Principal Planner

The principal planner oversees the planning division within the community development department.  The planning team is responsible for creating programs and plans that best meet the city’s needs for land use and infrastructure, while handling population growth and considering economic and environmental impacts. This includes highly complex planning activities including land use permitting and environmental review for large development projects, zoning code map and text amendments, and critical area ordinance text amendments to the Gig Harbor Municipal Code and amendments to the Gig Harbor Shoreline Master Program. This role serves as a member of the community development leadership team and may serve as the acting community development director during the director’s out-of-office absences.  The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description do not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to undertake other projects consistent with the role as requested by a supervisor.
 

• Manages and supervises the planning division personnel of the community develop department including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints, grievances, and disputes; resolving problems; appraising performance; recommending promotions and disciplinary actions; implementing organizational changes; approving and schedule leave time; and recommending terminations as appropriate.
• Assists in developing division goals, objectives, and measures of success consistent with the city’s mission and policies to serve the public.
• Coordinates, develops, interprets, maintains, updates, and implements the city’s comprehensive plan, the city’s land development regulations, and any other land use regulations.
• Provides oversight, leadership, management, and performs work for complex and sensitive planning projects including researching, planning, executing, analyzing, and evaluating.
• Supervises and leads employees using a coaching model that includes establishing expectations, assigning work, setting goals and objectives, planning for development/training, reviewing and evaluating performance, ensuring frequent and timely conversations, delivering feedback, conducting routine check-ins, helping employees identify resolutions for issues, providing on-the-job training, conducting sensitive conversations, handling matters with proper discretion, and successfully addressing employee performance issues.
• Develops, measures, analyzes, improves, evaluates, and reports operational plans.
• Oversees and facilitates specialized planning functions such as large-scale new development proposals and environmental studies.
• Provides information proactively to elected officials and educates the public on the role of planning within the city.
• Researches, collects, analyzes, organizes, prepares, and presents data and reports.
• Recommends and implements process improvement and modifications.
• Coordinates and participates in public engagement processes and visioning efforts.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
• Advises the community development director on all planning related matters.
• Provides information and reports and/or advises the mayor, city administrator, city council, managers, committees, various councils, boards, commissions, and public.
• Serves as liaison and performs all necessary functions in support of planning commission.
• Assists with community development budget development and monitors expenditures throughout the year.
• Attends various civic and business meetings on behalf of the city.
• Maintains punctual and reliable attendance.

 
KEY COMPETENCIES
Skilled in:

• Developing professional working relationships at various levels and resolving or de-escalating complaints.
• Detail-oriented review of highly visible and/or controversial projects.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret research data for reports and apply mathematic techniques in practical situations.
• Reading comprehension to understand technical and legal materials and to apply them accordingly.
• Use of project management techniques and ability to apply those skills to several high-profile projects or issues simultaneously, to meet firm deadlines.

 
Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with other employees and the public, individually and in groups, verbally in-person and by phone, and in writing.
• Operate computer hardware and software including internet applications, econometric or transportation modeling, database management, and GIS.
• Exercise interpersonal skills including tact, diplomacy, patience, respect, courtesy, and discretion in work, including balancing confidential matters and transparency.
• Effectively demonstrate professional level public speaking and presentation skills to present plans, programs, information, and recommendations to the community development director, mayor, city administrator, city council, staff, elected officials, and special interest groups.
• Collaborate across division and department lines, as well as be a resource for the public.
• Be a decisive and consistent decision maker.
• Provide effective leadership, including coaching, mentoring, supervision, and staff management.
• Wear protective clothing and equipment such as a hardhat, protective eyewear, gloves, coveralls, safety footwear, respiratory protection, and foul weather gear. 

 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 
 
Work is primarily performed in a climate-controlled office or conference room setting with a moderate/minimal noise level. Employee may be exposed to dissatisfied customers. Occasionally the employee is exposed to outdoor inclement weather and normal transportation and construction activity. This may include high noise levels, moving vehicles and heavy machinery, dust and mud, or other physical hazards.
Schedule: Typical business hours are Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm with a one-hour meal break. Attendance is required at night and weekend meetings and community events.  This position will require an in-person presence on assigned days working at the front counter. Alternative work arrangements may be available as decided by the community development director following the probationary period.
 
Driving and Travel: Driving would typically be less than 5 hours a workweek. Travel is required to visit other work sites in the area and to attend meetings, trainings, and/or conferences as needed. Overnight travel within the state is possible up to one week per year on average.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 
The physical attributes described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand or sit and perform close computer work with repetitive motion for long periods of time. Must be able to talk, listen, and hear. The employee is required to use hands to keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to walk for site visits, including walking uphill, navigating uneven terrain, and traversing exposed or insecure walkways.Any combination of education, training and experience that indicates the individual can successfully perform the job may be considered.
 

• Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Community Planning, or closely related field from an accredited college or university; Master’s Degree preferred.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience, including four (4) years as a professional level planner with a city, county, or other municipality to include experience with the principles of design, effective site planning, and architectural design.
• At least three (3) years of supervisory level experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

 
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES
The following certifications and licenses are required for the position (or must be obtained within the timeframe stated) and must be maintained for the duration of employment.
 

• A valid Washington state driver’s license (or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire).
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification from the American Planning Association preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A history of and ability to maintain safe and responsible driving that meets the city’s motor vehicle record minimum driving requirements.
• Ability to pass position relevant pre-employment screening.

At the City of Gig Harbor, our aim is to extend salary offers that fall within the range from the minimum to the midpoint. These offers will be determined by assessing the applicant's relevant experience in alignment with the requirements of the applied position at the city, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of pay rates for our existing employees engaged in comparable roles. It's important to note that our salary ranges are currently under review and may be subject to adjustment.

• This position is classified as non-exempt and is eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters 313.  
• If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact Human Resources at hr@gigharborwa.gov. 
• To be considered you must submit and complete an online application through www.governmentjobs.com/careers/gigharbor that reflects all relevant education and experience which addresses how you meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications for this position.
• Applications will be screened beginning February 18th with interviews scheduled March 3rd.

Salary : $100,945 - $126,274