Senior Planner

Town of Cornelius offers an impressive benefits package including:

• Employer paid health, dental, & vision with discounted premiums for spouse and dependent children
• Impressive residency incentive for Cornelius citizens who work for the town
• Enrollment and contributions to the NC Local Government Retirement System
• 5% contribution to 401k
• 5% salary increase at the completion of probationary period
• $1,500 sign on bonus

PURPOSE OF CLASS: Under general direction of the Planning Director, performs advanced professional level planning studies and projects; leads or is significantly involved with the most complex planning assignments in the department, and exercises greater independence and judgment than the Planner classification; may supervise staff and/or be a team leader on various projects; provides regional interlocal level planning assistance as required; and performs related work as required.

PRIMARY TASKS:

• Facilitates rezoning, text amendment, variance, and site plan review projects.
• Supervise or mentor junior planning staff and provide guidance on technical planning and zoning topics.
• Provides zoning administration and compliance support to code enforcement staff.
• Prepares formal written reports, memos, technical papers, and other correspondences.
• Develops and makes presentations to elected and appointed boards and community groups on a variety of planning topics.
• Develops solutions to problems of a technical or policy nature using professional research, analysis, and evaluation techniques.
• Facilitates, and/or coordinates preparation of comprehensive plan and similar plans, as needed.
• Facilitates special projects related to land use, growth management, and transportation.
• Facilitates and/or supports long-range planning and community development activities.
• Serves as a staff liaison or resource to Town boards and committees, which may include Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Board, and/or Architectural Review Board.
• Responds to requests for information from the Town Board and other boards and committees, development professionals, business owners, and citizens.
• Coordinates with various governmental agencies, local civic groups, business leaders, developers, and others regarding planning and community development matters.
• May conduct complex transportation studies and MPO coordination/project submittal, as appropriate.
• Administers the land development review and permitting processes using the Mecklenburg County Acella system.
• Coordinates GIS data and map management for planning projects and other Town departments; complete the Town’s annual Boundary and Annexation Survey.
• Provides exemplary customer service to both internal and external customers that may include citizens, business owners, developers, design professionals, contractors, and fellow Town staff.
• Performs other duties as required.

EQUIPMENT OPERATED: Personal computer, various technology applications, and other equipment as required.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: This position reports to the Planning Director.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is usually in an office environment with pleasant working conditions. Occasionally, it is necessary to perform site inspections on cases or plans that are ongoing or attend regional meetings off-site.

QUALIFICATIONS OF CLASS:

Education: Graduation from a college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning, geography, GIS or closely related field; master’s degree is preferred.

Experience: 3-5 years of experience of an increasingly responsible nature in municipal planning; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Specialized experience and understanding of applied GIS systems is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices pertaining to urban planning.
• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina statutes, rules and regulations as pertains to the community development.
• Intermediate knowledge of GIS technology and its applications.
• Ability to develop area-wide planning and community development programs in accordance with modern practices and standards.
• Ability to prepare and present, in a clear and concise manner, oral and/or written reports on planning and development activities to internal or external agencies.
• Ability to exercise critical analysis to resolve complex planning problems and to present clear and concise recommendations.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive master plans and to maintain such plans with technical accuracy.
• Ability to deal effectively with public and community groups concerned with municipal planning.
• Ability to write in a professional manner with thorough knowledge of sentence structure, English language vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Town officials and various diverse groups and agencies.
• Ability to mentor staff in a manner that is supportive and helps achieve the highest performance and satisfaction from staff.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
• Knowledge or online process systems including PEAK agenda setting software and Mecklenburg County’s Acella.

Special Requirements: Possession of an appropriate valid driver’s license is required; American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification, GISP or ESRI technical certifications are preferred.

FLSA: Non-exempt.

Special Note: This generic class specification gives a sound overview of the job class, its essential functions, and necessary job requirements. These documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.