City Planner

Job Announcement

Purpose: To provide professional guidance, technical assistance and leadership to city boards and commissions. To recommend updates and modifications to zoning, subdivision and other local codes. To review and inspect development within the City of Newton through enforcement of the site plan, subdivision, and zoning code. To assist in economic development.

Responsibilities INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING;

• Leads the preparation of, maintains and administers the City’s Comprehensive Plan
• Reviews, maintains, and enforces the zoning, subdivision, site plan and sign ordinances.
• Has direct interaction with citizens on planning and zoning inquiries and prepares zoning analyses, staff reports, and memorandums.
• Evaluates development proposals and provide written review of applications for rezoning, conditional use permits, variances, preliminary and final plats and lot splits.
• Prepares reports, studies and plans on all aspects of development
• Prepares and administers grant applications.
• Assists the Community Development Director and acts as primary staff to the Planning and Zoning Commission, or other Boards and Commissions.
• Makes Division Budget recommendations to the Director.
• Provides staff support on economic development projects and participates in economic development meetings.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Knowledge and Professional Certification: Requires graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Minimum Job-related experience: Entry level position; some related work experience in urban and regional planning is preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Human Relations: Requires frequent contacts with the public and employees in other departments to solve problems, enforce ordinances, coordinate work.

Responsibility: Accountable for work of immediate unit, significant outlay of dollars, equipment or supplies, or results of a process or project having a significant impact. Errors may cause inaccuracies; unnecessary costs could be difficult to discover.

Complexity, Guidance and Judgment: Work requires analysis and judgment in accomplishing diversified duties. Plans and performs work where only general methods are available. Receives limited guidance, i.e., policies and procedures are applicable in general terms. Work is guided by administrative routine, established soundness of judgment and overall adequacy within the limits of policies, standards and precedents.

Confidentiality: Regularly required to work with data, processes, or confidential information where disclosure is a serious breach of trust.

Working Conditions: Agreeable working conditions. Job has no effect on personal comfort.

Mental and Visual Demands: Requires mental and visual attention, which must be maintained for sustained periods. Continuous attention to detail and/or pressure to meet deadlines.

additional requirements: For those tasks where a personal or City vehicle is used, individual must be capable of operating the vehicle safely, possess a valid State of Iowa motor vehicle operator’s license and have an acceptable driving record.

acceptable experience and training: Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in planning, public administration or related field, some work experience in the field is preferred, but not required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Application Special Instructions

A cover letter and resume shall be submitted with the application.