Job Title: Long-Range Associate Planner

Department: Community Development

Reports To: Long-Range Planning Supervisor

Open Date: November 6, 2024

Close Date: Open Until Filled

Salary: $7,224.60 per month

To Apply Please Visit: www.meridiancity.org

Job Summary:

This mid-level planning position involves both routine and complex planning tasks and duties. The Long-Range Associate Planner works with the Long-Range Planning Supervisor to supervise or conduct special land use plans and studies (master plans, specific plans, downtown plans, economic studies, demographic studies, design guidelines, transportation studies, etc.) The position responsibilities include managing consultant budgets, gaining public support for studies, and making regular progress reports and final presentations before the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, and the public. The Long-Range Associate City Planner position also involves conducting research and mapping land use and demographics, implementing the Comprehensive Plan, maintaining the Existing Conditions Report, and developing land use reports.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Works independently and under the direction of the Long-Range Planning Supervisor and/or the Planning & Development Deputy Director;

Conducts research and collects and analyzes data to produce complete, accurate and logical staff reports on long-range planning projects, including comprehensive plan amendments, zoning ordinance amendments, land use studies, specific area plans, and other land use and transportation projects;

Serves as a member of various external and internal committees assigned to represent the City of Meridian's vision, policies, and standards;

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor, City Council members, other civic leaders, clients, state and federal authorities, other City departments, and local planning agencies;

Makes formal presentations on development and planning-related applications to the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, boards, private development and/or builder groups, and other public venues;

Occasionally attends hearings for the Planning and Zoning Commission;

Occasionally attends City Council meetings and hearings;

Occasionally attends special meetings or facilitates public meetings held in the evening;

Research and supplement land use related information, including enterprise permitting and addressing datasets, using ESRI ArcGIS tools;

Analyzes complex planning projects and answers technical planning questions related to the project;

Reads, interprets, and reviews site designs, topographic plans, landscape plans, and architectural plans and comments on needed changes and adjustments to plans;

Prepares comments on applications referred to the City by Ada County for compliance with Meridian Comprehensive Plan and/or ordinances;

Identifies and corrects potential conflicts before they become a problem;

Demonstrates positive solution focused attitude through optimism, decisiveness, and team decision making;

Maintains a positive attitude of cooperation in performance of work assignments, including adaptability, flexibility, proactive engagement with customers, clients and co-workers, problem solving, decision making, resiliency, organization and time management;

Facilitates and participates in team discussions;

Provides outstanding customer service by communicating respect, being open-minded, having a spirit of collaboration, and calmly resolving conflict with individuals that may be upset or angry;

Develops and uses empathetic listening skills;

Demonstrates good judgment and initiative to interpret and apply City policies and procedures;

Provides excellent oral, written, and graphic communication with co-workers, clients and supervisor;

Collaborates with co-workers and other City staff to accomplish assigned tasks as a team;

Demonstrates integrity in the performance of assigned tasks;

Works with Long-Range Planning Supervisor on a training program for employee's professional development;

Attends continued education conferences, workshops, and other training opportunities to remain current with planning and/or development trends;

Performs other duties as assigned or needed.

Job Specifications:

1) A Bachelor's degree in planning or a related field plus a minimum of three years of experience in community development, land use planning, and/or transportation planning; or 2) equivalent combination of experience, education, and professional certification (E.g. - AICP, PE, AIA, etc.), and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the job;

A Master's degree in planning or a related field is preferred;

American Institute of Certified Planners certification preferred at time of hire, required within 24 months of hire;

Must have excellent writing and research skills; have a strong attention to detail; be a persuasive speaker; be even-tempered, fair; and be committed to both obtaining American Institute of Certified Planning credentials and practicing the AICP Code of Ethics.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Working knowledge of principles and terms related to general and applied planning, development regulations, land use theory, comprehensive planning and zoning requirements;

Working knowledge of research techniques;

Working knowledge of demographics, population forecasting, housing, land use, and traffic studies;

Working knowledge of math skills including statistical analysis;

Working knowledge of principles, practices and operation of Geographic Information Systems and ArcGIS in particular;

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint;

Working knowledge of advanced federal, state and local laws related to land use, permitting and subdivisions;

Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary;

Ability to prioritize, organize and perform work with minimal direction;

Ability to type at least 30 words per minute;

Ability to compose clear and concise correspondence and technical written documents;

Ability to collect, prepare, and analyze statistical information;

Ability to operate a computer terminal;

Ability to read and interpret site plans and plats;

Ability to work with frequent interruptions;

Ability to perform mathematical operations quickly and accurately;

Ability to operate office equipment, e.g., photocopier, facsimile machine, digital camera, etc.

Licensing/Requirements:

Possession of a valid Idaho driver's license and a safe driving record is required. If selected for employment, out-of-state candidates must obtain a valid Idaho driver's license within the introductory period.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with moderate noise level. The employee in this class is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes;

Employee is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions and is required to negotiate rough terrain in order to conduct site visits which may also involve extreme heat and/or cold;

Frequently requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time, up to 8 hours;

Requires ability to lift up to 40 pounds;

Constantly requires repetitive movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers;

Constantly requires clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;

Constantly requires clear vision to read printed materials and computer screen to accomplish work;

Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment to accomplish the tasks noted above.

Travel Requirements:

Frequent travel is required using city-owned vehicles.