Planner Specialist - TIF

This is a closed competitive posting. Applicants must be a current or former City of Omaha employee in one of the following categories: Part-time, Seasonal, Classified, Unclassified, or Probationary. Candidates must have worked at least 1,040 cumulative hours within the last 5 years, been employed by the City within the last 18 months, and meet the qualifications outlined in this posting.

About the Role

This is entry-level para-professional planning work involving assistance in the research of planning projects, grant programs, and other duties within the Planning Department. Work is performed according to established policies and procedures and is subject to review by a superior.

Qualifications

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired through the following combinations of education and/or experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and one (1) year of experience in administrative planning procedures;
• Two (2) years of college-level studies and five (5) years of experience in administrative planning procedures; or
• Eight (8) years of experience in administrative planning procedures.

Responsibilities

The following duties are essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Maintains regular job attendance as scheduled by the supervisor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates within the scope of this classification.

Economic Development Division

• Assists with all economic development administrative tasks.
• Prepares and proofs written communications in coordination with the Secretary.
• Assists, prepares, and proofs Planning Board and City Council documents, including resolutions and ordinances.
• Prepares financing documents, including Promissory Notes, Assignments of Promissory Notes, and related servicing documents.
• Assists with the analysis of project budgets, return on investment, pro formas, and project feasibility.
• Coordinates mailings and tracks copying and printing needs.
• Assists with PowerPoint presentation preparations.
• Assists with the preparation of reports demonstrating the role and impact of city-administered incentive tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), and Enhanced Employment Area (EEA) on the local economy and neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Assists with tracking and processing fees assessed for Economic Development projects.
• Assists with and/or maintains databases and project management systems such as the Excel TIF Cumulative Log, Accela system, and other tools used for city-administered incentive programs.
• Assists with monitoring and updating content for websites related to city-administered incentive tools and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
• Assists with data collection, management, and analysis of city-administered incentive tools, including TIF, and performs market research and analysis to better understand the City’s project portfolio and aid in the deployment of incentives.
• Assists with the TIF Audit process, as well as monitoring and reporting tax delinquencies of TIF projects.
• Assists with monitoring Board of Equalization (BOE) Protests of TIF projects.
• Assists with monitoring TIF Districts, area-wide TIF Districts, or TIRZs such as the Urban Core Housing and Mobility Redevelopment Plan Area.
• Schedules and coordinates meetings for Economic Development staff.
• Answers and screens phone calls for Economic Development staff, providing information to callers or routing calls as appropriate.

Skills

• Knowledge of and ability to operate computers and technology using standard or customized software applications.
• Knowledge of urban planning, zoning, and land use principles.
• Skill in conducting research, gathering data, and compiling statistical reports.
• Ability to learn and adapt to advances in computer and electronics device technology and software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to understand written or oral instructions.
• Ability to adhere to safety policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Physical ability to stand, walk, type, or sit frequently, and to reach, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, pull, or lift occasionally.
• Ability to use up to ten (10) pounds of force to move objects occasionally and lesser amounts continuously.

Pay

$54,745.60 with step increases to $79,414.40 annually.

Benefits

• Forty-hour work week.
• Paid leave per year: twelve days vacation, five days management leave, fifteen days sick leave, and fifteen holidays.
• Group health insurance, including major medical, vision, and dental for individual or family coverage.
• Defined benefit pension plan, plus Social Security.

Conditions of Employment

• Candidates must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or authorization to work without sponsorship.
• The City of Omaha reserves the right to conduct pre-employment inquiries, including verification of employment history, educational attainment, driving, credit, and criminal convictions, as well as hearing, drug, functional capacity, psychological, vision, and medical tests.
• Failure to provide requested information truthfully, timely, accurately, and completely may result in disqualification, revocation of a conditional offer, or termination.

Examination Information

The examination will consist of a structured interview, scheduled at a later date, to assess job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. The final eligibility list will be assembled from candidates achieving a passing score of 60% on the structured interview (100% weight).