Senior Planner - Planner - Planning & Land Use

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Planner performs advanced professional planning work involving current and long-range planning, zoning administration, land development review, ordinance administration, and public outreach. The position provides staff support to boards and commissions, reviews development proposals for compliance with Town regulations, administers tree and buffer ordinances, coordinates development projects, and assists with planning initiatives, policy development, and community engagement.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:      

Development Review & Regulatory Administration

• Reviews development plans and applications for compliance with zoning, land development, and other applicable regulations.
• Administers tree protection and buffer ordinances.

• Reviews tree removal requests for residential and commercial developments

• Tracks development projects for compliance with mitigation measures and conditions of approval.
• Conducts occasional site inspections and field visits.

Planning & Policy

• Assists in drafting amendments to the Zoning Code and Land Development Regulations.
• Compiles and analyzes demographic, economic, transportation, environmental, and land use data.
• Assists with planning studies and special projects.

Board & Public Support

• May have an opportunity to serve as staff liaison to assigned boards and commissions, with associated incentive pay.
• Assists applicants, developers, business owners, and residents with zoning and development processes.
• Participates in public outreach and community engagement activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Community Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible planning experience;
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience; and
• Valid South Carolina driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
• ISA Certified Arborist certification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge

• Planning principles and practices.
• Zoning, land development, and subdivision regulations.
• Comprehensive planning.
• Land use law and ordinance administration.
• Environmental planning and tree preservation.
• GIS applications.
• Research and data analysis.

Skills

• GIS and mapping software.
• Public speaking and presentations.
• Technical report writing.
• Customer service and conflict resolution.
• Microsoft Office applications.

Abilities

• Interpret and apply zoning ordinances, land development regulations, and Town policies.
• Analyze development proposals and technical information.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and planning documents.
• Communicate effectively with elected officials, boards, applicants, consultants, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Build collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The work is performed primarily in a professional office environment with occasional field visits. The position requires the ability to communicate effectively; operate a computer and standard office equipment; sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; perform repetitive keyboarding; handle documents; occasionally traverse uneven terrain or construction sites during field inspections; and occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 10 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS:

The position requires the ability to:

• Read, interpret, and apply zoning ordinances, land development regulations, comprehensive plans, and related laws.
• Analyze development proposals, technical reports, site plans, and planning data.
• Exercise sound professional judgment when evaluating compliance and recommending solutions.
• Prepare technical reports, staff recommendations, presentations, and correspondence.
• Organize, prioritize, and manage multiple development applications, projects, and deadlines.
• Communicate effectively with elected officials, advisory boards, developers, consultants, property owners, employees, and the public.
• Conduct research, analyze demographic and land use information, and formulate recommendations.
• Adapt to changing priorities, regulations, and project schedules.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:     

Work is performed primarily in a professional office environment with occasional field visits to development sites and construction areas. The position requires frequent interaction with employees, elected officials, advisory boards, consultants, developers, contractors, property owners, and the public. Work involves managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, maintaining confidentiality when appropriate, and occasionally attending evening meetings or public hearings.