Senior Planner (Planner III)

City of Golden•Golden, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Golden is seeking a Senior Planner (Planner III) to provide professional senior-level planning services in accordance with City comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances. This role serves as the lead planner for complex project proposals and programs. Under the direction of the Planning Manager, the Senior Planner prepares land use-related recommendations for zoning administration, building permit review, Historic Preservation Board, Planning Commission, and City Council. The ideal candidate will possess experience working with the public, transforming input into goals and policies, speaking in public meetings, and understanding community concerns. Experience with form-based zoning codes, the development and entitlement process (including platting, site planning, design review, development agreements, easements, annexation agreements, and metro/special districts) is essential. The role requires professionalism, resilience, the ability to handle conflict calmly, organization, enthusiasm, creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate analysis through concise writing, graphics, and illustrations in formal staff reports. Applicants not fully qualified may be considered for a City Planner (Planner II) position. The City Planner hiring range is $69,250-$83,101 annually.

Requirements

AICP Certification with a Bachelor’s Degree, or a Master’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, or closely related field.
Minimum four years professional planning experience.
An equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered in some circumstances.
Proficient in MS Office products.
Must possess excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
Must possess a valid driver's license and a good driving record.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Ability to understand the social and emotional dynamics associated with the public decision making process, and effectively interpret what is being expressed in order to negotiate solutions among groups with diverse and seemingly conflicting goals.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally.
Ability to work with people in difficult situations.
Must exhibit an extremely high degree of independent action working with department heads, appointed boards and commissions, citizens, developers, as well as City Manager and City Council.
Ability to work effectively with the public works department and other related departments.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with the public, especially relating to community planning processes, and transforming a diverse array of input into goals, strategies and policies
Comfortable speaking in formal public meetings, as well as the ability to connect with small groups and individuals and understand their concerns
Experience with form-based zoning codes, and the ability formulate recommended changes to meet the goals of the community as it relates to development outcomes
Experience with all aspects of the development and entitlement process including platting, site planning, design review, development and subdivision agreements, easements, annexation agreements and metro and special districts with the ability to review and administer with minimal direction while maintaining a collaborative process
Demonstrates professionalism, resilience, and the ability to handle conflict in a calm, objective, and solution-oriented manner.
Organized, energetic, collaborative, and enthusiastic about helping the community discover and achieve its goals
Ability to see the big picture and generate creative ideas and approaches, as well as focus on details such as zoning codes, policy implementation, and legal documents
Capable of interpreting zoning regulations, site plans and architectural drawings, and policy documents and communicating analysis through concise writing, graphics, and illustrations in formal staff reports
Ability to thrive and engage in a team-based culture

Responsibilities

Serves as lead planner on large complex projects and programs.
Supervises and/or participates in land use, proposal pre-planning meetings, application assessment, code requirements, case preparation, and distribution.
Includes planners in review of complex applications as an opportunity for training, education, and mentorship.
Serves as staff liaison to Historic Board and Planning Commission as assigned.
Responsible for various boards and commission duties as assigned by the Planning Supervisor.
Represents the city in case presentation for the Historic Preservation Board, Planning Commission and City Council.
Supervises and/or participates in case follow-up concerning conditions and final preparation for recording; drafts and approves ordinances and zoning map changes for annexations.
Supervises and/or participates in comprehensive plan revision, drafting, coordination, preparation, redrafting, amendment approval, plan printing, and distribution.
Develops and implement goals, strategies, and policy in development review and management of special projects.
Coordinates reviews of the comprehensive plan for the Planning Commission and City Council approval.
Build strong working partnerships with City departments, consultants, board and commission members, external partners and agencies and the Golden community to implement plans and projects.
Processes Historic Preservation cases as assigned.
Manages special projects concerning infrastructure and facility planning, Historic Preservation, grant administration, and education.
Other duties as assigned.