Senior Planner

Performs difficult professional work in long range planning to include providing project management for active projects, updating and maintaining the comprehensive plan and land development regulations, community and transportation planning, grant administration, extensive research, compiling technical data, preparing and presenting project cases and plans before various boards and commissions, drafting revisions and amendments to County ordinances, overseeing long range planning staff, preparing and interpreting maps, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Planning Director. Assist with other duties as needed or assigned.

Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Manage long range planning projects including implementation of the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
• Continually work to ensure policy priorities as codified in the County’s various policy documents (Land Use Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, Small Area Plans, etc.) are being implemented through regulatory updates.

• Devise and write amendments to current regulations through thorough research, technical expertise, and collaboration with staff, County boards and the public.
• Provide transportation planning recommendations to County staff, appointed officials, and elected officials in consultation with local, regional and state partners.
• Seek and apply for grant opportunities that align with organizational goals.
• Perform research for long-range planning objectives and make recommendations on implementation; assist in making project recommendations to County boards.
• Research, prepare, and present project cases to County boards, civic and public groups.

• Interpret and apply applicable state and county codes, ordinances, and regulations in the performance of assigned duties and to citizens, developers, and County officials.

• Conduct reviews and issue approval of various development applications including text amendment requests, rezoning requests or other applications as assigned.
• Responsible for extensive research in specific or general project areas to include community plans, land use development, and County ordinances.
• Compile and analyzes data on social, economic, and physical factors affecting land use.
• Write and prepare formal and technical reports, working papers, and correspondence.
• Assist Planning Director on regional planning projects to include transportation planning, sustainable development and other topics as necessary. Utilize existing tracking systems for development records including text amendments, map amendments, variances and subdivisions as necessary.

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of planning; thorough knowledge of current literature and recent developments in the field of planning; ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and to prepare technical reports; ability to prepare and present technical information clearly and in an interesting manner to lay groups and the public; ability to plan and supervise the work of subordinates; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, developers, engineers, surveyors, elected officials and the general public. 

Bachelor's degree with coursework in planning, geography, or related field and moderate experience in planning and development review including some supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's degree and AICP certification are preferred but not required. A valid driver’s license in the State of North Carolina is required.

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires standing and walking and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).