JOB DESCRIPTION

SENIOR PLANNER

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range (Starting Salary): $74,378 - $92,946

Anticipated closing date is December 29, 2025, however, applications will be continued to be accepted until the position is full

INTRODUCTION

Lone Tree's planning team manages a wide variety of current development and long-range planning projects; this position will support that work and lend senior-level expertise, in the areas of the public realm, including urban and natural public spaces, as well as parks, trails and open space systems. This position will conduct both development review and long-range master planning activities. Lone Tree has over 1,300 acres of dedicated open space, over 200 acres of parkland, over 75 miles of public trails, and other recreational and cultural assets, such as the Schweiger Ranch historic property.

At the City of Lone Tree, we lead the way with exemplary service, collaborative partnerships, and continuous improvement. Our team members serve with integrity, respect, and work inclusively with an appreciation for individual differences and diverse backgrounds. We achieve organizational goals through collaborative problem solving, planning, and decision-making. Our goal is to develop plans that are visionary, resilient, innovative and practical, and that guide Lone Tree toward a vibrant future. Big-picture, outside-the-box thinkers thrive in this environment and find value in bringing new ideas to the table.

Under the direction of the Planning Manager, this position is responsible for:

• Ensuring a deliberate and coordinated approach to the planning and management of Lone Tree's public realms, and implementing important community goals such as the preservation and activation of open spaces in a site sensitive manner;
• Implementing the Comprehensive Plan's strategic action items associated with public lands management and public spaces, to include developing a Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan and associated design and maintenance standards;
• Engaging in public realm design with a focus on creating public spaces that provide opportunities for creative expression, social connection, business vitality and vibrant public life.

This position will manage complex projects and will make recommendations for action on land use projects and policy proposals to the Planning Commission and City Council. The ideal candidate will be innovative, collaborative, possess a background in public realm design and/or public lands and/or natural resource planning and development, evaluate and apply current planning objectives within the context of long-range planning goals, and collect and analyze data and master plans to inform long-range planning decisions. Regional relationships are integral to Lone Tree's success. Lone Tree relies on numerous service districts to provide park and open space programming and maintenance; the ideal candidate for this position is a diplomatic professional who understands the important nuances of relationship management and who can collaborate with numerous departments and agencies to innovatively solve problems and achieve shared objectives.

This job might be for you if:

• You have the desire and capacity to help build enduring, sustainable, equitable and vibrant public spaces. You have passion, skills and experience that you want to apply to building innovative, accessible and dynamic public spaces and to manage public lands to protect environmental resources and preserve such lands for the benefit of future generations.
• You geek out on research and analysis. You love to find and communicate the story behind the data.
• You enjoy communicating ideas visually. You have skills and appetite to make our maps and presentations eye-catching and easy to understand through graphics and crisp design.
• Collaboration is your jam. You enjoy working closely with teams. You are comfortable playing a support role on some projects while collaborating as a leader or manager on others.
• You want to bring people together. You love community engagement and get excited thinking about ways to get more people meaningfully involved in shaping the future of their public lands and spaces.
• You have project management chops. You are organized, love checking boxes off your to-do list, and are excited by complex projects.

Education/Experience

Any combination of education and experience, which demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the Public Lands Planner's essential duties and responsibilities is qualifying.

Common ways to demonstrate such capabilities include:

• Bachelor's degree in Land Use Planning, Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning. Direct experience in urban planning and/or long-range planning strongly desired.
  • Master's degree in Land Use Planning or Community Development is preferred and may substitute for two (2) years of work experience.
• Associate's degree in Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related field, AND eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in local government or private sector planning may substitute for a bachelor's degree.

The City of Lone Tree provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Human Resources at HR@cityoflonetree.comwithin three business days' notice.

To review a comprehensive position description please view the complete job posting: https://cityoflonetree.bamboohr.com/careers/64

BENEFITS

Our benefits include:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and supplemental health plans.
• Work-Life Balance: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives to support your overall well-being.
• Financial Security: Employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and voluntary life insurance options.
• Retirement Planning: Multiple retirement savings options, including 457, 401(k), and Roth IRA plans, as well as participation in PERA and FPPA pension plans.
• Commuter Perks: Enjoy the convenience of an RTD EcoPass for public transportation.

BENEFITS

Our benefits include:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and supplemental health plans.
• Work-Life Balance: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives to support your overall well-being.
• Financial Security: Employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and voluntary life insurance options.
• Retirement Planning: Multiple retirement savings options, including 457, 401(k), and Roth IRA plans, as well as participation in PERA and FPPA pension plans.
• Commuter Perks: Enjoy the convenience of an RTD EcoPass for public transportation.