Urban Planner III

City of Alexandria • Alexandria, VA

14h

About The Position

The Urban Planner III for the Neighborhood Planning and Community Development Division will lead or participate on collaborative teams to develop and implement Small Area Plans and other special planning policy initiatives. This position assists with community engagement, data analysis, development of plan narrative, maps and graphics, and presenting to community or other stakeholder groups.

Requirements

• Four-Year College Degree from an accredited college or university in regional, or urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies, Public Administration, Physical Sciences, Historic Preservation, or Environmental Studies and five years of relevant planning experience; or two years and a Master's Degree; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Experienced and innovative planning professional with community planning experience in comparable urban settings
• Energetic and collaborative team player with strong planning skills, project management experience, excellent judgement, and an innovative approach to complex planning challenges
• Experience applying urban planning concepts including design of people-oriented urban spaces, housing affordability, open space, mobility, climate resiliency, development economics and the ability to read and analyze site plans
• Demonstrated ability to quickly assimilate complex information, discern challenges, and devise effective innovative solutions
• Experience designing and implementing equitable and innovative community engagement strategies and building relationships among historically marginalized populations in order to ensure an inclusive vision for the future
• Demonstrated skill and ease in presenting to a range of small and large audiences, and the ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner
• Experience in local government and communicating with policymakers, senior level managers, interdepartmental staff and intergovernmental entities
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and best practices of City planning, including good knowledge of development economics, municipal finance, public administration
• Ability to develop and successfully execute work programs
• Ability to analyze data and to prepare technical reports
• Ability to develop creative approaches to and concepts for planning problems
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, officials, other agencies, consultants, other jurisdictions, and the general public
• Ability to manage consultant work
• Ability to evaluate planning proposals
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in urban planning or a closely related field
• At least five years of demonstrated professional experience and expertise in urban planning (or a closely related field) applying the following skills: neighborhood planning, community development, community engagement/facilitation, urban design, environmental planning, excellent communication skills, strong written, graphic, and presentation skills, the ability to handle multiple complex projects with established deadlines simultaneously, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced team environment within the Department, with other City staff, and with the public and elected officials
• Preferred technical expertise includes Adobe Suite, ArcGIS Pro, and SketchUp Pro

Responsibilities

• Serve on planning teams in the development of Small Area Plans, plan implementation initiatives, and other special planning policy or analysis initiatives
• Collaborate with other professional planners and the community to create Small Area Plans that reflect the City’s strategic goals, innovation, and the desires of the community, including recommendations for people-oriented urban design, climate resilience, affordable housing, and equitable development
• Write comprehensive and concise narrative for Small Area Plans, staff reports, and memoranda addressing policies and practices, and other documents as needed
• Create graphics that convey complex concepts in simple understandable ways for presentations and printed materials
• Deliver clear, concise, and dynamic presentations to community groups, Commissions, and City Council
• Participate in multiple complex projects and teams at the same time
• Facilitate discussions for internal, interdepartmental and community meetings
• Other related duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

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