Senior Planner

Performs professional and technical work developing, researching, and maintaining public planning studies and programs on land use, zoning, conservation, housing, transportation, population, coastal management, historic preservation, urban design, and other areas of comprehensive planning activities. Processes related applications, writes and presents reports for, and serves as a representative to zoning related County boards and other agencies.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops, reviews, and makes recommendations on future development plans for conformance with state and local regulations.
• Interprets, develops, and composes regulations and policies that guide development.
• Provides information and technical guidance to the general public regarding land development regulations, land uses, zoning classifications, variances, special exceptions and related issues; receives and responds to inquiries on land use issues from engineers, contractors, other County departments, and the general public.
• Processes applications for special exceptions, variances, plan amendments, zoning map amendments, minor home occupations, and administrative variances: and prepares, submits and maintains related documentation and files.
• Researches and analyzes information and makes recommendations that enable staff and elected officials to make appropriate decisions regarding applications and planning activities.
• Interprets and implements state statutes.
• Serves as County representative to boards and other official agencies: writes reports and makes recommendations regarding a variety of planning issues; and makes public presentations to citizen groups, elected officials, and state agencies.
• Coordinates planning activities with other County staff and departments, boards, agencies and other entities.
• May be required to act as lead worker on a team comprised of planning staff members.
• Provide exceptional customer assistance, problem-solving, and/or complaints by all forms of communication.

Minimum Education and Experience for Consideration:

• Bachelor's degree
  1. Preferred:
     • Urban/regional planning.
• Three (3) years of experience in urban or regional planning.
• Or an equivalent combination of relevant training, education, and internship / work experience.

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license.

• Knowledge of operations and practices of local government; ability to analyze and interpret departmental functions, procedures and policies.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of county planning.
• Knowledge of various legal requirements relating to planning, zoning, land development regulations.
• General knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering, surveying, economics, and business management.
• Knowledge of the economics, engineering, public finance, and other aspects applied to county planning.
• Ability to make recommendations and to use resourcefulness and tact in solving new problems.
• Strong negotiating, analytical and research skills; ability to ascertain priorities and meet deadlines and objectives.
• Ability to act as a lead worker planning, organizing and directing the work of subordinate personnel.
• Strong written and oral communication skills to include public speaking and the ability to develop effective proposals.
• Skill in the use of standard office computer equipment and software applications; ability to maintain accurate records and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to provide internal/external guidance and customer assistance via all forms of communication.

Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed in an indoor, climate-controlled environment and is nearly absent from disagreeable elements (e.g., irate customers, extreme noise, heat, odors, heights and/or dust).

Risk/Safety Conditions:There is little or no risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety associated with this position.

Physical Activities:Walking, sitting, hearing, seeing up close, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions. Frequent lifting of up to 25 pounds; occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, environmental conditions, or qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.