Salary: $88,884.00 – $109,316.00 Annually
Location: Duvall, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Community Development
Union: Teamsters
Reports to: Community Development Director

This position is open until filled with a first review of applications scheduled for January 3rd, 2023. 

Learn more about this position and apply today at City of Duvall’s Government Jobs page.

Job Description:

Serves as a senior level professional planner. Conducts and coordinates professional planning services for a broad range of long range and current planning activities including comprehensive planning, drafting development regulations, and reviewing the larger, more complex development proposals. The Senior Planner is consistently able to independently manage projects and programs with very little oversight or input from managers.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Serves as a senior level professional planner.
  • Conducts and coordinates professional planning services for a broad range of long range and current planning activities including comprehensive planning, drafting development regulations, and reviewing the larger, more complex development proposals.
  • The Senior Planner is consistently able to independently manage projects and programs with very little oversight or input from managers.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The Senior Planner position is clearly distinguished from the Associate Planner position by having a greater amount of professional experience; ability to think critically and evaluate all aspects of a project during the decision making process; has a clear understanding of the relationship of public policy to the facilitation of development proposals to achieve consistency with comprehensive plans and development regulations; approaches projects from a comprehensive viewpoint or detailed viewpoint as required by the project; responsible for on-going programs with a community-wide focus and benefit; has strong leadership and facilitation skills; and the ability to handle projects that are multi-faceted and complex and that may be controversial or sensitive in nature.

Essential Functions:

  • Processes land use applications after reviewing for compliance with local, State, and Federal regulations and plans. Leads and coordinates assigned land use applications through all steps of project review (including environmental review and writing staff reports), hearing, and adoption process.
  • Prepares comprehensive plan amendments or other GMA related plans (e.g., Parks and Open Space Plan), including research, analysis and documentation of background information, environmental review, and preparation of staff reports and recommendations presented to the Planning Commission and City Council.
  • Prepares amendments to the City’s Unified Development Regulations, including supporting studies, environmental review, and preparation of staff reports and recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council.
  • Prepares planning reports and supporting data; provides project evaluation and technical direction to the Planning Department and other City staff regarding a specialized area of planning such as environmental concerns, community development or land use.
  • Provides land use and zoning information to developers, architects, engineers, contractors, property owners, and to the general public.
  • Advises citizens, community leaders and elected officials on public policy issues, planning procedures, comprehensive plans, as well as regulatory ordinances.
  • Conducts site visits to monitor construction of development projects and performs inspections prior to acceptance of site and/or building improvements prior to project approval and/or issuance of certificates of occupancy.
  • Provides code enforcement support for more complex and sensitive land use violations.
  • Manages and coordinates with consultants hired by the City for peer review of current planning projects and long-range planning services.
  • Coordinates department activities with other departments and agencies as needed relative to planning assignments.
  • Responsible for the preparation and oversight of the City’s sensitive area program.
  • Assists in the implementation and inspection of City improvements including parks, streetscapes, landscapes and other municipal projects.
  • Provides primary support to boards, commissions, or other hearing bodies including managing the agenda, scheduling and filling vacancies.
  • Manages grants, including writing applications, managing projects, and documenting compliance with grant criteria.
  • Serves as a member of various staff committees as assigned.
  • Serves as a staff member to local or regional planning and/or environmental planning organizations.
  • Prepares legal documents associated with development permits. Monitors maintenance and performance securities, including wetland mitigation and landscaping.
  • Attends City Council meetings or other meetings as directed.
  • Attends professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of planning, or fields with direct bearing on planning.
  • Assists and mentors other planning staff members as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Desired Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a closely related field
  • Six (6) years progressively responsible experience, with a minimum of three (3) years working for municipal government in current and long-range planning
  • Master’s Degree in any of the above-referenced fields and a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in current and long-range planning
  • Any combination of education and experience which would provide the desired skills, knowledge and ability to perform the requirements of the position.
  • AICP Certification preferred.
  • Valid Washington Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Working knowledge of Washington state growth management and zoning legislation, SEPA, shorelines master program, and other Federal, State, and local planning requirements.
  • Extensive knowledge of principles, practices, regulations and techniques in land use and urban planning, including new urbanism techniques and urban design.
  • Ability to read and understand site, landscaping and building plans.
  • Ability to understand and interpret zoning and subdivision ordinances, urban design guidelines, and applicable sections of the Municipal Code.
  • Knowledge of development issues and concerns, neighborhoods, public participation techniques, and the development process.
  • Knowledge of the City and Department’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
  • Ability to effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
  • Skill in analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives and recommending methods, procedures and techniques for resolution of issues.
  • Ability to research and analyze detailed information and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Ability to develop, interpret and implement regulations, policies, procedures, written instructions, general correspondence, and other department-specific documents.
  • Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
  • Ability to interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
  • Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
  • Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
  • Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
  • Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
  • Knowledge of computer software including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Bluebeam and the ability to learn GIS as well as permit tracking software.
  • Ability to perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
  • Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively in English in both written and verbal form; bilingual skills are a plus.
  • Ability to make public presentations before hearing bodies and diverse groups.
  • Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
  • Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
  • Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.
  • Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
  • Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
  • Ability to manage consultants, including hiring, developing contracts, tracking contracts and project budgets.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of the Open Records Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.
  • Ability to work the allocated hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.

Supplemental Information:

Physical and Work Environment:

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law. Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.

  • This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; 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 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 has no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
  • Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Other Requirements:

**Please note: As a condition of employment, all City of Duvall employees, including full-time, part-time, and temporary, are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19**