Associate Planner

Oakland County•Waterford, MI

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Oakland County is seeking an Associate Planner to support planning initiatives and programs that promote smart growth principles, sustainable development strategies, and thriving communities. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career planning professional to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. The role involves assisting with the planning, development, and implementation of countywide and community-specific planning initiatives and projects, applying planning principles to land use and community planning, and conducting research on emerging trends in various planning-related fields. The Associate Planner will also review and evaluate rezoning applications and master plan updates, present planning information, utilize software for data analysis, and contribute to community engagement efforts.

Requirements

Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography or a related field.
Have at least one (1) year of full-time progressively responsible work experience in city, county or regional planning, private consulting planning, Geographic Information Systems, or other closely related professional planning experience.
Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license. Out of Country driver’s license holders will be required to obtain the appropriate valid State of Michigan driver’s license before the hire date.
Pass the complete examination, including the employment medical, established for this classification.
Successfully complete the six month probationary period.
Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.

Nice To Haves

Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of city, urban, and regional planning.
Considerable knowledge of the relationship of different land uses, of the economic factors in influencing urban development, and of the general legal and social determinants of community development.
Considerable knowledge of and ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail and Internet software.
Reasonable knowledge of anticipated and accepted local, state and federal planning practices according to legislation affecting land use planning.
Reasonable knowledge to correlate court cases and legal precedents and decisions to land use, zoning and subdivision control.
Reasonable ability to apply and identify data research techniques in the preparation and presentation of comprehensive master plans.
Reasonable ability to speak effectively before professional and civic groups public gatherings, and in presenting reports, plans, proposals and recommendations to government committees and agencies.
Reasonable ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with administrators, public and private officials or organizations and the general public.
Reasonable ability to follow complex written and oral instructions.
Reasonable ability to make routine decisions in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures.
Ability to use standard computer GIS, desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
Reasonable knowledge of the principles, techniques and source of information applicable to the collection, compilation, analysis and presentation of data pertaining to city, urban, land use planning.
A Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography or a related field may be substituted for the work experience requirement.

Responsibilities

Assist with the planning, development, and implementation of countywide and community-specific planning initiatives and projects.
Apply planning principles, methodologies, and applicable statutory requirements to land use and community planning initiatives.
Conduct research on emerging trends in housing, mobility, environmental sustainability, resilience, demographic change, economic development and innovative approaches to growth management.
Assist in developing economic, demographic, transportation, environmental, housing, recreation, and land use studies that support long-range planning efforts.
Review and evaluate rezoning applications, community master plan updates and amendments, and prepare reports with recommendations for decision-makers.
Present planning information and project updates at public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and other project-related events.
Utilize county and department software applications to analyze data, prepare reports, and complete project assignments.
Contribute to community engagement efforts, helping develop outreach strategies, managing event logistics, summarizing feedback, and supporting inclusive public participation.
Analyzes defined planning issues, and develops specific related goals and objectives.
Assists in implementing planning projects and strategies, and monitoring and evaluating them.
Assists in developing methodologies and structure for planning projects including legal requirements and best practices for implementation.
As assigned performs research and analysis on new and emerging techniques for land use control and change management.
Prepares impact analyses on basic submitted land use proposals and issues, master plan elements and other special studies.
Prepares reports and makes recommendations on less complex rezoning proposals and master plans, and makes presentations to government officials and citizens.
Researches social, economic, housing, transportation, land use and other data for county planning purposes.
As directed represents the division and confers with personnel of other agencies, public officials, other employees and the public.
Assists in the collection of data for county planning projects using a variety of techniques, including the use of statistics.
Participates as a presenter at project related meetings.
May be required to work an adjusted schedule involving evening hours and/or weekends to attend municipal boards and related project meetings or activities.
Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.