Senior Planner

The City of Wheat Ridge is seeking qualified applicants to implement its affordable housing objectives. The City’s Planning Division has several focus areas: current planning, neighborhood planning, long-range planning, and housing. Most staff work on several focus areas.  While the position may have responsibilities in all focus areas, this specific recruitment is seeking a candidate who can implement the City’s adopted Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan. This includes grant writing and management, fund management, soliciting proposals from potential housing partners, program tracking (such as Proposition 123 and other state requirements), and interacting with housing partners such as Foothills Regional Housing. Other tasks may include code writing, development review, and community engagement.

This is a unique opportunity for the right person to help shape the future of affordable and attainable housing development within the city. The successful candidate will be working with a small but dedicated and supportive team within the Community Development Department. 

Wheat Ridge is an inner-ring suburb of Denver that has been experiencing growth and change over the last decade, including infill projects of all sizes, transit-supportive development, and bond-funded infrastructure projects. The City supports professional development by funding relevant dues and certification maintenance (CM) and has a flexible work policy whereby team members may earn the privilege of working from home for two days of the workweek. The City of Wheat Ridge supports professional development by funding and encouraging AICP certification.  This position will include occasional night meetings.

Essential Duties:  

This position’s principal duties will include overseeing the City’s housing program, including:  

• Serves as the lead housing planner for the City.
• Administers and implements the City’s housing affordability programs, policies, and initiatives.
• Manages the City’s Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Program (NOAH).
• Manages inclusionary housing policies and regulations.
• Offers advice on residential project proposals to implement inclusionary housing goals.
• Attends regular planning division meetings.
• Monitors and tracks deed- or income-restricted properties subject to inclusionary regulations for compliance. 
• Manages the Wheat Ridge Housing Fund.
• Serves as staff liaison to the Wheat Ridge Housing Authority.

• Reviews and processes complex affordable housing site plans and plats.

• Performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans.
• Schedules and conducts meetings with advisory boards and elected officials.
• Presents reports and other findings to staff, boards and commissions, and elected officials.
• Attends occasional evening and weekend meetings.

• Monitors and pursues funding and resource opportunities to advance the City’s housing affordability goals.
• Collects and monitors data on housing affordability in Wheat Ridge.
• Reports to elected and appointed officials the status of housing affordability goals, programs, and new opportunities. 
• Stays apprised of affordable housing finance opportunities and identify gaps in funding.
• Writes and manages grants related to housing.
• Stays apprised of state legislation and programs related to housing.
• Manages the City’s compliance with the state’s housing requirements.
• Presents to City leaders, council, commissions, boards, and community groups. 
• Cultivates, fosters, and maintains positive and productive relationships within and outside of the City.
• Performs related work as needed.

As part of the Planning Division and dependent on experience and workload, this position may also have responsibilities related to the division’s focus areas including long-range planning, neighborhood planning, current planning, and code writing. 

Supervision Received:

Works under the direct supervision of the Planning Manager.

Supervision Exercised:

The Senior Planner may be assigned to supervise one or more planners, at the discretion of the Director or Planning Manager.

Independence of Action:

The Senior Planner position is an advanced position in the Planner series. The position may have primary responsibilities in one or more focus area (current, neighborhood, housing, and/or long-range). Work performed at this level is advanced and complex in nature.   Work is performed within authorized limits prescribed by the supervisor and/or policy.  Exercises independent judgment in selecting and interpreting information, handling deviations from standard methods and resolving problems.  Finished work is reviewed for attainment of objectives and adherence to deadlines.  Supervisor is available to assist in solving problems.

Qualifications:

Knowledge: 

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, purposes, scope, and techniques of city/municipal planning.

• Knowledge of affordable housing development current practice, including financing policies and procedures related to deed restricted affordable housing and legal conveyances of property. 
• Knowledge of affordable and workforce housing programs at the state and federal level and best practices in local government policies and regulations related to housing affordability. 
• General knowledge of the design and construction industry and processes to build housing, and ability to work with a broad spectrum of people in the industry.
• Working knowledge of sources and research methods for developing data relating to housing affordability.
• Knowledge of grant writing, reporting, and compliance. 

Skills

• Skill in analyzing community housing issues, evaluating alternatives, and implementing recommendations in support of goals. 
• Skill in working in a compliance, real estate, planning, financial, legal, or local government environment. 
• Skill in grant writing and navigating and identifying affordable housing resources at the state and federal level. 
• Skill in understanding and applying statutory regulations and procedures, and applicable state and federal rules and regulations. 
• Skill in interpreting financial documents, technical instructions and analyzing complex variables related to housing.
• Skill in reviewing development proposals against the development and zoning code and architectural guidelines.
• Interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Communication skills (verbal, visual, and in writing) and the ability to adapt communication styles for various audiences, including planners, developers, other agency personnel, City officials, consultants, city staff and citizens.  
• Public speaking skills.  
• Demonstrated skill in the operation of equipment and computers software necessary to perform the functions of the job. 

Abilities

• Ability to serve as liaison between various government agencies and private development representatives on affordable housing projects. 
• Ability to track, monitor, and pursue various funding and resource opportunities related to affordable housing. 
• Ability to modify existing policies, strategies and/or methods to advance the City’s housing affordability goals. 
• Ability to advise, interpret, and apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.  
• Ability to implement housing recommendations in various adopted documents such as the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy, comprehensive plan, and subarea plans.  
• Ability to participate in professional development to stay abreast of trends and innovations in housing. 
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, resourcefulness, and creativity required to solve problems. 
• Ability to provide excellent customer service. 
• Ability to develop innovative and creative ideas, concepts, and solutions. 
• Ability to adapt to changing and at times difficult situations.
• Ability to utilize budgets.
• Ability to and the skill to develop and maintain effective and efficient working relationships with internal and external customers with diverse backgrounds. 
• Ability to and the skill to handle difficult situations, including difficult customers, calmly, with composure, tact, and diplomacy. 
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment. 

Evidence of Qualification:

Education – Master’s degree in urban planning or related field required.   Minimum of five (5) years related experience in development review and land use planning for a municipal agency or equivalent thereof required; additional experience preferred. AICP preferred.

Experience – Minimum of five (5) years professional experience in community development, real estate, housing programs, and public policy analysis including experience in affordable housing development and program administration. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Special Requirements:

Possess a current and valid Colorado Driver License or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire. Must meet city policy standards pertaining to driver’s license requirements.

Diversity:

Values diversity in backgrounds and experiences; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences with all internal and external customers.

Equipment Used:

The ability to properly operate or use the following is necessary:   telephone, copier, personal computer and various software (Microsoft 365; ArcGIS; Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign; and Google SketchUp are required proficiencies), digital camera and projector, printers, plotter, scanner, fax machine and other office equipment; personal or City vehicle. 

Salary : $87,690 - $131,530