Associate Land Use Planner

City of Bellevue•Bellevue, WA

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Bellevue is seeking an Associate Planner to join the Land Use Division on the Housing and Special Projects Team. This role focuses on development review, consulting with potential applicants, and providing information on policies, codes, and review processes. Projects will include residential and commercial developments of varying complexity, potentially involving special design and environmental requirements. The position requires strong analytical and customer service skills to engage with a diverse client base and the public. Bellevue offers a hybrid work environment, exceptional benefits, and a commitment to employee growth, equity, and inclusion. The office is located downtown, close to amenities and transit.

Requirements

Knowledge of applicable codes and policies used in land use review and the SEPA process.
Knowledge of comprehensive plan and development review processes.
Knowledge of development review and planning principles, practices, regulations, and techniques as they relate to land use, environmental, or transportation planning.
Knowledge of zoning laws and comprehensive plans including their formation, process of adoption, and enforcement.
Knowledge of local government and political decision-making processes.
Ability to read and interpret architectural, civil, and landscape plans and technical documents.
Ability to utilize computer programs created for the benefit of facilitating development services review including permit tracking, electronic plan review, timekeeping, GIS, and other applications.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals and groups regarding complex or controversial proposals and how the City’s land use and planning policies apply.
Ability to explain complex code and review processes to architects, contractors, developers, owners, supervisors, employees and the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, applicants, interested public, and members of state and federal agencies as applicable.
Ability to provide in-depth technical expertise in specialized areas of planning such as development review, SEPA, landscaping, critical areas, architecture, urban design, or other related areas.
Ability to write clear and concise staff reports and communication that is understood by the anticipated audience.
Ability to negotiate solutions to development review issues in a collaborative manner.
Ability to manage assigned workload ensuring completion of review within established timelines.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in land use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or a closely related field; or unrelated field and completion of an accredited professional planning certificate program.
A minimum of three years’ experience and comprehensive knowledge of planning principles, practices, and techniques as they relate to all functional areas of land use, environmental impacts, design review or other related areas.
Must include two years of project management and development review experience.
Establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire.
Completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in land use planning.
Interest in issues pertaining to design, affordable housing, and the environment.
Experience in platting, conditional use permits, design review, critical areas, shorelines, sustainability, tree preservation, habitat restoration, mitigation, and landscape design.
Strong analytical and writing skills.
Experience presenting technical information to nontechnical audiences.
Four or more years related professional experience in any of the following: land use planning, the development process, environmental planning, or urban design.
Obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications may be required for some positions.
Completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment may be required for some positions.

Responsibilities

Review and project manage a myriad of development review projects, predominantly focusing on medium-range land use applications with varying complexities, processes, and public interest.
Conduct substantive analysis of discretionary reviews with modest direction from supervisors.
Monitor project review according to pre-agreed timelines, including project management of Affordable Housing projects eligible for expedited review.
Coordinate and manage information from technical reviewers into consolidated documents for transmittal to applicants.
Utilize technical expertise to advise junior staff on complex and politically sensitive projects.
Train and coach junior staff in areas of expertise.
Organize and perform original research and prepare written findings and recommendations for land use code or policy development.
Work closely with senior management on policy development issues.
Provide official responses to inquiries from local, state, federal, and tribal entities.
Act as a consultant to other departments within the city.
Prepare and make presentations for councils, hearing examiner, boards and commissions, community groups, and private organizations.
Engage in independent routine problem-solving, negotiation, and discretionary decision-making.
Take initiative in learning the Land Use Code and preparing in-depth analysis and written documentation of land use and environmental interpretations, decisions, and determinations with minimal assistance.
Work effectively and predominantly with teams of consultants and City staff.
Respond to internal and external customers within 24 hours within the prescribed timeline established for the Development Services line of business.
Apply project management techniques to independently coordinate internal and external review teams to ensure development review deadlines are completed within established timelines.
Manage assigned workload ensuring completion of review within established timelines.
Develop and implement system improvements related to assigned body of land use professional project types.
Demonstrate leadership by staffing or chairing committees and internal improvement teams.