Planner Associate

The Planning and Policy Division of Department of Planning & Development Review (PDR), a division that works cross city departments to develop planning policy and implement the comprehensive plan, is hiring for the position of Planner Associate. The selected applicant will be an integral part of implementing the recommendations of City’s Master Plan - Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth and developing and amending citywide, community, and node land use plans as well as the zoning ordinance and policies necessary to implement such plans. The selected candidate will be the support the staff of the Planning and Policy Division on projects that will require the coordination of multiple City agencies and disciplines.

• Exercised: This classification typically does not supervise other employees, but may serve as lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion.
• Received: typically reports to a Deputy Director; Program and Operations Manager; Planner, Principal; or Planning Supervisor
• Note: other reporting relationships may apply

• Assisting with the comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite, the Code Refresh, and City-initiated updates to the Zoning Ordinance and Map for areas of the City where the existing zoning is outdated and not in compliance with the City's Master Plan recommendations.
• Assisting with the creation of Community and Node Plans.
• Assisting in implementing expansive engagement strategies including coordination of contractors and consultants, interdisciplinary staff, stakeholders and representatives from outside organizations.
• Analyzing, preparing, developing and presenting ordinances, plans and projects to City Council, boards and commissions.
• Conducting research and analysis on land use and development topics using ArcGIS, Excel and other software tools and summarizing findings in reports using PowerPoint, Word, the Adobe Creative Suite, and other reporting and presentation tools.
• Assisting in evaluating and helping draft capital improvement proposals affecting the City of Richmond's long-range Richmond 300 Master Plan.
• Serving on various planning teams and working on various projects and issues, including environment, transportation, land use, development and real estate;
• Communicating on an ongoing basis with neighborhood groups, City staff, citizens and the private and public development community around planning and development issues.

• Basic knowledge and application of planning and zoning, site plans, commercial and residential building plans, real estate, and development regulations
• Basic understanding of engineering principals, land use and zoning law, landscape architecture, architecture, and construction methods; basic knowledge of zoning, subdivision and site development ordinances
• Knowledge of re-zoning and special use permit processes; and, general knowledge of Plan of Development and Subdivision review processes
• Skill in providing excellent customer service, including dealing with difficult customers
• Being a clear and effective facilitator, including public speaking skills and defending recommendations/positions
• Negotiating and balancing the needs of citizens with economic demands, health and human service needs, goals of private corporations, and land use regulations
• Conducting research
• Ability to analyze information
• Pay attention to detail
• Communicate planning and local government policy issues to a range of audiences.

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, civil or environmental engineering, landscape architecture, or a related field
• Three years of experience or an equivalent amount of graduate level training.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

Salary : $51,896 - $97,365