JOB DESCRIPTION

The Fate, Texas Department of Planning & Development Services is seeking an experienced planning professional to join our team as a Senior Planner and help guide the future of our community. The City of Fate is a fast-growing community located in Rockwall County, on the east side of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a community population topping 30,000 and a rapidly-developing commercial core, Fate is quickly transitioning from its bedroom community past to a complete city, with a widening mix of housing, commercial services, and employment opportunities.

The successful candidate for this position will become a key component of the City's small and dynamic Planning & Development Services team. The successful candidate will show the ability to perform advanced, highly-complex professional planning activities and will serve as a key advisor to the Director, at times representing the Department in the Director's absence.

This position will build on the individual's expertise in a wide range of planning and zoning tasks. Given the small staff in the Department, work experience and participation will be broad, multidisciplinary, agile, and always interesting. There will also be a prominent opportunity to lead projects and serve an influential role in the direction of the Department and the City's growth management and development policies. Candidates with working knowledge of GIS in the ESRI environment will receive special consideration.

The position is available at a crucial time, as the City has just begun its work on the five-year update on its 2021 Forward Fate Comprehensive Plan, within which the Senior Planner will provide a supportive role. Other projects currently underway include several residential subdivisions, the large Lafayette Crossing mixed-use development, a number of other notable commercial developments, and the ongoing redevelopment of our downtown district.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under minimal supervision, performs complex and professional planning and development review responsibilities using professional discretion; advises developers and the public in applying planning and zoning regulations and City guidelines to development projects, technical issues, and land use plans. Serves as lead worker, providing guidance and day-to-day directions to other department staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Reviews, manages, and processes complex current planning requests/projects in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan, Unified Development Ordinance, and other adopted plans, studies, and development standards.
• Answers inquiries and assists the public and developers with planning and technical review issues; provides zoning, comprehensive plan, subdivision, transportation analysis, floodplain, and future development information within scope of authority.
• Researches, interprets, and explains codes and ordinance application to specific projects, properties, or situations.
• Coordinates communication between applicant, City departments, and relevant outside agencies for review comments; provides recommendations on how to address review comments.
• Prepares written reports and makes presentations to boards, commissions, committees, and the City Council, as directed.
• Provides technical support to boards, commissions and committees, and for other special meetings.
• Responds to complex questions from citizens, management, City officials, and others.
• Facilitates requests for pre-application and pre-submittal meetings.
• Oversees the preparation and reproduction of publications and educational materials issued by the Department.
• Plans, organizes, and conducts neighborhood meetings, training sessions, and other outreach efforts. Speaks as City representative before public groups.
• Assists with special projects related to code revisions, manual updates, process review, and research to identify patterns and/or discrepancies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Assists with long-range planning efforts, as needed.
• Provides direct professional support to the Director of Planning & Development Services.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Geography, or a related field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of planning and development experience, preferably in a municipal government environment; Master's degree in a related field may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Certification by American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) preferred.
• Working knowledge of GIS in the ESRI environment preferred.
• Possession of a valid Texas driver's license
• A combination of education, training and experience providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.