Associate Planner

Make a difference and join the DCA Team!  DCA gives employees more to do than merely make a living.  We are serious about helping Georgia's families live more abundantly with a greater sense of hope and achievement.  If public service, a great environment, and the desire to enrich the lives of others motivate you to do your best work, you should consider joining the DCA Team.  

OUR MISSION

To help build strong, vibrant communities.

OUR VISION

For Georgians of today and tomorrow to have the opportunity to live and work in thriving communities.

OUR CULTURE

We are a diverse team of highly competent and committed professionals who strive to help people and communities thrive through technical expertise, innovative thinking, and a passion for making a difference.  Team members are at their best when collaborating and supporting each other as they perform challenging and dynamic work 

General Description

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is a state organization dedicated to partnering with communities to help create a climate of success for Georgia's families and businesses. DCA offers a fast-paced, challenging, and dynamic environment that requires attention to detail, pride in quality of work, and the ability to work as a versatile team player. 

Overview of Job:

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is seeking an Atlanta-based Associate Planner or Planner (to be determined based upon candidate qualifications) for its Community Development Team in the Office of Planning, Mapping, and Research. This position will work on a flexible, collaborative team to support senior staffers in providing state guidance of local governments’ community planning activities (comprehensive plans, capital improvement plans, development impact fee administration, zoning and development regulation, etc.); state guidance of regional commissions’ community and regional planning activities (regional plans, regional resource plans, contract management, etc.); intergovernmental coordination (local service delivery arrangements, alternative conflict resolution programs, etc.); and, outreach and education (the Community Planning Institute, the PlanFirst, etc.).

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of Georgia, its communities and regional commissions and the State’s processes and regulations related to community/regional planning
• Knowledge of Microsoft’s suite of office software (including MS Access for database management)
• Knowledge of GIS software and other technical tools frequently used in community planning
• Excellent research, writing, and presentation skills
• Skill in oral and written communication including a reasonable level of comfort in public forums
• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to interact with internal and external partners
• Attention to detail; excellent time management and organizational skills
• Ability to take initiative, and be a problem-solver
• Ability to work well on interdisciplinary project teams requiring flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to manage multiple tasks
• A background and/or strong interest in policy development/implementation/analysis

Agency-Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university AND one year of related experience; OR, three years of related experience.  An equivalent combination of education and job specific experience that provided the knowledge, experience and competencies required to successfully perform the job at the level listed may be substituted on a year-over-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

Strong preference will be given to applicants who in addition to meeting the agency specific minimum qualifications possess at least one of the following:

• Master’s degree in City/Urban/Rural/Community/Regional Planning;
• Current AICP certification or eligibility to apply for the exam within three years; and/or,
• One or two years of experience working as a community/regional planner or completion of an internship in a related setting.

Position Requirements:

Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to provide a writing sample prior to the interview. 

Job candidate for this position will be subject to a criminal background check, educational degree check, reference checks, and (because occasional travel is required) a motor vehicle records check prior to the extension of a job offer.  Also, there will be a probationary period requiring daily in-office attendance for the first few months of the job, before hybrid work is permitted.

Note: An equivalent combination of education and job specific experience that provided the knowledge, experience and competencies required to successfully perform the job at the level listed may be substituted on a year-over-year basis.

WORKING CONDITIONS (TRAVEL, HOURS, ENVIRONMENT)

This position is currently designated an office position.  This position is full time (40 hours per week) and may require occasional overtime.  Local periodic travel may be required. 

PHYSICAL/SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

Sedentary Work – Ability to exert 10 - 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

NOTE: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Due to the large volume of submissions received by this office, information concerning application and/or interview status cannot be provided.  Selected applicants will be contacted for next steps in the interview process.  Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.  This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

DCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need an accommodation for an interview, please contact the Human Resources Office at (404) 679-4845

Hiring is contingent upon satisfactory results of employment verification, background, criminal records investigation and motor vehicle reports.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the business and requirement of the job change.  This job posting may close at any time upon gaining a sufficient applicant pool from which to select a qualified candidate.

All duties and responsibilities listed are considered to be essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Marginal functions of the position (those that are incidental to the performance of the job duties) have not been included.   However, the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position.

**To be considered for a salary offer above the entry level (if a range is posted), the successful candidate MUST have most of the education and experience qualifications shown as preferred. To receive an offer at the top of the range posted, experience must exceed preferred level. Offers will not exceed the top amount posted.

Salary : $47,000 - $55,000