redesign plans. Coordinates the process or prepares professional staff reports for the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, Appeals Hearing Officer, and various advisory groups, and the general public. Serves as principal author of land development regulations. Researches and reviews information on potential or current issues and meets with management team and planning team members to address and/or resolve the same. May be responsible for ensuring that the City's Urban Design Element is up‑to‑date and incorporates best professional practices.
• Represents the Planning Division on city design review committees and interdivisional planning projects. Manages the citizen participation process for long‑range plans and complex development projects. Maintains required records and meeting summaries. Negotiates, or assists team members in the negotiation of solutions with citizen councils, developers, applicants, City officials, other governmental agencies, and regional planning organizations.
• Performs planning analysis for complex projects to ensure implementation of Master Plan and other City-wide adopted goals, policies, and zoning ordinance regulations. Analyzes and recommends modifications to master plan policies, zoning regulations, negotiated development extractions, and planning processes, and assists other planning team members in the implementation of those recommendations.
• Reviews, interprets, and approves applications for conditional uses, subdivisions, zoning amendments, certificates of appropriateness and other planning division applications. Conducts or advises other planning staff and City Departments on site reviews, processes, and projects. 
• Writes environmental reviews and assessments and maintains an environmental review record for all City projects that use federal funds.
• Prepares complex Community Development Block Grant applications for planning projects and prepares Community Improvement and Historic Preservation Grant Applications. Participates or coordinates consultant selection process and project management including the processing of consultant payments and other financial responsibilities associated with grant funded projects.
• Performs other related duties as requested.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in urban planning or a closely related field and five years full time paid, professional experience in city planning including the simultaneous coordination of various planning team projects. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted one for the other on a year‑for‑year basis but must include a minimum of three years’ experience in the simultaneous coordination of various Planning team projects.
• Ability to coordinate or perform compilation, analysis and preparation of professional written reports and technical analyses and forecasts.
• Demonstrated ability to work interdependently with initiative, reliability, and appreciation of team member contributions.
• Knowledge of State and Federal laws relating to land use planning and Federal environmental regulations and the NEPA process.
• Demonstrated ability to use professional Planning software applications.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possession of an AICP certificate.
• Demonstrated ability to use computer graphic software
• Knowledge of Historic Preservation and Urban Design

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Moderate physical activity. Occasional exposure to environmental hazards related to on‑site project inspections, development site reviews and processing of Certificate of Occupancy permits.
• Considerable exposure to stress as a result of human behavior and the other demands of the position.

Regularly required to work non‑traditional hours to attend, conduct, or present planning information or recommendations to citizen or community councils, advisory' commissions and committees or the City Council.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a criminal background check in accordance with City policy and applicable law.  Criminal offenses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and do not automatically disqualify a candidate from City employment.

POSITION TYPE

Full-Time

POSITION SALARY RANGE

$35.41/hr. to $48.35/hr.

DEPARTMENT

Community and Neighborhoods

Full Time/Part Time:

Full time

Scheduled Hours:

40