Planner

Job Summary

The Planner operates under the overall guidance of the Community Development Director. This role entails overseeing, planning, subdivision review, recreational vehicle (RV) and manufactured home park licensing, as well as other vital planning responsibilities. The Planner offers expert planning direction and advice to the public concerning subdivision plans and various development undertakings presented to the County Commission when necessary. Additionally, the Planner aids different departments by providing requested land use data.

About the Role

This position encompasses a range of administrative duties as required. It involves performing advanced professional work related to a variety of planning assignments, managing complex development applications, reviewing plats, permits, site plans, and variance requests, providing direction and guidance to the public regarding development projects, understanding, interpreting, and applying appropriate planning principles and practices, coordinating projects to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and responding to inquiries from the public by telephone, through written correspondence, and in person to provide information to property owners, developers, and other interested parties pertaining to land use application plan reviews, and development procedures and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex development applications; review plats, permits, site plans, and variance requests;
• Provide direction and guidance to the public regarding development projects;
• Understand, interpret, and apply appropriate planning principles and practices;
• Cook up coordination projects to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations;
• Aid different departments by providing requested land use data;
• Offer expert planning direction and advice to the public concerning subdivision plans and various development undertakings presented to the County Commission when necessary;
• Aid in updates and maintenance of the San Juan County Growth Management Plan and land development regulations;
• Write or assist in writing a variety of ordinances and regulations relating to development controls;
• Coordinate staff teams (and public teams when needed) to create and modify major plans, guidelines, and procedures;
• Prepare agenda items for presentation and adoption by the County Commission;
• Respond to inquiries from the public by telephone, through written correspondence, and in person to provide information to property owners, developers, and other interested parties pertaining to land use application plan reviews, and development procedures and regulations;
• Guide private property owners and community members through the review process, providing them with consistent and quality service;
• Conduct research and prepare statistical reports on land use, physical, social & economic issues; research land matters including deeds, surveys and related information;
• Perform field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify that development projects comply with approved plans;
• Present reports and other findings to staff, the public, and the County Commission;
• Interpret and apply applicable state, county and local codes, ordinances, and regulations;
• Identify community challenges, issues, and opportunities in particular neighborhoods that could be mitigated through better community planning; facilitate civic, business and governmental groups to explain policies, plans and procedures related to assigned area of responsibility; advise groups of policy actions and recommend specific courses of action; work closely with elected officials, the private sector and numerous organizations to provide community outreach and collection of data related to community needs, goals and services;
• Schedule and conduct public hearings related to subdivisions and other developments; prepare documentation; summarize information from agency reports, maps, field investigations and other documents;
• Maintain records; prepare and update files.

Requirements

• Education and Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in land use planning, public administration, or a related field and a minimum of two (2) years of professional work experience in the areas of planning or zoning, plat, permit, and site review, and development of plans, policies, and ordinances; or a combination of education and work experience totaling six (6) or more years sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), preferred.
• Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), preferred.
• Valid State of New Mexico Driver's license or able to obtain within six (6) months of employment.

Qualifications

• No environmental factors and conditions/physical requirements are mentioned.
• No noise level is usually moderate.
• No work schedule for this position may include working on religious holidays.
• No utilization, processing, and navigation of the County’s electronic ERP system are mentioned as essential job functions.

Skills

• Experience reviewing subdivision plats, site plans, zoning applications, permits, or variance requests.
• Experience interpreting and applying zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, or land use codes.
• Experience preparing staff reports or recommendations for a Planning Commission, County Commission, City Council, or similar governing body.
• Experience using GIS software and applying it in planning work.
• Experience writing or assisting with ordinances, policies, comprehensive plans, or development regulations.
• Experience providing customer service to property owners, developers, consultants, or the public regarding land use matters.

Benefits

We offer a complete benefits package to eligible employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, life insurance, short-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. To learn more details, visit our benefits page.