Senior Planner

Reporting to the Parks and Recreation Assistant Director for the Park Planning, Project Development, and Management Division. The division coordinates the department’s efforts in the areas of strategic and long-range planning, park maintenance operations, Capital Improvement Programs (CIP), and Capital Life Cycle Plan, as they relate to open space, greenways, parks, and facilities. 

As a Senior Planner, you will provide professional planning services for the Parks and Recreation Department including land use planning, development review, parks and open space planning, landscape-based site compliance investigation and historic preservation.

You will provide input into management objectives, establishing work goals and objectives to carry out management direction.

Your responsibilities include managing development projects and/or planning processes/plan development; performing advanced professional analyses and recommendations; providing technical assistance and addressing escalated issues; preparing and presenting graphic and narrative reports; coordinating with regional planning organizations and federal/state agencies; and making complex presentations to diverse audiences.

You will provide critical support in the implementation of the Comprehensive Park System Plan scheduled to be adopted in 2025.

This is a highly visible role that will work closely with residents, partners, team members, and other City of Durham Departments to develop plans shaping the future of Durham Parks. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Park system-wide planning, evaluation of local and regional connectivity of parks, adjoining land issues, and interagency coordination.
• Manages large land-use and master planning processes as assigned; and ensures adherence to project schedules and budgets.
• Ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the park planning process.
• Manages large development review projects, as assigned; conducts pre-application meetings; evaluates project risks and opportunities; conducts negotiations; serves as a point of contact to applicable parties; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Conducts advanced professional analyses; develops and makes recommendations on planning and development issues, including regulatory and policy-related recommendations; conducts research studies; coordinates development review operations; performing site compliance investigations, conducts development case reviews; may oversee property inspections and identification of ordinance violations.
• Prepares, maintains, reviews, and/or approves graphic, narrative, and other reports, development proposals, plans/plats, permits, maps, articles, applications, and other documents; approves and issues certifications and notices; prepares and conducts complex presentations to diverse audiences; maintains records, websites, and databases; researches, reviews and analyzes data; develops and makes recommendations; and ensures compliance with applicable ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates with customers, regional planning organizations, federal or state agencies, and other City departments; attends community forums and hearings; participates in or leads meetings; plans and implements public engagement and outreach events; provides technical assistance; addresses escalated issues and responds to inquiries; and serves as a representative of the City and the planning function.  
• Providing long- and short-term parks and trails planning including applying for funding and grants.

Types of work you’ll perform:

• Work with team members on complex decisions and resident relations.
• Work with peers and the Assistant Director to develop goals, objectives, initiatives, and key performance indicators; and can clearly articulate these internally and externally. 
• Attend evening and weekend meetings. 
• Provide technical assistance to City staff and the public regarding planning and development.
• Take ownership and responsibility for assignments, projects, and initiatives while moving quickly and effectively through complex issues and group dynamics.
• Support and strengthen internal and external collaborations and partnerships; seek to build consensus with all partners, i.e. General Services Department, Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, Planning Department, non-profit organizations, businesses, and neighborhood associations. 
• Perform timely resident follow-up; quickly resolve disputes with resident, guest, or contractor concerns.
• Identify, avoid, minimize, or mitigate the negative effects of land-use change on natural resources on parkland.
• Evaluating projects; and implementing master planning.
• Evaluating land for park, trail and open space acquisition.
• Perform other job-related duties and tasks as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Advanced theory, principles, applications, and techniques of the planning profession and development process.
• Interpersonal skills to develop and maintain relationships
• Developing, fostering, and cultivating public-private partnerships. 
• Techniques and methods for organizing, prioritizing, assigning and monitoring work (based on assignment). 
• Practices and methods of coaching and leading the work of others (based on assignment). 
• Principles and practices of program administration and management. 
• Principles and practices of project management. 
• Equity and inclusion best practices
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research. 
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis. 
• Best practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Emotional intelligence. 
• Communication and presentation skills.
• conflict resolution with professionalism and tact 
• Applicable local, state, and federal legislation, regulations, and ordinances.
• Customer service principles. 
• Computer applications including Microsoft Office, database management and Internet applications.
• GIS programs and applications.
• Grant management and administration.

Skilled In

• Evaluating planning proposals for compliance with policies, procedures, regulations and ordinance.
• Providing technical comments as part of the development review process.
• Coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work performed (based on assignment).
• Providing project/program management, organization and logistics coordination.
• Overseeing the implementation and adherence to quality assurance and standards.
• Researching industry trends, solutions and best practices.
• Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason.
• Establishing criteria for project prioritization.
• Developing planning projects through Concept Development.
• Interpreting, monitoring and reporting financial information and statistics.
• Authoring and preparing original reports, technical documents and presentations.
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards (based on assignment).
• Providing customer service.
• Intermediate Microsoft applications and industry software.
• Listening, communicating, and presenting to diverse internal and external audiences verbally or in writing
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including editing, oversight or preparation of technical reports, and the presentation of information to government entities and various committees.
• Strong interpersonal and public relations skills to work effectively with various officials, staff, citizens, and other customers.
• Strong organizational skills.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, engineering, landscape architecture, or a directly related field.
• Five years of professional planning experience in the area of assignment.

Additional Preferred Skills

• American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) Certification "or" American Society of Landscape Architects/Professional Landscape Architect (ASLA/PLA) Certification.
• Experience using GIS (Geographic Information System) map applications, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, "or" Sketch-up software.
• Experience in land management planning or park and trail development.
• Experience developing public engagement plans related to a park or planning project.
• Possessing or able to obtain a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver’s license.
• Passion and vision for parks and a commitment to equitable access to parks.
• Outstanding writing and presentation skills.

Hiring Salary Range:  $70,284.00 -$80,286.00