Senior Planner (Land Conservation)

County Of Albemarle•Charlottesville, VA

20h•$74,259 - $88,641•Hybrid

About The Position

Performs work of moderate to high complexity primarily in the functional area of Land Conservation. (May work in other functional areas such as long-range planning, transportation planning, zoning, development review, natural and cultural resource management, and/or historic preservation). Position requires frequent contact with the public, developers, officials, and other internal customers including divisions within Community Development, and other governmental & quasi-governmental agencies. Manages or assists projects of significant scale and visibility in collaboration with other County departments, including policy and code updates.

Requirements

Master’s degree with a major in planning, architecture, landscape architecture, natural resources/conservation or a related field
Four (4) years of relevant professional planning work and project management experience (Two (2) years of experience for Senior Planner I)
OR any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities
Proficiency with Microsoft office suite
ESRI products and/or navigating GIS web
Some experience and ability to use spreadsheets and databases
Knowledge of the principles and practices of urban and rural planning
Comprehensive knowledge of pertinent local, Federal and State laws and related regulations
Proficient with independent research, analysis and formulation of recommendations
Strong leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills required
Coordinate the review of complex projects and ability to clearly and thoroughly present the results effectively in oral, written and graphic form, even under adversarial conditions
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, subordinates, County officials, representatives of other agencies and members of the general public
Independently manage complex projects and/or provide support to project managers
Review proposals for compliance with regulations and guidelines; for example, subdivision plats and site plans for compliance with subdivision and zoning ordinances.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia preferred.
AICP preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinates, reviews, or manages applications and projects of moderate to high complexity
Lead reviewer and contact for site development plans, subdivision plats, special use permits, zoning map amendments, special exceptions, easement proposals, wireless communication towers, and other application types
Coordinates application review across the department and partner agencies
Prepares and delivers technical reports and presentations to the public and elected officials
Leads or assists with County policy updates, including the Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, Area Plans, and Resource Plans
Provides support to, or leadership for, appointed committees, boards, and authorities
Interprets applicable County regulations, including zoning and subdivision regulations, in order to provide accurate feedback to applicants
Researches and analyzes the physical, social and economic impacts of proposed development projects, policies, or plans and develops appropriate recommendations
Represents the County in various public meetings, ranging from neighborhood meetings to Board and Commission meetings
Coordinates meetings with developers, the public, and Staff in the development review or planning process
Provides technical assistance, guidance, and information to the public, land developers, design professionals, associates, boards/commissions and other governmental agencies regarding the development review process, County regulations, long-range planning, application procedures and processing, and related issues
Researches and analyzes information from various sources to develop appropriate recommendations and guidance on applications and other project initiatives
Analyzes demographic information; summarizes and presents information and trends; updates databases; creates graphic representations of data, plans, diagrams, maps, design concepts, and processes; and creates graphic layout and text for templates, reports, presentations, and other related work products
Assists with or designs, coordinates, and presents information and activities for community engagement events, both in-person and virtual
Assists in development of policies for functional areas (including but not limited to Master Plan updates, Housing, Transportation Planning, Historic Preservation, and Natural Resources)
Makes recommendations for improving functions and effectiveness of essential programs