Pay Range: $30.10 – $38.17 per hour (CTP Pay Plan C41 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $30.10 – $31.94 per hour (CTP Pay Plan C41 Step 1-4 DOQ)
Job Closing Date: November 30, 2023
Applications Will Be Reviewed Each Week: 11/9/23, 11/17/23, 11/27/23, and 12/1/23.

*If a qualified candidate is selected, the posting will be closed prior to November 30, 2023

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

Job Description:

There is one opening with the Yakima County Public Services-Planning Division. This position provides experienced professional planning expertise and recommendations on routine to moderately complex development projects and other assignments; provides technical assistance to the public and 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 for one of three divisions: natural resource planning and environmental protection, land use and development, and/or long range growth management planning.

Benefits Include:

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

Essential Duties:

  • Performs, conducts or assists with planning analyses related to processing of routine to moderately complex new development project applications. Duties include: initial project review with customer, completeness review, preparation of required notices, YCWRS, SEPA review, project review and coordinating with other agencies / organizations and drafting of final written analyses.
  • Drafts and assists in preparing Department goals, policies, planning, programming and/or regulatory options and updates, and other project assignments for review by Section/Division management or others.
  • 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, transportation, environmental protection and growth management, within area(s) of assignment or expertise.
  • Develops, coordinates and participates in public education/outreach efforts and special studies related to land use, transportation, environmental and natural resource planning issues and other program or project assignments. Schedules and facilitates meetings and provides technical expertise to organizations and media as needed.
  • Performs other duties as required including site inspections and may participate in public hearings.
  • Other duties required including special projects such as reviewing and commenting on agency proposals and proposed changes to development ordinances.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Planning, Geography, Geology or a field directly related to the area(s) of assignment AND one (1) year 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.

*Masters’ Degree may substitute for one year of experience.*

Required:      

  • Valid WA 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, recognitions, awards and licenses that demonstrate acquisition and application of the required knowledge, and abilities to be successful in this position are preferred.

Equipment Used:

  • GIS workstation
  • PC and laptop
  • GPS unit
  • Calculator
  • Phone and other office equipment
  • 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: pathogen exposure, travel, multiple work locations, field work, work is performed in an office and/or field environment and may require exposure angry 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, crawling, crouching, kneeling, hearing, smelling, talking, and visual acuity.

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:

  • 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;
  • applicable transportation planning policies, laws, regulations, ordinances, code principles and practices;
  • roles and responsibilities of federal, state and other local public and private organization;
  • research and analytical methods for planning projects including using fundamental mathematics, statistics, demographics, scientific methods and field practices for gathering and evaluating data;
  • principles of site impact analysis for development projects;
  • principles of geography and geomorphology and natural systems functions;
  • presentation and meeting facilitation including use of technology for displaying, analyzing and evaluating research data;
  • legal descriptions, cartography and GIS systems; U.S. Census geography and methodology; micro-economic theories as applied to the effects of land use regulation; and,
  • rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation used in professional report writing.

Skills (and Abilities):

  • critically analyzing and resolving customer service and internal work related problems;
  • analyzing environmental, transportation 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 moderately complex technical reports and other documents;
  • 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; technical data, legal descriptions, maps and aerial photos;
  • using a personal computer and related software applications, and operating basic office equipment such as 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; and,
  • maintaining files.