Salary: $74,339.20 – $95,180.80 Annually
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Job Type: Full Time (40 hrs/wk)
Department: Community Development
Job Number: 2022-LONG RANGE PLANNER

Learn more about his position and apply today on King County’s Government Job page.

Job Overview:

Kitsap County DCD seeks a Long-Range Planner to join our team of professionals.

Under the direction of the assigned supervisor the incumbent performs professional level planning functions to administer and coordinate complex work programs. The incumbent helps manage special projects, code development and review, and updates to the County’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations. The selected candidate will coordinate across functional areas of the planning process and must be highly knowledgeable about principles, practices, and techniques of planning; related state and federal laws, growth management, ordinances, rules and regulations; implementation of zoning and other ordinances; application of land use, design standards, economic development, affordable housing, environmental review, and/or social concepts to the planning process. The incumbent performs research and analysis to support project development and implementation. 

Work is performed at a project lead level, with a high degree of independence. Work assignments are performed with general instruction and require considerable independence in the selection of courses of action and resolution of complex or unique problems within the framework of department policies and procedures. Performance is measured more by outcomes than by outputs or tasks. Activities may include projects with a high degree of sensitivity or controversy, interpretations of law, decision-making under ambiguous circumstances, and ongoing relationships with other local governments, tribes, and state or federal agencies.
DCD focuses on enabling and assisting our Kitsap residents in building affordable, structurally sound, and environmentally conscious developments in the Kitsap Community. We provide our team the opportunity to learn and grow within our positive and innovative work environment; we empower our team to make decisions and pride ourselves on a culture of continuous improvement. Kitsap County DCD has earned national awards for the permitting system, public disclosure request system, and risk check program. It has received two Governor’s Awards for comprehensive planning efforts and is recognized for its natural resources program by federal and state agencies as the “go to organization” for Puget Sound restoration efforts. The department has very engaged employees dedicated to delivering effective and efficient services to the citizens of Kitsap County. Nearly all employees are Lean Six Sigma trained and have development plans that encourage career growth at all levels.

Please learn more about the department at our County webpage.

Depending on experience and background, candidates will be brought on as a Junior Planner ($74,339.20 – $82,056.00) or a Senior Planner ($84,115.20 – $95,180.80).  A Junior Planner would meet the minimum qualifications with a demonstrated work history of moderately complex professional planning.  A Senior Planner would have more advanced professional planning experience of high complexity and variety, often as a lead or with greater independence and judgment.

This position will be open until filled.  The next review of applicants will take place the week of August 15th with virtual interviews tentatively planned starting August 25th. 

Qualifications for Performance of the Essential Functions:

Required Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in planning or closely related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education AND four years of professional level planning related to community development, urban or regional planning is required; OR
  • An equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the work.

Preferred Education, Experience, or Qualifications:

  • Three years of professional experience in comprehensive planning, code development, demography, population growth and housing.
  • Experience with the Washington State Growth Management Act, long range and community planning. 
  • AICP Certification

Required Licenses, Certificates, Examinations/Tests and Other Requirements (Exclude if none required)

The incumbent is responsible for obtaining and maintaining all the following required licenses, certifications and other requirements.

Prior to Employment, the Successful Candidate Must:

  • Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
  • Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.

Physical Requirement & Working Environment:

(The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Kitsap County provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

  • Working primarily in an office with some field inspection work.
  • Attendance at meetings outside of normal working hours at various locations throughout the County and occasional travel outside the County may be required.
  • Walking and balancing (short and long distances)
  • Climbing, including property slopes and banks and uneven ground
  • Bending, stooping, twisting
  • Reaching above and/or below shoulder
  • Handling/grasping documents or equipment
  • Sitting for extended periods of time
  • Standing for long periods of time and the ability to walk through rough or uneven terrain may be required to conduct field inspections. 
  • Clear speaking and adequate hearing sufficient to communicate effectively and respond appropriately in-person and/or on the telephone
  • Hearing audible signals, safety warning devices, phones, traffic, and equipment
  • Vision sufficient to read source materials, computer screen data, see detail or color, review plans, inspect field sites and discriminate color-coded safety information.
  • Repetitive motions for computer, tool and equipment use.
  • Requires exertion of force of 20 pounds occasionally, 35 pounds intermittently to lift/carry/move objects, files/documents and other materials or equipment.

Incumbents May Be Exposed to:

  • Potentially hazardous conditions on construction sites, including machinery and forklifts.
  • Violent or hostile individuals.
  • Inclement weather while conducting field inspections (temperature extremes, slippery surfaces).
  • Road and traffic hazards.
  • Nuisance dust.

Illustrative Example of Duties:

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Identify and define the need for new, revised or updated legislation, ordinances, or regulations applicable to land development or demographic status and trends. 
  • Conduct technical research studies; prepare reports and project summaries. 
  • Draft and present proposed ordinances to supervisor and/or other hearing bodies.
  • Develop and/or revise comprehensive plans, subarea plans and special topic reports and action plans by compiling land use, land capacity, growth management, housing,
    environmental, and other planning related data from reports and field surveys, analyzing implication of background information, formulating goals, policies and alternative plan
    proposals. 
  • Meet statutory, legislative and other deadlines for updated plans, reports, interim and final products and ensure citizen participation aspects of planning processes and
    outcomes.
  • Negotiate and administer agreements and contracts with consultants, contracting agencies, and other organizations as necessary.  
  • Meet with technical advisory personnel to check results of study analysis and to verify applicability of data.
  • Act as a mediator and negotiator in the planning process to find equitable solutions consistent with policies, goals, and regulations of the program and of the County, balancing public and private rights and interests, sensitive to political considerations.
  • Work with the Prosecutor’s Office for legal review and action to resolve compliance or consistency issues.  
  • Prepare necessary documentation, present evidence, provide testimony, and recommend

Other Position Related Information:

  • Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public.  Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms.  The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
  • This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
  • This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308.  Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals.   Please contact Human Resources if you have questions.
  • Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
  • This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
  • Work hours for this position are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Flexible/Hybrid work schedule may be available as approved by manager.