What are the responsibilities and job description for the Planning Specialist II - Research Division position at Howard County?
Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:
- We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
- We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
- We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
- As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.
This is an intermediate level professional planning position working under the direction of a Planning Supervisor to collect, organize, analyze and evaluate planning-related data. This position is responsible for compiling complex data related to population/census, transportation, housing, economic development and land use. The position involves interpreting and entering data pertaining to the development review process. The position also requires the use of ProjectDox software to interpret and track subdivision and site plans in the development review process. This position requires the use of geospatial analysis utilizing ESRI’s ArcMap Pro.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$32.95 - $39.42
$68,542 - $82,000
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs intermediate professional level planning and zoning work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes coordinating the plan review process; planning and implementing recycling activities; collecting, organizing, analyzing, and evaluating data required in the development and review of comprehensive plans and regulations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Researches, analyzes and evaluates information required in the development and review of the County's general plan and master and community plans.
- Collects and compiles complex data related to population/census, transportation, housing, economic development, and land use and organizes that information into reports, maps, charts, graphs or drawings.
- Research information about innovative planning techniques, tools, strategies, and best practices.
- Drafts technical reports and other related material and presents technical and professional recommendations to superiors on assigned projects and programs.
- Helps develop approaches to planning studies and research activities.
- Supports the maintenance of DPZ’s Land Use database and associated GIS layers.
- Modifies, updates and maintains the DPZ database and subdivision mapping layers due to development activity.
- Supports the development, maintenance and administration of DPZ’s electronic plan review process software, ProjectDox.
- Modifies, updates and maintains various geodatabases including maintaining topology for GIS layers such as the Zoning layer and the Preservation Easement layer.
- Produces maps for publications and documents such as Development Monitoring System and Construction Report maps.
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's Degree and two (2) years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Planning, Geographic Information Systems or related field.
- Knowledge of land use planning and knowledge of the principles, practices, goals and objectives of urban, regional, and community planning.
- Knowledge of the research methodology used in conducting studies of social and economic matters, land use and development, housing patterns, and transportation factors.
- Ability to compile, collect and analyze complex social and economic statistical data.
- Ability to formulate recommendations based on data, modeling, projections, and geospatial analyses upon which various planning initiatives are based.
- Experience with parcel data and analysis. Skilled in the use and application of ESRI mapping and Microsoft Excel software. Skill in preparing multifaceted charts, graphs and other visual presentations.
- Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and articulate planning practices and principles effectively orally and in written and graphic form.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other planning staff, county, state and regional government officials, and the general public.
The characteristics of the job and the physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform job functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. This job requires the employee to have close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
Read, analyze, and interpret drawings and designs, planning and technical journals, and government regulations.
Write reports that conform to the Department's prescribed style and format.
Effectively present information to department management, public organizations, and/or boards.
Clearly define problems, collect and interpret data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Effectively respond to common inquiries or complaints from the public.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
Salary : $68,542 - $82,000
