Planning Manager – Benton County Planning Division

• Benton, WA
• $112,838 – $137,155 annually
• Regular, Full-time

Position Description:

Under the general direction of the Community Development Director, this supervisory position is responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the Planning Division.   This position participates as a member of the Community Development Management team and performs a variety of advanced work in current and long-range planning; provides information to the public, elected officials, Hearing Examiners, Planning Commission members and other County departments; coordinates Comprehensive Plan updates and other current and long-range planning activities. Reviews the scope and purpose of land use proposals, ensuring conformance with applicable regulations.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are essential for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Provides leadership in attracting, retaining, and developing an engaged workforce in the delivery of superior services to County residents and businesses.
• Directs the work of and manages Planning Division staff. Interviews and selects new employees. Provides training, instructions, and ongoing training needs. Provides coaching and/or counseling. Assigns tasks, reviews work and prepares performance evaluations. Approves employee transfers, promotions, disciplinary action, and discharge.
• Delegates responsibilities to staff and monitors their performance. Addresses day-to-day issues and questions.
• Provides administrative direction to the Division through the policies, procedures and directives that are continually updated. Counsels staff on changes and interpretations of laws, guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Reviews land use development proposals by evaluating the scope and purpose of each project, researching specific property limitations, and reviewing the Benton County Code for compliance.
• Conducts technical research and analysis, manages projects for long-range planning, evaluates findings, identifies significant issues, determines options, and develops staff recommendations on difficult and complex residential and non-residential projects. Projects include, but not limited to, site plans, rezoning, conditional use permits, subdivision plats, general plan amendments, and variances that also include management of formal and informal work teams.
• Writes staff reports and creates visual presentations for planning cases involving subdivision plats, rezoning, site plans, and general plan amendments; presents reports to the Hearings Examiner, Planning Commission, elected officials, and community groups.
• Responds to public inquiries about local zoning regulations, land use, and development review policies, and applicable State regulations/policies.
• Prepares, reviews, and analyzes environmental documents and checklists with reference to completeness and for the purpose of recommendations to the SEPA responsible official for potential determination and requirements for Environmental Impact Statements.
• Represents the County in meetings with residents, developers, builders, business groups, and other government agencies.
• Assists the Director in the preparation of the Division’s biennial operating budget for submission to the County Administrator. Identifies funding sources and directs the application for grants/aids when appropriate. Monitors budget, contracts, services, costs, and other factors throughout the year to identify problem areas and recommend adjustments. Responsible for the financial management of the Division and to insure the adherence to financial accounting principles.
• Advises the Department Director on planning-related matters such as projects, work items, sensitive or complex issues, complaints, and Division needs. Participates in coordination meetings with the Director and/or other Community Development Department Division managers. Leads regular division meetings to stay current on interdivisional happenings and workloads. 
• Participates in and stays current on changes to state land use laws as applicable.
• Enters, scans, updates, and maintains information in spreadsheets, databases, and reports.
• Maintains department-specific electronic and paper filing and record systems and documents to provide easy access to records and information; provides retention of records as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques used in land use planning.
• Local, state and federal laws relating to land use planning and environmental issues.
• Principles of site impact analysis for development projects.
• Principles of geography, geomorphology and natural systems functions.
• Legal descriptions, cartography and GIS systems.
• Administrative policies and procedures of the County.
• The County’s and Division’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Management and supervisory principles and practices, including program planning, contract requirements, budgeting, direction, coordination, and evaluation.
• Current office practices and procedures.
• Operation of standard office equipment and software consistent with this position.

Skills in:

• Analyzing environmental and land use information in order to identify options, develop mitigation strategies, resolve problems, apply solutions, guidelines and policy to field problems and other work assignments.
• Identifying technical and operational problems and recommending appropriate corrective actions.
• Organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives, and recommending methods, procedures, and techniques for resolution of issues.

Ability to:

• Adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
• Instruct and train in methods and procedures.
• Organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
• Read and interpret technical data, legal descriptions, maps and aerial photos.
• Review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances and codes to determine compliance with such regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions.
• Interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.
• Read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Maintain professionalism at all times.
• Maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization, to include resolving disputes, providing information, and promoting positive relationships.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provisions of the Public Records Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
• Work the allocated hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.

Physical and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This work involves occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds within a limited range for access to storage boxes; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, climbing stairs and ladders and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work may involve mobility over rough or difficult terrain. Work is performed daily both in and outdoors under all weather conditions and includes exposure to inclement weather, noise, vibrations, airborne materials, and active construction sites.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting and in the field with occasional exposure to irate customers and citizen groups.