The City of Puyallup is seeking an experienced, collaborative professional for the position of Planning Manager in the Development and Permitting Services Department (DPS). The department divisions include planning services, permitting services, building services and fire prevention, development engineering and code enforcement. The planning division has six employees. This is an open continuous job posting with a priority application date of May 22nd.
It is impactful to join Team Puyallup and provide meaningful work in support of public service and the well being of our community. We value our culture of demonstrating excellence in our work, being service focused, supporting collaboration, and having integrity in all that we do. We encourage those that share these values to apply to our open positions and/or forward to colleagues who may be ready for their next career advancement opportunity.
This is supervisory, administrative and professional planning work directing the Planning division of the Development and Permitting Services Department. The position is responsible for ensuring that the division’s annual objectives are met, for supervising the activities of full and part-time, and/or temporary employees, directing land use permit processing, public information and code compliance activities, for performing comprehensive planning duties, and for integrating the current and comprehensive long range planning functions of the division. Work performance is reviewed for the quality and quantity of the results produced by personnel in the division. Close attention to detail is required in the planning process and in coordinating the work of others to prevent errors. Frequent contact is required with the department director, planning and compliance personnel, consultants, developers, City Council and Planning Commission, the Hearing Examiner, and the public. Work is primarily conducted in an office setting and involves travel to field sites and evening meetings.
The City of Puyallup is a community of 43,000 and is situated at the foot of scenic Mount Rainier. The city is known as a regional commercial center, and serves its residents and neighbors with a strong, diversified economy. Our employees live in and support a community that has excellent schools, amazing parks and recreational activities, and a vibrant downtown with a variety of restaurants and retail establishments.
Essential Functions:
- Establishes division goals, objectives and priorities; develops implementation strategies and timelines; monitors and measures performance; implements corrective action as needed;
- Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates department personnel; assigns work activities, projects and programs; works with employees to correct deficiencies; and when appropriate implements discipline and termination procedures;
- Administers the land use permit and application processes in assigning cases, overseeing case review procedures, supervising planners’ progress on cases, reviewing staff reports, condition letters and SEPA determinations, and coordinating Hearing Examiner/City Council review of land use permits;
- Administers, updates and maintains the City land use regulations, including zoning and subdivision codes, annexations, critical area regulations and related standards;
- Handles own process of some complex cases;
- Directs the work of staff in implementing the comprehensive plan function, including plan amendments, annexations, and associated long-range projects;
- Oversees the code compliance officer and related functions;
- Coordinates public information efforts in concert with the Building and Engineering Divisions, engineering and other city departments;
- Maintains updated planning codes, standards, and procedures;
- Represents the City on inter-jurisdictional planning bodies; provide advice and assistance to outside agencies and committees as requested;
- Makes presentations to the Planning Commission and City Council, which may include evening activities;
- Maintain regular, reliable and punctual attendance;
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and confidential materials;
- Perform related duties as required.
Qualifications:
Knowledge of:
- Planning principles/techniques and the social, economic, and legal implications of planning;
- Municipal government functions, organization, staffing and operating procedures;
- Legislative provisions, ordinances and codes governing the planning process;
- Modern supervisory principles and practices;
- Terminology and methods involved in developing program objectives.
Ability to:
- Prepare and implement program objectives and to administer division budget;
- Effectively plan and direct the work of planning division personnel in accomplishing program objectives;
- Provide the required data and technical information needed to coordinate and support the pertinent functions of the Planning Commission, the Hearing Examiner and the City Council;
- Effectively coordinate the current and comprehensive planning activities of the division, including personally handling the processing of some complex permits and/or projects;
- Accurately and uniformly interpret codes and ordinances, proposing amendments as warranted;
- Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing; including making effective public presentations;
- Analyze large amounts of conflicting information and develop solutions to problems;
- Establish goals and objectives and meet firm deadlines;
- Present complex planning issues efficiently to public decision making bodies;
- Supervise, train, and evaluate professional and technical staff;
- Establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with department personnel, developers, citizen groups, the public and other City personnel;
- Accurately maintain a variety of records related to planning division activities;.
- Exercise discretion and independent judgement in the performance of job duties and to meet work goals;
- Safely drive city vehicles to work meetings and activities;
- Maintain regular, reliable and punctual attendance;
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive and confidential materials.
Education and Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree in planning or closely related field and five years of urban or regional planning experience with at least two years of supervisory experience. Or, a combination of education, experience, and training that indicates the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position listed above. A Master’s degree in a field related to planning is desirable.
Physical Characteristics and Work Environment:
Constant use of sight, hearing, and speech abilities necessary to perform essential functions and to communicate with others. Constant fine finger manipulation and use of hands and arms in reaching/handling/fingering/grasping while operating office equipment and computers, preparing written documentation, handling paperwork, etc. Frequent sitting, may be extended at times, while doing desk activities. Frequent bending/twisting at waist/knees/neck while working at desk, worktable, or moving from sitting to standing position. Frequent standing in combination with walking (short distances) throughout work shift in office areas. Occasional lifting/carrying up to 25?pound materials, file boxes, documents, etc. Occasional pushing/pulling force up to 10 pounds opening doors, drawers, and moving materials. Requires mental acuity to ensure thorough mental analysis of situations in a fast-paced environment. Work is generally performed in an office environment with low noise levels, with occasional field site visits and evening meetings which require conducting formal presentations.
Selection Process:
Only applications that include the response to the Supplemental Questionnaire will be accepted. Those applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the City’s current needs will be contacted for testing and/or oral interviews. The appointing authority may conduct second interviews.
Notification – Following submission of application, an email acknowledgment receipt of application is given. Persons selected for an interview and/or testing will be notified by email, normally within 15 working days following the closing date on the job announcement.
Not Selected – No formal notification is usually sent by the City to applicants not selected for an interview or test. Should the same or another position open for which the applicant wishes to apply, he/she must apply online for each new opening.
General Information:
Essential Functions – The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge, skills and abilities typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or to balance the workload.
Hours of Work – Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with one (1) hour lunch.
Union Affiliation – This position is a non-represented position.
Equal Employment Opportunity – The City of Puyallup is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate in any employer/employee relations based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, veteran’s status or any other basis protected by applicable discrimination laws.
Background – The City of Puyallup will need to obtain the proper background and criminal history information pursuant to RCW 43.43.830/832 for positions where the employee will or may have unsupervised access to children, developmentally delayed persons or vulnerable adults.
Disability – In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, disability will be considered only in the context of an applicant’s ability to perform essential functions of the job and to determine reasonable accommodation. Accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment will be made upon request with reasonable notice. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information. The physical demands described in this job announcement are representative of those that perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Identification – Applicants who are offered employment with the City are required to provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States within three days of date of hire, as required by the 1986 Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act. A list of acceptable documents verifying identity and authorization to work will be provided to those who are offered employment.
Drug-Free Workplace –The City of Puyallup is a drug-free, tobacco-free workplace.
Note – The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice. must be met by an employee to successfully
