Salary: $84,168.00 – $102,564.00 Annually
Location: Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2023-00033
Department: Community Development
Division: Planning
Opening Date: 12/27/2023
Closing Date: 1/31/2024 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada); Tijuana

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

General Statement of Duties/Supervision:

The City of Tumwater is seeking a dynamic Senior Planner to perform complex land use planning and zoning work as part of an interdisciplinary team.  The position may be assigned duties in the Planning Division and/or Permit Division.

The City of Tumwater is located at the southern tip of Puget Sound. The rugged Olympic Mountains rise in the distance and Mount Rainier seems close enough to touch on a clear day. Tumwater is just adjacent to our state capital, the city of Olympia, and 60 miles south of Seattle on the I-5 corridor. Tumwater is part of metropolitan Thurston County which has a population of 269,500. 

Thurston County offers ample opportunities for both rural and urban living. Many employees enjoy living either in the city or in the rural county area while still keeping their commute short due to the close proximity of the metropolitan tri-city area of Tumwater, Olympia, and Lacey. 

Tumwater is a great place to live, work, and raise a family!

Essential Job Duties:

The Senior Planner leads or is significantly involved with large, complex planning assignments. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions in Planning Division:

  1. Performs advanced professional work related to a variety of planning assignments.
  2. Manages complex planning studies and reviews consultant proposals.
  3. Assists the public with questions by interpreting zoning regulations, land use plans, ordinances, and/or state laws related to zoning, the environment, and subdivisions.
  4. Reviews and processes complex comprehensive plan amendments, rezone applications, and annexations.
  5. Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, physical, social, environmental, and economic issues.
  6. Reviews draft interlocal agreements and consultant proposals.
  7. Completes mapping and geographic information system (GIS) projects.
  8. Participates in a substantial number of evening meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, and other groups to make clear, concise presentations of planning related recommendations or determinations and to provide advice and consultation on planning issues to such bodies as requested.
  9. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Essential Functions in Permit Division:

  1. Researching, analyzing, and preparing documents and reports related to permitting matters.
  2. Assists the public with development proposals and questions by interpreting zoning regulations land use plans, ordinances, and/or state laws.
  3. Serves on and/or coordinating the Development Review Committee.
  4. Manages reviews of complex development applications.
  5. Reviews short plat and subdivision proposals for compliance with local and state laws and regulations.
  6. Monitors development projects for compliance with applicable legal requirements and evaluating permit requests for compliance and accuracy.
  7. Evaluates and making recommendations on requested zoning variances and conditional uses.
  8. Reviews information and assists in making determinations under the State Environmental Policy Act.
  9. Researches, prepares, and represents the City in discretionary land use matters and in appeals of zoning determinations in hearings before the city land use Hearing Examiner.
  10. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  1. Extensive knowledge of the philosophies, principles, practices, and techniques of modern land use planning, development principles, and practices with broad experience in highly complex projects.
  2. Thorough knowledge of land use regulations, laws, and conditions affecting Tumwater and the principles and legal requirements of socially and environmentally acceptable development and zoning.
  3. Knowledge of the process of developing, adopting, modifying, interpreting, and enforcing an effective municipal zoning code.
  4. General knowledge of the principles and methods of site planning, landscape design, and architectural design.
  5. General knowledge and experience in construction processes.
  6. General knowledge of the legal, effective, and appropriate methods of supervising public employees.
  7. Skills in relevant mapping and research systems, geographic information systems (GIS), permitting and planning software programs, and Microsoft Office.
  8. Creative problem solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well defined planning and permitting problems.
  9. Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops and other meetings.
  10. Ability to interpret and enforce development plans, zoning regulations, and land use laws and ordinances.
  11. Outstanding ability to communicate technical information effectively orally and in writing with to a wide variety individuals and groups.
  12. Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected and appointed officials, other decision-makers, stakeholders, partners, and members of the public.
  13. Ability to deal with the public in a courteous and tactful manner.
  14. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, developers, and the public.
  15. Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously.
  16. Ability to work independently as needed and provide effective supervision and staff management.
  17. Ability to organize work priorities to manage projects effectively, assure timely results, and meet deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or a related field and five years of experience in related public sector urban planning with at least two years in a supervisory or highly independent capacity.  A Master’s degree in Urban Planning or a related field may be substituted for two years of the relevant experience. ** If Senior Planner requirements are not met the City reserves the right to hire at the Associate Planner level.

Preferred Qualifications: None.

Training/Licenses/Certifications: Must maintain a valid Washington Driver’s License and a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurer in order to attend meetings away from the normal workplace.  American Institute of Certified Planners certification desired. 

Contacts: The Senior Planner has significant daily contact with the public, elected/appointed officials, and a variety of staff members of external agencies and City departments.  Contacts are primarily for information sharing and problem resolution.  Some contacts may be confrontational, requiring the Senior Planner to explain, defend, and support City policies, ordinances, and procedures in a professional, concise, and respectful manner.  Senior Planners also have daily contact with other City staff to share information, coordinate work, and resolve problems.  Contacts with elected and appointed officials often take place in public forums or venues.   The Senior Planner may be the primary contact between advisory boards and City staff. 

Supervision: Senior Planners exercise independence and judgment. A Senior Planner assigned to Planning Division receives general supervision from the Planning Manager and senior management through a general review of goals and timelines and by evaluation of work products and presentations before the City Council, the Planning Commission, and/or other bodies. A Senior Planner may work with the Permit Division.  For such work, supervision is received from the Permit Manager in coordination with the Planning Manager through general review of goals and timelines and by evaluation of work products and presentations before the hearing examiner. Supervises subordinate personnel by assigning work, evaluating performance, monitoring progress and results.

Accountability: Senior Planners are responsible for speaking on behalf of and effectively representing the position of the City in sensitive planning and development issues.  Incumbents must complete all assigned work in a timely and professional manner.  Senior Planners are given broad latitude to use independent judgment in developing recommendations and making decisions in their program area. 

Working Conditions: Positions in this class perform work predominately under normal office working conditions.  Considerable time working at a computer station is a regular part of the job.  No heavy lifting without assistance is required.   Regular attendance is an essential duty including evening hours to attend meetings. 

Physical Requirements: Senior Planners work primarily in an office and   may spend a portion of time performing out-of-doors site investigations.  Site investigations may require working on rough terrain, in and around construction sites, in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, on boats, and in proximity to heavy equipment.  Frequent travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences during standard working hours is required.  Periodic evening and occasional weekend work is required. 

The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), committed to a diverse workforce.  Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.