Planner I, II or III

City of Salem • 440 Church St. SE Salem, OR

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Salem is a fast-growing city with many opportunities to be involved in planning for Salem’s future. We are seeking a Planner I to join our Planning team. This position is part of a flex classification that provides opportunities for career advancement and could be filled as a Planner I, II or III, dependent on the chosen candidate’s experience. If you are seeking a position that can immediately use your current skillset and expand your professional experience over time, look no further than the City of Salem. We are seeking a Planner I to join our current planning team. You will be tasked with working on current planning projects which includes managing land use applications, reviewing building permits, staffing the planning information desk, explaining technical information to the public and decision makers, conducting broad public outreach, leading public meetings, presenting at public hearings and other duties as assigned. The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the Willamette Valley, it is the State Capitol. The City of Salem is the second largest City in the State of Oregon. Located in the lush Willamette Valley, Salem is the capital city of Oregon with a population of 180,000. Centrally located, Salem is 47 miles south of Portland and an hour from the Cascade Mountains to the east and an hour from the ocean beaches to the west. Salem is an exceptional community for living and working with exciting new and comfortable well-established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings. The City of Salem values employees and their professional development. If you are someone who takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas, proactively responding to community needs, and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you! The Planning Division promotes a healthy work life balance, and we maintain the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team! A full-service City, Salem has eight primary departments: Community Planning and Development, Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, and Public Works. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City has five labor unions and employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members. The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Community Planning and Development department. The Salem Planning team has a highly dynamic work environment, and you will be part of a cohesive, multitalented team of dedicated individuals. Our Planning group has a wide variety of responsibilities that can range from helping answer questions on small residential projects, to large mixed-use developments in downtown Salem.

Requirements

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have reliable transportation or an Oregon Driver license with a driving record that meets the City of Salem’s driving standards to attend off-site meetings.
• Bachelor’s degree in planning or a related field or any combination of experience and training that provides considerable knowledge of the principles and procedures of urban planning, architectural and site design review, research and analytical methodology and statistical techniques and application of planning principles to city, county and regional areas.
• Must also possess excellent writing skills
• the ability to present technical information to the general public, both orally and in writing
• the ability to work effectively with others
• effective time management skills
• excellent customer service skills
• the ability to complete work with minimal supervision

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s degree in Planning and AICP certification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Managing land use applications
• Reviewing building permits
• Staffing the planning information desk
• Explaining technical information to the public and decision makers
• Conducting broad public outreach
• Leading public meetings
• Presenting at public hearings
• Answering questions and provide excellent customer service
• Work independently and collaboratively
• Work in both field and office environments
• Interact with staff, consultants, contractors, senior managers, elected officials, and the general public
• Play a major role in shaping how our community will look decades into the future
• Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance your professional development

Benefits

• 5% Bilingual incentive for qualifying candidate.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level