Limited Term - Senior Planner

City of Shoreline•Shoreline, WA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Shoreline's Planning and Community Development Department is seeking a talented and innovative Limited Term Senior Planner to assist in implementing the City’s newly adopted Comprehensive Plan and prepare for future updates. This role plays a key part in long-range planning projects, working under the general supervision of the Planning Manager. The Senior Planner will engage with officials and the community on various initiatives, including development code updates, pursuing countywide center status, preparing the climate element of the comprehensive plan, and updating the Shoreline Master Program. Shoreline is a growing community north of Seattle, undergoing significant transformation with new light rail stations and a 20-year Comprehensive Plan. The City is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and becoming an actively anti-racist city. This position focuses on long-range planning but requires collaboration with current planners and may involve some current planning experience. The role also involves close work with other city departments and requires a collaborative, solution-oriented attitude and strong communication skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and possess experience in evaluating policy documents, leading long-range planning projects, public presentations, reviewing land use applications, interpreting and drafting development codes, conducting environmental review, and providing customer service. Preferred experience includes working with local government, project management, public outreach, policy analysis, and code writing.

Requirements

Five years of increasingly responsible urban planning, environmental, or transportation experience.
Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, environmental planning, transportation planning, architecture, or public administration or related field.
Knowledge of principles, practices, theories, terminology and applications of urban planning.
Knowledge of theories, practices and techniques of transportation planning.
Knowledge of principles and practices of data collection and analysis.
Knowledge of functional areas of planning and their relationship to the planning process.
Knowledge of principles of planning, zoning, regulation, construction and market forces.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used to create and maintain computer databases.
Knowledge of methods and techniques used to review and approve various development permits or development applications.
Knowledge of methods and techniques for public meeting facilitation.
Knowledge of principles and practices of program development and administration.
Knowledge of principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
Knowledge of principles of sustainability, including emerging technologies and innovative programs.
Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
Knowledge of principles of conflict resolution and consensus building.
Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration and government organization.
Knowledge of project management, including ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
Ability to participate and work effectively in an organization committed to advancing principles and practices of equity and anti-racism.
Ability to perform a variety of professional planning functions in support of assigned area of responsibility.
Ability to develop and administer current or long range planning programs and studies.
Ability to develop and administer planning goals, objectives and procedures.
Ability to administer the development and modification of the City's Comprehensive Plan, development regulations, or other City planning and development activities.
Ability to conduct technical planning research and field studies.
Ability to recommend revisions to City policies and regulations in area of responsibility.
Ability to identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns and needs.
Ability to interpret and apply applicable Federal, State and local policies, codes, laws and regulations.
Ability to review and approve development permits and applications or other matters within area of responsibility.
Ability to prepare and present clear and concise reports.
Ability to administer and maintain agreements and contracts with various public agencies and consultants.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to create and give presentations for a variety of audiences.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Ability to use modern office equipment and programs.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with current planning.
Experience with local governmental agencies.
Project management experience.
Public outreach experience.
Policy analysis experience.
Code writing experience.

Responsibilities

Perform a variety of professional planning functions in support of land use regulations and urban, regional and community development.
Cooperatively develop and administer complex long range planning programs and studies relating to assigned planning area, including the development of criteria and policies for program administration.
Coordinate with staff from other departments for plan and regulation implementation.
Act as a project manager and planning reviewer for land use and development permit applications including rezones.
Review special reports (e.g., Traffic Studies, Critical Area Studies).
Review applications for compliance with SEPA and determine appropriate mitigation.
Prepare staff reports, decision documents, letters and public notifications regarding permit applications.
Create and implement dynamic and accessible public engagement efforts both in person and virtually through open houses, tabling at community events, surveys, interviews, workshops and other activities.
Plan, host, and facilitate community meetings and events with a focus on reaching audiences that have been historically excluded or marginalized by local government actions.
Prepare SEPA checklists and Draft, Supplemental and Environmental Impact Statements for applicable project and non-project actions initiated by the City.
Coordinate the review of Draft, Supplemental and Environmental Impact Statements for project and non-project actions proposed by non-City applicants occurring within the City.
Prepare and present written, oral and visual reports to Planning Commission, Hearing Examiner, City Council and other public and private committees, hearing bodies, community groups and organizations to explain City policies, regulations, plans and community impacts within assigned planning area.
Represent the City at regional forums.
Administer and maintain agreements and contracts with public agencies, funding agencies and private organizations.
Oversee and review the work of consultants and contracting agencies.
Provide excellent customer service by meeting with applicants for land use and development permits to evaluate proposals and assist with successful project implementation.
Respond to general public inquiries regarding planning and zoning regulations within assigned planning area of responsibility.
Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the assigned field of urban planning.
Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.