Senior Planner (Planner III) – City of Golden

The City of Golden is currently seeking Senior Planner (Planner III) applicants. Come and see why the City of Golden is the place you want to be!

Being a Golden employee is more than just a job, it’s a lifestyle. Golden is a vibrant outdoor community making it a great place to live, work and play. 

• Location, location, location – Work near great restaurants and shops, hit the trails, and enjoy the outdoor scenery of Clear Creek and the foothills. Convenient commuting from all directions.
• Paid time off – Paid vacation starts at 16 days (that’s over 3 weeks!), plus 12 days of sick time and 12 paid holidays each year.
• Great benefits – The City matches up to 8% of your retirement contributions, plus offers a full-spectrum of benefits and perks, including tuition reimbursement (check it out)!

Provides professional senior-level planning services to the city in accordance with City comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances. Serves as lead planner for complex project proposals and programs. Under the direction of the Planning Manager, prepares land use related recommendations for zoning administration, building permit review, Historic Preservation Board, Planning Commission, and City Council.
 
The ideal candidates will possess the following characteristics:

• Experience working with the public, especially relating to community planning processes, and transforming a diverse array of input into goals, strategies and policies
• Comfortable speaking in formal public meetings, as well as the ability to connect with small groups and individuals and understand their concerns
• Experience with form-based zoning codes, and the ability formulate recommended changes to meet the goals of the community as it relates to development outcomes
• Experience with all aspects of the development and entitlement process including platting, site planning, design review, development and subdivision agreements, easements, annexation agreements and metro and special districts with the ability to review and administer with minimal direction while maintaining a collaborative process
• Demonstrates professionalism, resilience, and the ability to handle conflict in a calm, objective, and solution-oriented manner.
• Organized, energetic, collaborative, and enthusiastic about helping the community discover and achieve its goals
• Ability to see the big picture and generate creative ideas and approaches, as well as focus on details such as zoning codes, policy implementation, and legal documents
• Capable of interpreting zoning regulations, site plans and architectural drawings, and policy documents and communicating analysis through concise writing, graphics, and illustrations in formal staff reports
• Ability to thrive and engage in a team-based culture

Applicants not fully qualified for the Senior Planner (Planner III) position may be considered as a City Planner (Planner II) candidate, dependent upon qualifications and experience. See full description of the City Planner duties and requirements here. The City Planner hiring range is $69,250-$83,101 annually. 

• Serves as lead planner on large complex projects and programs. Supervises and/or participates in land use, proposal pre-planning meetings, application assessment, code requirements, case preparation, and distribution.
• Includes planners in review of complex applications as an opportunity for training, education, and mentorship.
• Serves as staff liaison to Historic Board and Planning Commission as assigned.
• Responsible for various boards and commission duties as assigned by the Planning Supervisor.
• Represents the city in case presentation for the Historic Preservation Board, Planning Commission and City Council.
• Supervises and/or participates in case follow-up concerning conditions and final preparation for recording; drafts and approves ordinances and zoning map changes for annexations.
• Supervises and/or participates in comprehensive plan revision, drafting, coordination, preparation, redrafting, amendment approval, plan printing, and distribution.
• Develops and implement goals, strategies, and policy in development review and management of special projects.
• Coordinates reviews of the comprehensive plan for the Planning Commission and City Council approval.
• Build strong working partnerships with City departments, consultants, board and commission members, external partners and agencies and the Golden community to implement plans and projects.
• Processes Historic Preservation cases as assigned.
• Manages special projects concerning infrastructure and facility planning, Historic Preservation, grant administration, and education.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
May supervise interns that assist with projects for a short term period. Assigns projects to planners based on workload. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Must possess a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
AICP Certification with Bachelor’s Degree

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Ability to understand the social and emotional dynamics associated with the public decision making process, and effectively interpret what is being expressed in order to negotiate solutions among groups with diverse and seemingly conflicting goals.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally. Ability to work with people in difficult situations. Must exhibit an extremely high degree of independent action working with department heads, appointed boards and commissions, citizens, developers, as well as City Manager and City Council. Ability to work effectively with the public works department and other related departments.

MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY USED
Telephone, copier, computer, printer, camera, AV equipment, fax machine, and SMART technology.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit and reach with hands and arms.   The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.