Principal Planner

LDC, Inc.

Principal Planner 

Job Posting

Introduction

Over the past 21 years, LDC has been recognized by clients and the broader community for the quality of our work. LDC was founded with one core value in mind: “Service Above the Standard” and has held to these high expectations from the start. We have grown significantly, survived the recession through innovation, and most importantly, provided exceptional results for our clients. LDC is proud of its history that has made it a premier engineering consulting resource to the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and the strong foundation that history provides for our future. We take pride in our commitment to high standards, quality deliverables, and comprehensive services which span from early feasibility through final construction.

Compensation and Benefits

LDC is committed to the personal and individual health and well-being of our employees. LDC offers competitive pay and a complete benefits package to all eligible employees and their dependents. Benefits include generous vacation, sick leave, eight paid holidays per year, competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families, life, disability, and family leave, bereavement leave, 401(k) with employer match, life insurance, professional development, and career advancement, bonus, and incentive compensation. At LDC you can expect to find an excellent collaborative culture that is welcoming to all diverse backgrounds.

LDC is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Actual compensation will depend upon an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors.

Job Description and Profile

The Principal Planner acts as a project manager on a variety of independent and team activities in the areas of land development, permitting, business development, land use planning and policy. Responsible for managing development projects, code amendments, and coordinates complex development applications. Prepares, writes, and submits documents or grant application components relating to demographics, maps, plats, etc., to local, state, and federal government agencies for consideration. The Principal Planner demonstrates a proven ability to interpret, administer and enforce land use regulations within the context of established policy and applicable law.

Reports to: Senior Vice President    

Duties and Responsibilities

• Land use/land development project manager for permitting, planning, and policy projects including preparation of proposals, client coordination, permit processes, and completing billings/change orders.
• Prepares proposals.
• Builds, maintains, and enhances relationships with existing and future clients.
• Responsible for maintaining project budgets.
• Provides oversight and direction to assigned planning staff on assigned tasks.  
• Assists with oversight of planning employees as assigned on projects tasks.
• Participates in hiring process and employee goal setting.
• Participate in yearly work plan development and implementation. Responsible for work plan implementation.
• Prepares staff reports and presents information at public meetings and hearings.
• Coordinates public meetings/outreach efforts for projects.
• Mentors, coaches, and helps provide career pathing to planning employees in coordination with senior vice president.
• Research jurisdictional requirements, codes, and policies.
• Finds, maintains, and fills out jurisdictional forms and applications.
• Submit permit forms and applications.
• Helps prepare and oversees preparation of RFP/RFQ for planning/engineering projects.
• Prepares GIS maps.
• Attend pre-application, application, and pre-construction meetings.
• Attend client meetings and conference calls.
• Coordinate with sub-consultants for needed design services.
• Proofread and edit documents prepared by planning staff.
• Prepare complex technical reports.
• Prepare project narratives and response letters for complex applications.

Skills and Specifications

• Deep understanding of permitting/project management processes and/or principles and practices of planning and/or public policy.
• Excellent knowledge of land use and comprehensive plans, including their formation, process of adoption and implementation.
• Read, interpret, and apply federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and policies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of urban spatial structure or physical design and the way in which cities work.

• Multitasking and prioritizing.
• Communicate effectively both internally and with those we serve.

Attributes  

• Possess the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Assign and monitor work for planning team.
• High-level proficiency in computer software program related activities.
• Self-motivated, hardworking, highly ethical, and dependable employee.
• Possess excellent rapport with management and co-workers, positive can-do attitude, excellent customer service, marketing, and people skills.
• GIS and Microsoft suite skills.
• Can handle a heavy workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented, organized, multi-tasking and good follow-through skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Excellent stress management and time management skills
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential information.
• Willing to contribute and pitch in, wherever there is a need within LDC, without being specifically asked to do so.

Education, Experience, Qualifications,

• A bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, civil engineering, political science, economics, environmental sciences; AND, seven (7) years of experience in a related field. Work-related experience may be substituted for the required education or training on a year-for-year basis. 

• Strong background in planning, specifically for municipalities in Washington State.

• Valid Washington driver’s license

Physical Considerations

• Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as personal computer, printer, copy machine, telephone, and calculator.
• Work activities involve combination of sitting for longer periods and intermittent standing/walking.
• Some outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land use development sites.

• Occasional travel to various job sites.

This position description is not intended as a complete list of job duties, responsibilities, and/or essential functions. The company retains and reserves any or all rights to change, modify, amend, add to, or delete from any section of this document as it deems, in its judgment, to be proper.

*Please note: LDC, Inc. does not hire candidates without an in-person interview. If you receive an employment offer without an interview, this is not a legitimate offer. 

Salary : $115,000 - $140,000