Principal Planner - Internal Only

City of Lone Tree • Lone Tree, CO

2d • $91,080 - $136,620 • Hybrid

About The Position

At the City of Lone Tree, we are committed to hiring individuals who are passionate about their community, eager to grow in their careers, and motivated to make a meaningful impact. Here, you won’t just take on a job, you’ll join a dedicated team working to shape a vibrant, forward-thinking City. Whether you’re driven by public service, energized by problem-solving, or simply seeking purposeful work alongside exceptional colleagues, you’ll find your place with us.

At the City of Lone Tree, we lead the way with exemplary service, collaborative partnerships, and continuous improvement. The City’s Six Big Ideas are demonstrated by our mission to do things the best way- not just the expected way, our ability to work together using all areas of expertise to achieve a common goal, and our commitment to fulfilling the needs of our community through thoughtful interactions.

Lone Tree’s Planning team is a division within the City’s Community Development Department, along with the Building and Code Enforcement Divisions. The Planning Division manages a wide variety of current development and long-range planning projects and activities in fulfillment of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Lone Tree’s Planning Division prides itself on a system of “perfecting planning through the process;” this means we apply a flexible and collaborative development review process when City regulations allow, and when such an approach will result in a better project for the community. Our goal is to develop plans that are visionary, resilient, innovative and practical, and that guide Lone Tree toward a vibrant future.

Under the direction of the Planning Manager, this position oversees a range of advanced level planning projects and activities, while serving in a leadership and supervisory capacity. This position applies experience, outstanding communication, and collaboration skills to identify issues, advance solutions, and build relationships. Critical thinking, collaboration and strong communication skills are central to this position.
This position requires comprehensive mastery of the principles and practices of local government and current and long-range planning and development processes and functions at an advanced level within the profession. This position makes recommendations for action on land use matters to the Planning Commission and City Council and is responsible for overseeing a wide variety of planning services in fulfillment of the City’s vision and goals. This position manages complex projects with direct influence on each project. This position guides and supports other planners both as a direct supervisor and as a professional mentor. The ideal candidate applies experience in both current and long-range planning to achieve the broader goals of the organization and the community vision.

Requirements

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and verbal skills. Must have the ability to interact effectively with individuals of varying cultural, economic, professional and educational backgrounds.
• Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professionalism, integrity and credibility, thoroughness, flexibility, and collaboration skills.
• Must have outstanding presentation and public speaking skills including the ability to present information concisely at public meetings.
• Precision and attention to details when reviewing development plans, maps and reports.
• Excellent writing skills: the ability to prepare clear, concise, and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials using proper spelling, grammar, and style.
• Critical and creative thinking skills with a focus on systems thinking. Ability to assess complex planning issues and problems, analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective courses of action regarding zoning policies, land use ordinances, urban design, and community planning.
• Objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends in the field of local government planning.
• Zoning, land use, urban design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts and principles as applied to local government planning.
• Special Districts, to include a basic understanding of how special districts function, as well as relationships between special districts and local governments in providing services to communities.
• Purposes, roles, and authorities of councils, commissions, and others involved in the planning process.
• Solid knowledge of the federal, state and local regulations related to planning.
• Community engagement principles and techniques
• Familiarity with GIS, data analysis and emerging planning technologies.
• Manage project stakeholders, deliverables and deadlines.
• Design and implement community engagement strategies.
• Coordinate and participate in major projects including the collection and analysis of data, and preparation of reports and recommendations pertaining to the planning process.
• Interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps to development proposals.
• Ability to negotiate solutions among groups with diverse and conflicting needs.
• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Community Development, Urban and Regional Design, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning.
• Possession of an Associate’s degree in Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field, AND ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in local government or private sector planning, to include experience supervising employees, may substitute for a Bachelor’s degree.
• Must be physically capable of operating motor vehicles safely in the normal course of assignments.
• Daily use of a copier, scanner, and printer.
• Daily use of a personal computer, MS Office software, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and virtual meeting and presentation software.
• Primarily sitting, standing and walking. May bend, stoop, reach, climb, carry and lift for varying periods. Requires continuous and repetitive arm-hand-eye movement. Field work includes walking in construction sites as well as developed and undeveloped sites.
• Requires continuous and repetitive arm-hand-eye movement.
• May involve lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. for short periods of time.
• Must have visual acuity to see and read paper and electronic documents; must be able to answer telephones, communicate conversation and respond to verbal inquiries.

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s degree in Planning or Community Development is preferred and may substitute for two (2) years of work experience.
• Experience with Esri GIS software platforms (either online or desktop) strongly desired.
• Experience with Smartsheet, Bluebeam and Accella preferred.

Responsibilities

• Model the core values of the organization. Seek to connect current work assignments to the goals and objectives of the organization and the community.
• Manage, train and coach direct reports and serve as a knowledgeable resource to the planning teams and our customers.
• Evaluate and administer complex land use development projects including, but not limited to site improvement plans, rezonings, subdivisions and special use permits.
• Prepare staff reports, project packets and agenda items within required deadlines.
• Effectively present information (privately and publicly) to supervisors, City Council, boards and commissions as well as the general public.
• Draft and present a variety of reports and presentations for varying audiences, to include technical analyses, informational reports, media articles, legislative comments, and public and professional presentations and trainings.
• Respond to public inquiries in a professional, transparent and politically sensitive manner.
• Establish and curate Division policies, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
• Promote a culture of equity, innovation, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of the City Comprehensive Plan, land use regulations, and related laws, codes, regulations and ordinances, and clearly communicate information to the public, developers and other interested parties.
• Lend expertise and research capability to special plans and projects including plan and regulation updates.
• Conduct research and/or special studies as directed by the Community Development Director or Planning Manager, or as issues require.
• Work closely with the Planning Manager to identify, evaluate and make recommendations regarding Planning Division activities.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies and associations, City management and staff, and the public.
• Serve as a liaison to City partners, as assigned, and represent the City on various boards and committees through active participation and accurate reporting on activities and events involving the City.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and supplemental health plans.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives to support your overall well-being.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and voluntary life insurance options.
• Multiple retirement savings options, including 457, 401(k), and Roth IRA plans, as well as participation in PERA and FPPA pension plans.
• Enjoy the convenience of an RTD EcoPass for public transportation.

What This Job Offers

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