Senior Planner

Salary : $70,284.00 - $108,951.00 Annually

Location : Durham, NC

Job Type : Full time with benefits

Remote Employment : Flexible / Hybrid

Job Number : 25-05439

Department : Planning

Opening Date : 05 / 06 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range : $70,284 - $84,340

Work Day / Hours : 8 : 00am - 5 : 00pm

The City-County Planning Department helps plan and direct Durham's vision for growth that supports a high quality of life, a robust economy and a sustainable, inclusive, equitable and accessible Durham for generations to come. We work collaboratively with other agencies and the community in a fast-paced, innovative environment looking for solutions to today's land-use and community planning challenges. If you're talented, creative and focused on customer service, join our team!

This position is devoted to professional urban planning services for the City and / or regional organizations including land use planning and zoning review. The primary responsibility for this position is review of zoning map change and annexation applications, and presentation of those cases to the Planning Commission and elected bodies. Other duties can include, but are not limited to, public engagement for long-range planning efforts, compilation and analysis of data on development trends, and maintenance of demographic and development data. Decision-making includes providing input into management objectives, establishing work goals and objectives of a unit to carry out management direction, and selecting the method to address a problem or issue, subject to the constraints established by management objectives and direction.

Position is responsible for review of zoning map change and annexation applications; managing development projects and / or planning processes / plan development; performing advanced professional analyses providing technical assistance and addressing escalated issues; preparing and presenting graphic and narrative reports; coordinating with regional planning organizations and federal / state agencies; and making complex presentations to diverse audiences.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Manages the zoning map change and annexation planning processes as assigned; and ensures adherence to project schedules and budgets.

Manages large development review projects, as assigned; conducts pre-application meetings; evaluates project risks and opportunities; serves as a point of contact to applicable parties; and ensures compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.

Conducts advanced professional analyses; conducts research studies; coordinates development review operations; conducts development case reviews.

Prepares, maintains, reviews, and / or approves graphic, narrative, and other reports, development proposals, applications, and other documents; approves and issues certifications and notices; prepares and conducts complex presentations to diverse audiences; maintains records, websites, and databases; researches, reviews and analyzes data; and ensures compliance with applicable ordinances, codes, policies, and procedures.

Coordinates with customers, regional planning organizations, federal or state agencies, and other City departments; attends community forums and hearings; participates in or leads meetings; plans and implements public engagement and outreach events; provide technical assistance; addresses escalated issues and responds to inquiries; and serves as a representative of the City and the planning function.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

Additional Preferred Skills

Master's degree in planning, engineering, or a directly related field is preferred.

Benefits - General Full-Time Employees

13 standard work days of vacation per year

13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement

2 weeks paid military leave per year

Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans

State and City retirement plans

Short and long term disability plans

Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions

City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System

Paid funeral leave

Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling

Paid life insurance equal to annual salary

48 hours for volunteer work each year

4 hours parental leave each year

Workman's Compensation Insurance

457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire

Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire

Dental and life insurance, after one year of service

Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.

Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

How many years of professional planning experience in the area of assignment?

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