Senior Planner

Compensation Range
$61,152.00 - $82,998.24

Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume. If interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Who We Are:

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries.

We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world

Our Core Values:

• Integrity: Saying what we mean and consistently doing what we say with no desire other than the good of the citizens we serve. It means standing up for beliefs.
• Responsibility: A continual process that emphasizes a high level of personal accountability by each member of the organization.
• Partnership: Adding competitive value and quality to the services provided to our residents, businesses, and visitors through responsible fiscal stewardship, increased innovation, greater use of technology, and expanded civic, neighborhood and regional partnerships.

What We Offer:
The City of High Point offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 401K and 457B Retirement Plans
• PTO earned within first year
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement Plan
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You'll Do:
Performs responsible professional and technical work in the development services division of the Planning and Development Department, primarily coordinating the review of development applications. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Development Administrator.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:

Please Note: To be considered, please submit a COVER LETTER in addition to your resume.

• Receives, processes and reviews a variety of land development applications for compliance with development regulations, including subdivision plans, group development plans and site plans;
• Acts as case manager and coordinates land development reviews with the Technical Review Committee, and provides guidance to committee members;
• Receives, processes and evaluates applications for certificates of appropriateness;
• Acts as case manager and coordinates applications for the Historic Preservation Commission, and provides guidance to the board;
• Coordinates historic preservation efforts with county and state historic preservation agencies;
• Reviews applicable permit records for compliance with development regulations, including commercial construction, signage, and zoning;
• Assists in the review and processing of guidance, board action and land development records;
• Explains development regulations and procedures to developers, architects, engineers, and applicants and guides them through the development review process;
• Provides information to the public regarding development regulations and explains the development review process;
• Provides information and guidance to City and department personnel;
• Conducts field surveys, collects data and information, analyzes and summarizes existing conditions, derives conclusions, makes recommendations, and prepares written technical reports;
• Attends meetings and makes oral presentations;
• May be required to drive to various locations to accomplish assignments;
• Assists division head and City staff as needed;
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies;
• Assists with address assignment.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in planning, geography, public administration or closely related field with two (2) years of relevant planning experience; OR
• Bachelor's degree in planning, geography, public administration or closely related field with four (4) years of relevant planning experience.
• Valid driver's license in North Carolina or another state.

Preferred Qualifications

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
• NC Certified Zoning Official (CZO) certification

Knowledge

• Well-developed knowledge of urban planning principles, practices and techniques;
• In-depth knowledge of zoning and land development practices;
• In-depth knowledge of historic preservation guidelines/regulations and best practices;
• Knowledge of state and local laws and regulations applicable to work responsibilities;
• Knowledge of principles, methodology and practices of research, data collection and analysis; and
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software applications applicable to work responsibilities, including the use of geographic information applications in planning.

Skills

• Proficient computer skills to use software applications to process board and land development submissions and conduct electronic plan reviews;
• Excellent communication skills to communicate in various forms and convey complex information clearly and effectively to different audiences;
• Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to resolve land development process conflicts;
• Effective facilitation skills to lead productive group discussions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills to create and maintain productive working relationships with associates, city officials, customers and the public;
• Ability to read and interpret land development plans and architectural designs to obtain required information;
• Ability to comprehend and correctly apply development regulations and find practical solutions;
• Ability to prepare and present technical reports in oral and written form; and
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and manage them effectively to meet established deadlines.

Physical Requirements

Hearing/Speaking - Expressing and receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to converse with associates, city officials, customers and the public.

Visual Abilities - The ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position:

• Acuity, far - Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see from a distance when addressing an audience, performing a site visit to record land features or operating a motor vehicle.
• Acuity, mid - Clarity of vision from 20 inches to 20 feet. Must be able to make visual presentations in an assembly room.
• Acuity, near - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see computer monitor and read plans, ordinances, reports and documents close at hand.
• Depth perception - Three-dimensional vision and the ability to judge distance and space relationships.
• Field of Vision - The area that can be seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are focused on one point. Must be able to see a wide span of area when conducting a site visit and addressing an audience.
• Accommodation - Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly.

Physical Strength - The degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:

• Light Work

• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally; and/or
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently; and
• A negligible amount of force constantly to handle or move materials related to the position

• Type of Physical Demands

• Reaching - Extending the hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
• Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s).
• Fingering - Picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingers primarily rather than the entire hand or arm.

Mental Activity/Requirements

Reasoning

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.); to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables; to comprehend and respond to a variety of situations in an expedient manner and to exercise good judgment.

Mathematics Ability

• Using Algebra: Ability to apply fundamental mathematical concepts and theories, and to work with real and complex variables to analyze and compile technical information.
• Using Statistics: Ability to work with mathematical statistics to generate and maintain a variety of records and reports.

Language Ability

• The ability to speak, read and write the English Language are required for this position.

Environmental Conditions

Physical Surroundings

• This position is subject to working indoors or outdoors.

Hazards

• No environmental hazards are indicated for this position.

Machinery/Tools/Work Aids/Other Equipment

• Computers, monitors, projectors, printers, copiers, plotters, cameras, plans, maps, records, reports, manuals, policies, ordinances, reference materials, periodicals, correspondence, telephone, calculator and regular office supplies.

The work location of this job will be 211 S Hamilton St High Point, North Carolina.

Our Commitments
The City of High Point is dedicated to fostering a work environment that values individuals from all backgrounds and seeks to attract and retain the most qualified partners in service to the citizens of High Point. As an at-will employer, the City allows employees to terminate their employment, or be terminated at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly for the work they do, weighing both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this "living document" as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment for all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City's drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. In lieu of or in addition to background screening, candidates selected for employment in a position that requires working with children in any capacity must be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any such position without passing a pre-placement physical exam. The City offers employment to successful candidates conditioned upon the City's receipt of satisfactory results from all required screenings, checks, and exams, as applicable.

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