Pay Range: $33.43 – $42.40 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, C43 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $33.43 – $ 35.48 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, C43 Step 1-4 DOQ)
Job Closing Date: November 30, 2023
Applications Will be Reviewed Each Week: 11/13/23, 11/20/23, 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 Planner III opening with the Yakima County Public Services Planning Division.

This position provides 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 Included in Position:

  • 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.

Essential Duties:

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; and,
  • 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 & Experience:

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

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

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 and Other Office Equipment
  • Audiovisual Equipment
  • GPS Unit
  • 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.

Work is performed in an office and/or field environment with occasional exposure to irate customers and citizen groups.  To perform the essential tasks, incumbents must be able to: see, read, communicate in person and over the phone, in writing and perform basic keyboard functions.  May require: travel for data gathering, site inspection and analysis; and attendance at night meetings. Requires climbing, reaching, standing, stooping, walking on sometimes-uneven terrain, lifting and carrying objects, pushing/pulling objects; grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. 

Environment: travel, multiple work locations, field work, and office and/or field environment with occasional exposure to irate customers and citizen groups.

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 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 organizations.

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.