Under direction of the Planning Division Manager, the Zoning Coordinator will within the Planning Division manage a variety of zoning applications and processes which include but are not limited to, zone changes, special reviews, and variance applications. The incumbent will participate as a member of the Current Planning Team, meet with community and civic groups, and make presentations to advisory and governing boards. This position will staff the zoning commissions and board of adjustments for the City and County. The position provides senior level staff support to the Planning Manager regarding zoning activities in the Division and is expected to handle special project assignments independently, as directed. Serves as a lead to lower level planning staff; may directly supervise up to three employees.

Responsibility requires application of professional/managerial principles and judgment, within overall direction established by the Planning Division Manager immediately affecting the Planning Division. Solves complex technical or strategic problems, applies technology or business approaches in new ways; develops and recommends new alternatives. Failures and successes affect performance of the organization and financial impact on the overall organization is moderate due to interaction with Legal, Public Works, and Administration Departments. Requires regular interaction to communicate complex technical information requiring considerable tact, sense of timing, and the ability to engender trust, plus sensitivity to diverse audiences, where relationships affect morale of work units and/or development and maintenance of relationships with customers/vendors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Division Operations

• Receives and processes land use applications and inquiries. Performs site inspections for applications and generates staff reports, including maps, digital photos, tables and mailing lists for the public. Makes presentations to advisory boards and governing bodies.
• Provides information to the general public, business community and other government agencies regarding codes, laws and ordinances; responds to questions, complaints and inquiries. Provides support in coordination with other senior staff to Planner I Team for customer inquiries and processes.
• Researches and writes recommendations for changes and improvements to land use codes.
• Maintains the official Zoning Map to ensure it is accurate and updated as necessary. Supervises the update of the official Zoning History for all parcels within the City and County zoning jurisdiction.
• Ensures all requests for official Zoning information on specific parcels are accurate and correct.
• Ensures the Special Zoning Districts adopted for Yellowstone County are accurately mapped and maintains the district official records of adoption, including any zoning applications within such districts.
• Maintains official records of all Planned Development zones
• Works with developers on complex developments from conceptual developments to complex plan review which may include commercial site plats, master site plans and Planned Neighborhood Developments.
• Provides staff support to the City and County Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment.
• Participates in division-wide long-range planning efforts.

Supervision

• Serves as a lead to lower level planning staff; may be responsible for workload assignments for up to three employees. Provides proper guidance when assigning work. Prioritizes work assigned to lower level staff in an appropriate fashion.
• Assists the Planning Division Manager in selection, training, motivating and evaluating assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training. Coordinates with the Planning Division Manager to work with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
• In coordination with the Planning Division Manager, plans, directs, coordinates, and reviews the work plan for the Planning Division as it applies to zoning and relates to the lower level staffers (up to two Planner I staff members); meets with these staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns work activities, projects and programs; monitors work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures to ensure that correct, efficient, cost effective, and safe work procedures are followed.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Four (4) year degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in planning, public administration, business administration, or a related field
• Two (2) years of management and supervisory experience

OR

• Six (6) years of related work experience in planning, including two (2) years of management and supervisory experience

AND

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or must be obtained within two (2) years of employment