Senior Planner

Department: Community Development

Primary Purpose: Performs advanced current, long range and strategic planning activities with primary emphasis on programmatic administration and current planning projects including the provision of staff assistance to various City Commissions.

Supervision Received:  Reports to and works under the general guidance and direction of the Deputy Director for Community Development and the Director of Community Development

Supervision Exercised: Employee provides direct supervision of Planner II and interns depending on staffing and general supervision of support staff as needed.   

• Serves as staff liaison to one or more City Commissions as directed.  Serves as primary contact for Commissioners and the public on certain Commission matters.  Responsibilities include administration; conducting research; preparation of reports and recommendations.  Monitors Commission budgets; prepares meeting agenda and information packages, reviews minutes and oversees mailings.  Provides evaluation of development proposals, including administration of the process; preparation and presentation of reports and recommendations regarding various consideration before Commissions. 

• This position will serve as liaison to the Housing Commission and supervise staff liaison of Historic Preservation Commission; and may be assigned one or more other City Commissions including the, Plan and Design Commission, Joint Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals in a support role as needed.  Participation in night meetings required.  

• Provides and supervises the provision of program administration for the City’s Affordable Housing Program including Housing Trust Fund grant making, zoning related inclusionary housing requirements, and other housing related initiatives. Assists in carrying out the corporate affairs of the Housing Commission’s four independently incorporated housing associations.  Contract administration and monitoring of two property management companies, a financial auditor, and capital projects.  

• Develops and maintains relationships with public and private sector housing partners, including grantees, housing contractors, and other governmental agencies. Conducts public education and outreach related to the City’s affordable housing initiatives, and assists the public with affordable housing needs and information dissemination, including web site updates.

• Conducts research and analyses to support strategic programmatic development and implementation. Assists in the development of programmatic work plans, policies and procedures, including periodic reviews and updates as appropriate, to address changes in the housing market, affordable housing needs, and eligibility guidelines.  Undertakes activities as necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the City’s affordable housing initiatives, including preparation of analyses, reports and updates on housing trends and issues in Highland Park.  Prepares reports related to the programmatic goals and achievements.   Reviews and advises the Housing Commission’s consideration of inclusionary housing applications for conformance with City Zoning code requirements. 

• Performs and supervises technical review, research and analysis of various matters related to the historical and architectural significance of properties and structures needed for the consideration of certificates of appropriateness and demolition to ensure compliance with all applicable City codes related to historic preservation, as well as conformance with the City's Master Plan and good planning principles.  

• Performs and supervises education and outreach efforts related to the City’s preservation program, which includes local landmarks, three local historic districts and other architecturally and historically significant buildings.  Prepares communication materials related to historic preservation educational initiatives, and other project mitigation and compliance efforts, as necessary.  Conducts outreach for the City’s historic preservation efforts and resources, applies for grants and manages architectural survey projects.   Maintains records and provides information as needed to the State to maintain the City’s Certified Local Government status.  Applies for and maintains documentation and fulfills reporting requirements for State grants. 

• Serves as project manager for various special projects related to specific business / neighborhood districts.  Participates in the review and development of programmatic and regulatory policy.   Conducts studies and planning research and prepares reports regarding the results of the studies and research. Performs research to identify and recommend revisions to the City's Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and other municipal codes and ordinances.  Assists with the implementation of various approved plans.

• Staffs ad-hoc commissions and community groups to develop long range and strategic plans for city neighborhoods and districts on specific issues.  The responsibilities include research; meeting facilitation; writing neighborhood plans; and preparation of meeting agendas and mailings.

• Responds to inquiries from property owners, developers, attorneys, engineers and other staff members regarding the City’s housing program, historic preservation, planning initiatives and zoning. Communicates as needed with officials and staff of neighboring municipalities and other government agencies concerning new developments and other items of mutual interest.   Performs other related job duties or responsibilities as requested or required, whether or not specifically mentioned in this job description.

Education / Experience: Bachelor’s degree in city or regional planning, public administration, geography, environmental or urban studies, architecture or other discipline applicable to program management and land use planning, and 8 years of professional experience in planning, program administration or related field ; or a Master’s degree in related field and 5 years of professional experience; strong computer skills and knowledge of standard productivity software (Microsoft Office Suite) ; experience with geographic information systems and enterprise databases systems desirable.

Certification or License: Valid Driver License, AICP desirable.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Proficiencies:   Experience in and comprehensive knowledge of planning principles and practices including an understanding of the short-term and long-term socioeconomic, environmental, fiscal and political implications of planning and programmatic decisions. 

• Creative problem solving skills and ability to gather relevant information to help solve less well defined practical problems.
• Willingness and ability to learn, work hard and contribute in a deadline driven team environment.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to prepare business letters, memoranda, abstracts, and other documents.  Strong public speaking capability and technical report writing skills. 
• Knowledge of housing program administration, historic preservation, zoning and land use regulations.
• Knowledge of housing issues, including affordability, inclusionary and fair housing.
• Knowledge of planning and program administration, monitoring and evaluation. 

• General knowledge of architectural styles and history 

• Familiarity with basic financial audits, banking transactions, and account management.

• Familiarity with historic preservation grant programs and requirements.
• Familiarity with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Familiarity with the National Historic Preservation Act and State regulations.

• Capacity to manage and lead a variety of projects simultaneously.
• Ability to plan, organize, and carry-out research projects; and effectively synthesize and present the findings in oral, written and graphic form.
• Ability to review detailed plans and apply various multifaceted provisions of the code to determine compliance. 
• Ability to address details while keeping perspective on overarching goals in mind.
• Effectively establish and maintain productive working relationships with city officials, other professionals, public agencies and the general public. 
• Proficiency with personal computers; experience using the entire Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat; some experience with Geographic Information Systems and web site design desirable. 

Salary : $84,422 - $105,528