Planning Manager

Summary

Responsible for professional planning work which involves managing current and long range planning activities and special studies of the City. Supervise the Planning Department staff and manage their workload including coordination and processing of all development applications; ordinance amendments and other planning studies and projects. Prepare and review presentations and recommendations to Boards, Commissions and to City Council. Assist with the implementation and update of the Comprehensive Plan. Serves as staff liaison for the Historic Preservation Commission. Meet with and provide information to property owners, developers and the general public regarding the City's development process, ordinances and long range planning goals and objectives.

Essential Duties & Required Qualifications

• Manage the City's review of current and long range planning applications including: comprehensive plan amendments, annexations, zoning, platting and site development.
• In coordination with the Director of Planning and Director of Development Services, implement the goals of the City's long range plans including developing reports, studies and ordinances.
• Assign work to Planning staff and ensure appropriate training is received.
• Evaluate the performance of direct reports and handle sensitive personnel matters.
• Develop and implement quality control and measurement techniques to ensure the highest quality of work of the Planning Department.
• Manage the routine workload of the Planning Department.
• Conduct and oversee the detailed review of re-zoning requests, plats, site plans and construction plans and other development related applications.
• Prepare and review reports, including maps and graphics, and recommendations for consideration by the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission.
• Perform and oversee field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans including issuing certificates of completion for non-residential projects.
• Interpret, explain and enforce City policies and procedures, building/land development codes, specifications, ordinances, etc.
• Work in conjunction with other City departments to ensure cohesive application of city development policies and ordinances.
• Provide information to and meet with citizens, property owners and developers regarding City plans and ordinances.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of ordinance updates and new ordinances as necessary to resolve inconsistencies and to implement the City's long range plans.
• Perform other advanced professional work related to a variety of planning assignments.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Is responsible for the direction, coordination, and evaluation of Planning staff including the Planner, Assistant Planner and Planning Coordinator. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsible for supervising direct reports including training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Required Education and/or Experience:

Master's degree (M.A./M.S.) or equivalent; and three to five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and/or Experience:

Master's degree (M.A./M.S.) or equivalent; and five to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

AICP Certification is required.

Core Competencies & Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

Knowledge of the philosophies, principles, practices and techniques of community and regional planning; knowledge of effective writing techniques; knowledge of computer hardware and software programs, including Microsoft Office, Internet applications and geographic information systems (GIS); oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects; creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well-defined planning problems; skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with other public and private agencies, civic groups, etc.; skill in working under the pressures of rigid and/or short work cycle; skill in prioritizing tasks and/or work assignments; skill in planning, organizing and monitoring subordinate employee work assignments to accomplish unit objectives; ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously; ability to manage and delegate projects effectively to meet deadlines; ability to research, create, explain and enforce City policies; ability to clearly and concisely express ideas; ability to exercise good judgment, tact and diplomacy in public interactions; ability to take initiative without direction; ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions; ability to draw sound conclusions from prepared analyses. Competent in general knowledge of administrative guidelines, rules and regulations and collection of data resources (census, demographic, economic and labor market, etc.). Possess ability to write daily, weekly and monthly reports including words, numbers, abbreviations and note taking. Also may need to perform mathematical calculations for distance, formulas, mathematical word problems, percentages and metric conversions.

Equipment, Machines, Tools and Work Aids: 

Experience in using computer, printer, plotter, calculator, engineering scale, digital projector, fax machine, copier, phones and postage machine. 

Physical Demands & Additional Information

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.