Planner 1

Design Studio: Design Implementation - Planner 1

The Metro Nashville/Davidson County Planning Department is seeking a creative urban planner for its Design Studio. It is an exciting time to join this team, advancing quality design and planning and sustainable growth in one of the fastest growing and most diverse metro regions.

We are seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented planner with a strong foundation in urban design and a passion for elevating the built environment through thoughtful regulation and review. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of design excellence and regulatory frameworks, and who is committed to shaping high-quality urban environments at multiple scales.

The ideal candidate will:

·Bring a design-sensitive approach to regulatory and compliance review processes.

·Enjoy working with a wide range of stakeholders—including developers, architects, community members, and internal teams—to facilitate design outcomes that align with community goals and adopted plans.

·Be skilled in interpreting and applying design guidelines, zoning codes, and regulatory tools, and contribute to the development and testing of new policies and frameworks.

·Communicate complex urban design concepts clearly and effectively through graphics, writing, and presentations.

· Be motivated to collaborate across disciplines and contribute to a culture of innovation, equity, and design excellence.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the quality of architecture and public spaces through a regulatory lens, while also helping to shape the tools that guide future development.

Typical Duties

Under the supervision of and with support from senior staff:

· Primarily review development proposals for compliance with applicable code regulations, including summarizing feedback for applicant teams, writing staff reports and developing publication materials.

· Interpret and comprehend complex regulatory urban design documents.

· Provide urban design guidance for development proposals within the form-based code areas and for community planning processes – working with applicants, citizens, and elected officials.

· Create and/or oversee the creation of graphics and illustrative materials for planning documents, presentations, and reports.

· Communicate with other Metro Departments, development professionals, elected officials, and citizens.

· Research and synthesize planning and urban design best practices, tools, and systems

· Collaborate in a team setting, and effectively communicate to produce high quality urban design, planning, and regulatory tools.· Contribute to the creation of design scenarios and planning studies.

· Participate in Design Review Committee meetings, represent the Planning Department during design review processes and stakeholder community meetings.

· Comply with time-sensitive deadlines.

· Communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including the development community and public.

Perks and Benefits

· Starting annual salary of $83,250

· Hybrid work week and flexible office environment

· Expansive suite of benefit options including paid family leave; medical, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; MetroMax 457 retirement plan; flexible spending accounts; pension program; subsidized public transit; and more

· Support for qualifying professional licenses, certifications, and professional development hours

·
Public Service Loan Forgiveness for qualifying loans

Education and Experience Requirements

Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in urban planning, Geography, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a related field and two (2) years of related experience

OR

Master's degree in planning or related field from an accredited college or university.

Qualifications

· Ability to review development proposals including construction drawing sets for compliance with planning policy and regulatory requirements.

· Proficiency in urban planning and urban design best practices.

· Proficiency in site planning, architectural design, and sustainability best practices.

· Proficiency in geospatial analysis utilizing ArcGIS Pro.

· Fluency in utilizing Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) to create compelling graphics, maps, presentations, animations, and documents.

· Experience with digital 3D modeling, such as SketchUp or Rhino (preferred).

· Professional certification or licensure in relevant field preferred (AIA, AICP, RLA, LEED, SITES AP)

· We strive for diversity in every aspect of work and encourage persons from all backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should email a letter of interest, resume, and a portfolio of work samples to:  Randi Semrick at  (No Phone Calls, Please)

Applications will be accepted up to
October 10, 2025.

The Planning Department does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. Discrimination against any person in recruitment, examination, appointment, training, promotion, retention, discipline, or any other employment practices because of non-merit factors shall be prohibited. For ADA inquiries, contact Randi Semrick, ADA Compliance Coordinator, at or e-mail her at For Title VI inquiries, contact Human Relations at For all employment-related inquiries, contact Human Resources