Senior Planner

Salary : $60,774.00 - $87,515.00 Annually

Location : Portsmouth, VA

Job Type : Full-Time Regular

Job Number : FY2024-00951

Department : Planning

Opening Date : 02 / 14 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 7 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, this position performs complex professional and responsible administrative work with major projects or programs, by coordinating and participating in the collection and analysis of physical, social, economic and financial data by statistical methods. Work involves providing services relating to current planning, historic district administration, zoning, subdivisions, demographics, etc. Reports to the Assistant Director of Planning.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Researches, prepares and develops studies, reports, designs and plans for the Planning Commission, the department, and other various boards and commissions; drafts codes and ordinances, and reviews plans and projects for code compliance; performs field inspections; coordinates and participates in the collection and analysis of physical, social, economic and financial data by statistical methods to conduct planning assignments.

Performs work providing services relating to current planning historic district administration, zoning, subdivisions, demographics, and similar planning and zoning requests.

May serve as the city's liaison to the Wetlands Board, and staff expert on Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Regulations; provides staff support to various Boards and Commissions; and presents presentations during public hearings; may serve as city-wide coordinator for census data and analysis.

May serve as Secretary to a Historic District Commission / Committee; also serves as a member of and attends various committees, panels, and boards; provides input based on expertise and observations as appropriate; maintains professional relationships and contacts with Planning professionals to facilitate exchange of information.

Provides information to the general public; keeps abreast of current and future issues and trends; reviews plans prepared by external agencies to ensure compliance with city codes, State regulations, design, and construction standards; meets with the general public, developers, agency and program personnel, and neighborhood groups to discuss city plans and concerns. Consults with other city departments as needed and builds strong working relationships.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Job : Has considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of urban and rural planning. Has considerable knowledge of land and engineering survey systems, methods and techniques. Has general knowledge of sociological, financial, and economic aspects of urban planning. Has general knowledge of research procedures. Has general knowledge of zoning ordinances and other laws related to planning. Is skilled in utilizing the principles of urban and rural planning. Is skilled in the preparation of oral and written presentations. Is able to exercise independent judgement and initiative in applying standards to a variety of work situations. Is able to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public. Is able to establish and maintain effective relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Quality of Work : Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts within department and division, and with co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work : Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."

Dependability : Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance : Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm : Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment : Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation : Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Relationships with Others : Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the department and project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, supervisor, professionals and the general public.

Coordination of Work : Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.

Safety and Housekeeping : Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly work

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Urban Studies, Historic Preservation or a closely related field, and 3-5 years of experience in Planning, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Requires an acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.

Physical Demands

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements : Must be physically able to operate a variety of engineering machinery and tools including drafting equipment; and office machinery including computers, typewriter and copier. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 5 pounds of force frequently, and / or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are those for Sedentary Work.

Data Conception : Requires the ability to compare and / or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication : Requires the ability of speaking and / or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.

Language Ability : Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, plans, drawings, maps, ordinances, manuals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, etc., using prescribed formats. Requires the ability to speak with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence : Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including engineering terminology.

Numerical Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra, geometry and descriptive statistics.

Form / Spatial Aptitude : Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination : Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment and engineering tools.

Manual Dexterity : Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and engineering tools. Must have minimal levels of eye / hand / foot coordination.

Color Discrimination : Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament : Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.

Physical Communication : Requires the ability to talk and hear : (talking : expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing : perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the city to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list all the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.

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

The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including : medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration , Urban Studies, Historic Preservation or a related field and 3-5 years of related experience in Planning, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

Describe the techniques you use to ensure projects move through the planning entitlement process as efficiently as possible while balancing the demands of the development community with the policies, procedures, standards and code requirements of governmental agencies. Please use projects you have been directly responsible for as examples.

Please describe your planning experience.

Required Question

Salary : $60,774 - $87,515