Pay Range: $34.10 – $43.25 (CTP Pay Plan, C43 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $34.10 – $36.19 (CTP Pay Plan, C43 Step 1-4 DOQ)
Job Closing Date: April 11, 2024

Applications will be reviewed each week: 3/20/24, 3/27/24, 4/3/24, and 4/12/24. – *If a qualified candidate is selected, the posting will be closed prior to April 11, 2024*

Learn more about the position and apply today at Yakima County’s website.

Job Overview:

There is one opening with the Yakima County Public Services, Planning Division. This position is responsible for providing experienced professional planning expertise and recommendations on routine to complex projects and other assignments; performs a broader range of skilled and professional duties under supervision of a Section Manager; acts as a resource for Section or Division within area(s) of expertise; participates in plan and regulatory updates; special studies, public outreach and education efforts related to land development and long range growth management planning; instructs others in methods or procedures needed to carry out their work on assigned projects or area of specialization. The Planner III is capable of working independently with minimal supervision or direction.

Benefits Include:

  • Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Sick Leave

Note: This position is a Yakima County Public Services Department Clerical, Technical & Professional Employees Group Bargaining Unit Position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Corrections)

Essential Duties Included:

Development Project Review (under general supervision of a Section Manager):

  • Performs, conducts or assists with planning analyses related to processing of routine to more complex development project applications.
  • Participates in early assistance meetings with customers, providing feedback on project feasibility, approvals required, cost and timeline estimates.
  • Represents the Planning Division on Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT), making agreements, decisions or commitments for the Section within the regulatory framework for an assigned project.
  • Provides technical guidance as needed by project coordinators in reviewing applications for completeness and preparing public notice.
  • Prepares or drafts SEPA threshold environmental determinations and appropriate mitigation measures to address identified environmental impacts for consideration and approval by the SEPA Responsible Official.
  • Utilizing MDT, agency and neighborhood comments, evaluates projects and recommends options and conditions for ensuring the project’s consistency with applicable plans, policies, regulations, standards and criteria.
  • Prepares the Planning Division’s final written analyses, findings and conditions for inclusion in the MDT project decision or recommendation within timelines established by Section Managers, project coordinators and the project team.
  • Represents the MDT position to various hearing bodies, as assigned.

Policy and Technical Assistance:

  • Provides policy advice and technical assistance to the public, agencies and county staff relating to: plans, policies, ordinances, standards, regulatory and non-regulatory programs, federal and state statutes and administrative codes governing land development, environmental protection and growth management, within area(s) of assignment or expertise.

Public Outreach:

  • Develops, coordinates and participates in public education/outreach efforts and special studies related to land use, environmental and natural resource planning issues and other program or project assignments.
  • Organizes, facilitates and participates in meetings, group discussions, forums and open houses.
  • Presents technical information through reports, GIS coverages and other maps, graphics, newsletters and news releases.
  • Speaks before boards and commissions, the public, citizen groups and professional organizations.
  • Ensures the availability of relevant public information on Section programs, projects and activities via the website.
  • Responds to media inquiries as directed.

Development and Maintenance of Plans, Programs and Regulations (performs or assists with a broader range of professional planning tasks):

  • Drafts and assists in preparing goals, policies, planning, programming  regulatory and and/or non-regulatory options and updates, and other project assignments for review by Section/Division management or others.
  • Researches, performs or participates in policy and technical analysis of subdivision, zoning, regulatory framework and other land development issues.
  • Reviews plans, policies, programs and projects submitted by other divisions, departments, agencies and jurisdictions for consistency with adopted County plans and codes within area of responsibility.
  • Serves as contact with other sections, divisions, departments and agencies on assigned programs or special projects.
  • Assists in preparing Section or project level work programs and processes within allocated budget.
  • Provides technical instruction to planners and other staff in area of specialization.
  • Develops and/or uses GIS coverages for project assignments.
  • Drafts grant applications to support Section, Division and Departmental programs.
  • Schedules, coordinates, collects, assembles and prepares data, projections and reports.

Other duties required.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or Geography AND three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience (including related internships), demonstrating knowledge and experience in one or more areas within the Planning field related to the area of assignment, including: Environmental Planning (SEPA, Critical Areas/Shorelines and Natural Resources) Transportation Planning, Current Planning (Subdivision and Zoning), and Comprehensive Long Range Planning; OR any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Note: A Masters’ Degree may substitute for one year of experience.

Qualifications:

Required:

  • A valid US Drivers’ License at time of appointment; and,
  • Successful completion of a general employment verification.

Preferred:

  • Bilingual in Spanish
  • Experience with Washington State land use and environmental protection law.
  • Specialized training in environmental or natural resource issues, projects (SEPA, GMA, Critical Areas, Shorelines)
  • Additional degrees, professional certifications, recognition, awards and licenses that demonstrate acquisition and application of the required knowledge, and abilities to be successful in this position.

Equipment Used: telephone, computer, printer, copy machine, fax machine, calculator, digital camera, shredder, other office equipment, audiovisual equipment, GPS unit, and motor vehicle.

Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. 

Environment: travel, multiple work locations, field work, occasional exposure to irate customers and citizen groups, and position can be hybrid with schedule to be determined by the incumbent and supervisor.

Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, balancing, climbing, crouching, kneeling, hearing, smelling, talking, and visual activity.

Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

  • Customer service techniques and teambuilding concepts
  • Presentation and meeting facilitation, including use of technology for displaying, analyzing and evaluating research data.
  • Research and analytical methods for planning projects including using fundamental mathematics, statistics, scientific methods and field practices for gathering and evaluating data.
  • Principles of site impact analysis for plan amendments and various project review.
  • Principles of geography, geomorphology and natural systems functions.
  • Legal descriptions, cartography and GIS systems.
  • U.S. Census geography, demographics and methodologies.
  • Principles, methods and practices of planning related to the area of assignment, including urban, regional, environmental, natural resource, transportation, and community development; Public participation theory and practice including methods of assessing areas of agreement and conflict among individuals or facilitation groups and techniques for mediating disputes and guiding them to consensus or informed consent.
  • Rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation used in professional report writing.
  • Micro-economic theories as applied to the effects of land use regulation.
  • Roles and responsibilities of federal, state and other local public and private organization.

Skills (and Abilities):

  • Instructing others in methods or procedures needed to carry out their work on assigned projects or tasks.
  • Critically analyzing and resolving customer service and internal work related problems.
  • Analyzing environmental and land use information to identify options, resolve problems, apply solutions, guidelines and policy to field problems and other work assignments.
  • Prioritizing multiple projects within established timelines and parameters.
  • Writing routine to complex technical reports and other documents.
  • Using a personal computer and related software applications and operating basic office equipment.
  • Interpreting, applying and implementing land use policies and procedures.
  • Giving presentations, public speaking, and facilitating meetings.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with County and other officials, at all organizational levels and with the public.
  • Ability to clearly speak, write and graphically illustrate in order to convey general and technical information.
  • Ability to: give and receive direction; understand, interpret and follow County and department personnel policies and procedures.
  • Researching, interpreting, evaluating and applying a wide variety of inter-related data, policies, laws, codes, and legislation to work assignments.
  • Reading and interpreting technical data, legal descriptions, maps and aerial photos.
  • Operating basic office equipment, scanners, plotters; public address systems and audio-visual presentation equipment.
  • Applying basic math, algebra and statistics in researching, gathering, organizing and analyzing data from a variety of sources.
  • Maintaining files.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”

Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION:

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.