Senior Affordable Housing Planner

Bellevue’s core values – exceptional public service, stewardship, innovation, and equity – guide the work of the Office of Housing.  As a welcoming, multicultural, innovation-focused  city, Bellevue strives to create inclusive communities where everyone can thrive.   The Office of Housing, located in the City Manager’s Office, is committed to supporting the City’s vision by advancing the 2026-32 Affordable Housing Strategy, expanding access to diverse housing choices, responding to homelessness, and fostering equitable, inclusive communities. The Senior Planner plays a critical role in upholding these values through strategic policy development, collaborative problem-solving, and community-centered planning. This is an exciting time to engage in housing policy in Bellevue. You will help to address critical housing needs in a growing and changing community and support organizational alignment to further housing outcomes.

The Affordable Housing Senior Planner will drive Bellevue’s long-range housing policies and implementation programs that expand housing access and equity. This position integrates technical planning expertise with policy development, cross-departmental collaboration, community engagement, and regional coordination.  

The Affordable Housing Senior Planner leads and collaborates with other departments on complex housing initiatives, including strategic and comprehensive plans, policy analysis, code updates, development incentives, needs assessments, and program implementation. The role requires deep knowledge of land use and housing policy, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to manage politically sensitive, multi-stakeholder projects.

The Senior Planner works under the general supervision of the Affordable Housing Manager and collaborates regularly with multiple departments, ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing), housing developers, regional agencies, community members including those with lived experience of housing instability, and elected and appointed officials.

Affordable Housing Policy, Planning & Analysis

• Conduct complex technical and policy analysis to support updates to the Comprehensive Plan Housing Element, and evaluation of special housing initiatives.
• Research and analyze housing policies, regulatory tools, and their economic impacts, including feasibility analysis for incentives such as density bonuses, tax exemptions, and fee waivers.
• Prepare studies, reports, staff presentations, and legislative recommendations for City Council, Planning Commission, boards, commissions, and community groups.
• Maintain familiarity with federal, state, regional, and local housing programs and ensure compliance with relevant requirements.

Land Use Code & Regulatory Work

• Initiate, review and coordinate amendments to the Land Use Code and development regulations that advance affordable housing goals.
• Provide advanced planning support for local code updates, rezones, and housing-related regulatory reform efforts.
• Coordinate and train staff across departments on new code provisions and interpretations.

Program Implementation, Data & Reporting

• Lead cross-departmental implementation of the 2026-32 Affordable Housing Strategy. 
• Identify opportunities to allocate local and regional housing funds to priority projects and programs.
• Collect, analyze, and maintain data on city-wide affordable housing metrics; prepare reports to support program evaluation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Access and analyze demographic and housing data to support planning processes and track trends.

Regional Coordination

• Represent Bellevue’s Office of Housing in regional forums and workgroups addressing affordable housing, planning mandates, and interjurisdictional coordination as needed.
• Lead or participate in regional housing planning efforts requiring multijurisdictional alignment.
• Support ARCH efforts with local updates, data sharing, and coordinated local code and incentive implementation.

Community Engagement & Communication

• Provide information to residents, service providers, community organizations, and neighborhood groups regarding housing programs and policy initiatives.
• Support and participate in public outreach to better inform and publicize housing programs and policy changes.
• Communicate complex and potentially controversial policy issues clearly and persuasively to a range of stakeholders.
• Build partnerships and foster collaboration to accelerate affordable housing production and preservation.

Project & Team Leadership

• Serve as project manager for complex, politically sensitive projects involving multiple departments or agencies.
• Lead interdepartmental teams to ensure coordinated implementation of work program outcomes.
• Provide subject-matter guidance for staff, community leaders, and elected and appointed officials.

Education & Experience

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in public policy, urban planning, public administration, law, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in public policy, affordable housing, land use planning, or related fields. Experience must include at least two years of project management.
• Master’s degree in planning, economics, public administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• AICP certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of housing affordability issues, funding sources, regulatory frameworks, and housing finance concepts.
• Expert knowledge of planning principles, Growth Management Act requirements, zoning laws, and land use policy.
• Ability to anticipate emerging issues, develop innovative approaches, and solve problems proactively.
• Skill in researching complex issues, preparing reports, and delivering succinct, persuasive presentations.
• Ability to work independently while collaboratively supporting multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills; ability to engage effectively with diverse audiences on complex or sensitive topics.
• Think conceptually, observe and evaluate trends, analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and make sound recommendations.
• Proficiency in project management techniques and Microsoft Office tools. Experience in data visualization tools such as Power BI preferred.
• Ability to navigate political environments with tact and diplomacy.
• Foster an environment of productive teamwork.
• Demonstrate a commitment to creating diverse, equitable communities.

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. 
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry objects up to 40 pounds. 
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet.

Flexible/Hybrid Working:
A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire.  Remote work for this position is subject to department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.  Community Outreach manager responsible for programming that may include evening and weekends.