Planning Manager

Why we think YOU would enjoy working here:

The Community Development Department is comprised of 12 professional staff in the Planning, Building, and Development Engineering divisions who contribute to building a stronger and more resilient city, while making Newberg an even greater place to live, work, play, and visit. The City’s core values are Service, Teamwork, Responsibility, Integrity, Value, and Equity (STRIVE!) -- customer service is central to everything we do.

Subject Matter Experts and Community Partners

The Planning Manager and their staff are accomplished planners with expertise in development review, long-range planning, and economic development. We support the Newberg City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Affordable Housing Commission, Newberg Urban Area Management Commission, and various committees. We also assist our partners, including the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Strategic Economic Development Corporation (business recruitment and assistance), Taste Newberg (destination marketing), and the Newberg Downtown Coalition, among others.

You will find a nice balance between current and long-range planning, economic development, and community engagement here, depending on your professional goals and style.  Do you enjoy problem solving with institutional landowners, developers, and residents alike? Do you enjoy getting to know community members and responding to planning questions? Do you enjoy mentoring and guiding staff?  There are opportunities to perform and grow in each of these areas and more, with support from the director and city manager to do so.

We are right in the heart of Oregon’s growing wine industry, with all the beautiful scenery that comes along with it.   You can drive an hour west to the Oregon Coast or travel east to find the ski slopes of Mt. Hood in about two hours. While we are located relatively close to Portland, we are not in the metro area. If you prefer the experiences of the big city, it is less than an hour drive into Portland which also has a wealth of entertainment and professional sporting events.

We believe in teamwork here, with a willingness from your peers to pitch in to assist when needed.  We also support relevant training and professional development for all staff, along with the latest technology, including online permitting and electronic plan review software, to give you the tools to do your job effectively.

The Planning Manager supervises three planners and coordinates work between administrative staff and personnel in the building and development engineering divisions. The position is open due to the incumbent accepting an executive position with the local parks district, a win-win for Newberg. We look forward to finding our next planning manager. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) or reach out with questions about our exceptional working environment.

GENERAL STATEMENT   Reporting to the Community Development Director, the Planning Manager leads staff and performs advanced and complicated professional planning and community development work.  Specific knowledge areas include land use, City and regional planning, community development, environmental and natural resources, economic development and transportation planning.  They may also serve as project manager for a variety of economic development projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED Works under the general supervision of the Community Development Director.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED Manages work of Assistant, Associate and Senior Planners. May manage other staff as assigned.  Oversees work of outside consultants.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops short- and long-range plans; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations.  
• Manages department activities and workload with other departments and agencies as needed.
• Interprets, explains, and applies state, regional, and city planning policies or development codes to the public, including answering complex planning policy and zoning questions upon request.
• Conducts and oversees research and drafts revisions, amendments, and additions to City comprehensive and community plans and codes, including implementing work programs, collecting relevant information, and presenting proposed amendments at City Council, boards, commissions, and public meetings.
• Drafts City land use ordinances and Community Development policies, including obtaining input through public involvement, making revisions as necessary, performing research and analysis, and presenting findings and resolutions.
• Manages developing work plans and project schedules for assigned projects and coordinating activities of other professionals to accomplish a variety of planning and management projects.
• Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for decision-making purposes.
• Prepares, negotiates, administers, and monitors contractual agreements for planning projects, including reviewing grant programs and other sources of funding, drafting applications for grants or other sources of funding, and interviewing and managing planning consultants for various planning projects. 
• Prepares reports for review by department and City management indicating how State and regional goals, policies, and regulations affect the City, including suggesting appropriate courses of action.
• Serves as project manager for a variety of economic development projects.
• Evaluates land use applications and site plans for compliance with applicable local, state or Federal laws.
• Manages land use applications through the approval process, prepares reports and related data as required, and conducts inspections.
• Provides guidance on land use applications, ordinances, codes, plans and related planning programs, services or regulations to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, owners, community groups and interested persons. 
• Acts as the staff liaison to the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission and various other commissions and committees, including City Council, as needed and assigned. 
• Prepares planning reports and supporting data, including recommendations on various land use proposals. Includes presentations to City Council.
• Manages and coordinates city staff in the enforcement of local ordinances and in interpreting city codes and master plans.
• Attends professional development workshops and conferences to keep abreast of trends and developments in the field of housing and municipal planning.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a master’s degree in a closely related field. Certification in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desired

Five (5) years of experience of closely related job experience as a professional land use planner for a government or private entity with knowledge and experience of planning, urban planning and landscape architecture.

Three (3) years supervisory experience.  

Considerable knowledge of zoning laws and comprehensive plans including their formation, process of adoption, and enforcement is ideal as is strong knowledge of planning programs and processes.

Any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the above duties.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid driver's license with a clean driving record.

Must successfully pass a criminal history background check. Must be able to pass the department's security clearance standards for unescorted access to certain City facilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to use personal computers and software, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and graphics programs.
• Skill in the operation of the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with architects, contractors, developers, owners, supervisors, employees, and the general public.
• Ability to establish positive and cooperative working relationships with City staff, other organizations and the general public.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Personal computer, including word processing, spreadsheet, and databases; motor vehicle; calculator; phone; copy and fax machine; engineering scales.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to meet the needs of qualified individuals with limitations who can perform the essential functions of the job.

 Work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use developments and construction sites. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of office equipment. 

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand or sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally 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 work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, or airborne particles.

 The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate in the field.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Salary : $96,234 - $123,187