Senior Planner

James City County•Williamsburg, VA

44d•Onsite

About The Position

James City County is seeking an experienced, knowledgeable and collaborative Senior Planner to join our team. This position plays a key role in shaping the County's future growth, ensuring responsible development, and supporting long-range and current planning initiatives that preserve the unique character of our community. The ideal candidate is passionate about excellent customer service, a proactive self-starter, engaged, a strong team player, enjoys collaborating with other colleagues that share their passion, values trust, integrity, respect and creativity, is an effective communicator and excellent writer, organized, intellectually curious and willing to explore complex topics, and enjoys working in a positive and productive work environment. James City County offers a community where historic charm meets modern amenities, blending a "small-town feel" with access to big-city culture and resources. The county is known for its natural beauty, including large, wooded areas, open vistas, and scenic roads, while carefully balancing growth and development, striving to balance the needs of development with infrastructure, transportation, and the quality of life.

Requirements

Extensive professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, architecture, or related field
Knowledge of Urban Planning principles, practices, and techniques as well as planning-related ordinances, regulations, and policies.
Demonstrated advanced skill and proficiency in making presentations to boards, commissions, and citizen groups; successful management of legislative review cases, review applications, and urban planning projects; demonstrated leadership skills such as proactively completing projects that benefit the County.
Must possess or be able to obtain within thirty (30) days of hire a valid Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record based on James City County’s criteria.
Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing; compile and analyze technical and statistical information and prepare reports, plans, policies, ordinances, and other planning documents; prepare and present technical information clearly to large groups and the public; establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional colleagues, employees, representatives of other public agencies, and the public; negotiate effectively; work as a team member; read and interpret site plans, conceptual plans, and subdivision plats.

Nice To Haves

Masters degree and AICP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs complex, independent and detailed work on projects, policies, plans and recommendations concerning land development of the County; responds to citizen, applicant, developer, and media inquiries on urban planning matters related to the Comprehensive Plan, zoning related ordinances, policies and land development cases.
Manages and reviews legislative and administrative land development applications (re-zonings, special use permits, subdivision plans, site plans, etc.) for adherence to the County's Comprehensive Plan and regulations, and prepares written recommendations and reports on assigned cases.
Manages assigned projects and cases by coordinating and facilitating inter-departmental and inter-agency review; presents projects, reports, recommendations and other materials to elected and appointed county officials.
Acts as a staff liaison to local and regional committees, appointed boards and the Board of Supervisors.
Mentors team members as needed; oversees team-oriented projects such as ordinance revision, Comprehensive Plan review, and studies; takes a lead role on sensitive or significant legislative and administrative land development applications.