The City of Bellevue is rapidly maturing into a tech-centric, diverse, metropolitan city within the Central Puget Sound Region. The city's planning team is looking for a creative individual with the technical expertise and passion to help us shape and catalyze positive change in the community. Ideal candidates will have a curious mind, technical prowess, research skills, ability to think beyond the usual or ordinary, and prioritize inclusivity in social and community issues.

This position is part of the Community Development Department's Comprehensive Planning Team. The department's vision is to secure Bellevue's future as a livable, inspiring, vibrant and equitable community. The Comprehensive Planning Team conducts a broad range of work including comprehensive planning (annual plan amendments), neighborhood area planning, community engagement, regional policy support, trends analysis and special initiatives as requested by City Council and City Manager's Office. The successful candidate will dedicate a majority of their time to neighborhood area planning and implementation of the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan. They will have the ability to explain complicated issues in a range of public settings. Furthermore, they will have an analytical and methodical mindset, and an ability to adapt to shifting work issues and demands.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Skills and Professional Experience

The Community Development Department is looking for a mix of experience and skills that provide as much of the following as possible:

• Carry out planning projects involving complex technical analysis and policy development.
• Manage potentially controversial issues involving elected and appointed officials and a broad spectrum of interested parties.
• Develop and execute work programs for impactful city projects, including local, regional and state coordination as needed.
• Work constructively in teams that span multiple city departments and partner agencies, using communication and shared leadership skills to achieve multiple objectives.
• Conduct complex technical analysis for updating the comprehensive plan, plan amendments, neighborhood plans, affordable housing strategy implementation, regional policy, land use code development and area-wide rezoning.
• Communicate effectively with peers, City Council, Planning Commission and other stakeholders on planning issues in a manner that develops and maintains positive relationships.
• Represent the city at neighborhood organizations and community meetings, at public hearings, and before elected and appointed bodies.
• Evaluate program accomplishments against established goals and timetables and make recommendations that will be used in future projects.
• Provide backup support to staff the Planning Commission.

Qualifications

• Think conceptually, observe and evaluate trends, analyze data, draw logical conclusions and make sound decisions.
• Plan, develop and manage work programs and budgets for complex projects.
• Coordinate staff and consultant teams to deliver project results.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected and appointed officials, citizen groups, and the public.
• Create and effectively execute inclusive engagement plans to support initiatives and programs.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including preparation and delivery of public presentations.
• Contribute to the City of Bellevue's core values of excellent public service, stewardship, commitment to employees, integrity and innovation.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year university in planning, urban planning, urban geography, environmental studies, or a closely related field. A master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum five years, with seven years preferred, of progressively responsible related experience in comprehensive planning at the state, regional or local level.
• Alternatively, a clear equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required mix of knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Certification as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry objects up to 40 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet.

Flexible/Hybrid Working:

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position following an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to the department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.