Planner II or Senior Planner

The City of Louisville is looking for a Planner II or Senior Planner to manage a unique, well-resourced Historic Preservation Program and support a range of other planning activities. With a small team and a community that values planning and historic preservation, this position offers an exceptional opportunity to make a difference and grow your career.

The City’s Historic Preservation Program is unique and well-resourced in several ways.  Louisville voters approved the nation’s first local sales tax dedicated to historic preservation in 2008. The Program is voluntary and incentives-based with a healthy budget for grants and loans to landmark or make improvements to landmarked properties.  This position works closely with supportive and collaborative staff at the Louisville Historical Museum and Historic Preservation Commission members. The City is looking for a team member that is passionate about historic preservation, motivated to manage and make improvements to the Program, and sees the value in working on other planning projects. 

Other planning projects this position will support or manage will include development review in the City’s downtown and old town neighborhoods and special projects like zoning code amendments and long range planning projects.  As a small team of planners, we all do a little bit of everything. This provides an opportunity to see how all the pieces fit together and expand your planning background. 

The City is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan and has several exciting infill development projects underway that will create vibrant new places. Affordable housing, environmental sustainability and resilience, and equity, diversity, and inclusion are among the high priority topics current and future planning projects will be addressing.   
This position works in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department. Learn more about the City’s Historic Preservation Program at this link and the City’s Planning activities at this link.

Position is open until filled so please apply soon!
 
Note:  You will only receive communication via the email address you provided on your application.  Please check your email frequently during the hiring process or junk mail. 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION JOB DUTIES:

• Serves as the staff liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and provides reports and professional analysis to the commission with staff reports and presentations.
• Administers the City of Louisville's Historic Preservation Fund.
• Develops and implements the City of Louisville's Preservation Master Plan.
• Conducts and manages historic preservation studies and projects, such as historic surveys and context studies. 
• Provides information to the public and develops promotional materials to promote Historic Preservation Program.
• Makes presentations at City Council meetings and to community groups.
• Maintains records and provides information as needed to the State as a Certified Local Government.
• Provides technical assistance to members of the public and applicants on historic preservation best practices.
• Reviews and processes all historic landmark applications, demolition reviews, and alteration certificates.
• Processes applicable grant applications through the State Historic Preservation Office.
• Serves as the Planning staff's primary resource on the City’s Old Town and Downtown zoning and design rules and policies and reviews land use applications and building permits for compliance with such requirements.

PLANNING JOB DUTIES:

• Reviews and provides recommendations regarding land use applications for proposed development (e.g., Planned Unit Developments, subdivisions, etc.). 
• Reviews building permit applications for compliance with zoning and subdivision ordinances and regulations. 
• Supports or manages special planning projects like zoning code amendments and long range planning projects on a range of topics. 
• Prepares staff reports and presentations to the City’s Planning Commission, City Council, and Board of Adjustment. 
• Responds to general planning inquiries from other City staff and the public, including but not limited to acting as Planner of the Day at least once a week. 

Assignments are carried out in accordance with general and specific work instructions and in accordance with professional knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices that are applicable to historic preservation, urban planning, urban design, land use law, and effective public outreach.

This position may be hired at the Planner II or Senior Planner level depending on qualifications at the discretion of Human Resources and the Hiring Manager.

Planner II Level 

• Master’s degree in city or regional planning, architecture, historic preservation, or a closely related field and 2–3 years of professional experience (preferably in a municipal setting), or

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3–4 years of professional experience (preferably in a municipal setting)

Planner II Hiring Range: $71,115.20 -  $83,553.60 (Salary maximum is $95,992)

Senior Planner Level 

• Master’s degree in city or regional planning, architecture, historic preservation, or a closely related field and 4 years of professional experience (preferably in a municipal setting), or

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 6 years of professional experience (preferably in a municipal setting and demonstrated ability to manage projects independently

Senior Planner Hiring Range:  $86,049.60 -  $101,108.80 (Salary maximum is $116,168)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Familiarity with historic preservation, processing of grants, and general knowledge of architectural history. 
• Knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. 
• Knowledge of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) and Section 106. 
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of urban planning, urban design, and architecture. 
• Familiarity with subdivision and zoning regulations and site development principles. 
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and effectively communicate complex processes and concepts in an accessible manner verbally and in writing to a range of audiences from residents to architects. 
• Ability to maintain a professional and courteous demeanor in sometimes stressful circumstances.  
• Ability to effectively present to boards, commissions, and community groups. 
• Skilled in the use of a personal computer and various job-related software programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Preference for familiarity with Sketchup, GIS, and Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign software applications. 
• Ability to gather, compile, analyze, and present complex planning data. 
• Ability to facilitate public meetings and utilize public engagement techniques to gather meaningful community input that helps to inform the decision-making process.
• Ability to negotiate, build consensus and communicate in a politically sensitive environment.
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize work assignments.
• Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) desired. 

Benefits 

The City of Louisville offers the following benefits for all Tier 1 positions:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts / Health Savings Account Short and Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment Tuition Assistance
• Learning & Development Opportunities Wellness Program
• Recreation Center Pass
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• Paid time off including vacation, sick and 12 holidays
• Hybrid in person and remote work schedules

Physical Requirements of the Job:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak, talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands, fingers, handle objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk; reach with hands and arm. The employee occasionally may lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:
The majority of the work is performed indoors, although the employee is required to make field visits for purposes of researching, analyzing, gathering, verifying or complying data and information.  Noise level can range from very low to a moderate level.
 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
The City of Louisville offers Equal Opportunity for employment and advancement to all qualified applicants and employees. It is the City's policy not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry or disability unless related to a bona fide occupation qualification. This policy applies to all aspects of employment and the provision of the municipal services. The Human Resources Director has been designated as the compliance coordinator for persons with disability seeking employment and will provide reasonable accommodations for testing and employment to qualified applicants.

Salary : $71,115 - $116,168