Principal Planner II

About the role

This position performs advanced and specialized professional planning work in support of Frederick County’s long-range planning, development review, historic preservation, environmental planning, and community development functions.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex planning projects, policy initiatives, regulatory reviews, and technical studies involving comprehensive planning, land use analysis, development applications, public engagement, and implementation of County planning objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Review and evaluate development applications, subdivision plats, zoning requests, environmental studies, and related planning documents for compliance with County plans, ordinances, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and present technical reports, policy recommendations, planning studies, graphics, correspondence, and public presentations for elected officials, boards, commissions, and stakeholder groups.
• Develop and implement comprehensive plans, area plans, corridor studies, preservation initiatives, functional plans, and related long-range planning documents.
• Conduct advanced research and technical analysis related to land use, zoning, transportation, environmental resources, historic preservation, urban design, growth management, and community development trends.
• Cook up public engagement activities, stakeholder outreach efforts, advisory committee meetings, Technical Advisory Committee meetings, and interagency collaboration processes related to planning initiatives.
• Interpret and apply County, State, and federal planning laws, regulations, policies, and guidance documents to development review, policy development, and planning recommendations.
• Lead or coordinate multidisciplinary planning efforts involving County departments, municipalities, regulatory agencies, consultants, community organizations, and private development interests.
• Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mapping applications, databases, graphic design tools, and data visualization software to analyze information and communicate planning concepts.
• Conduct field reviews, site inspections, and data collection activities to support development review, environmental analysis, historic preservation, and planning studies.
• Provide professional planning assistance and technical guidance to residents, developers, consultants, elected officials, boards, commissions, and other stakeholders regarding planning processes and regulatory requirements.
• Develop transportation elements for all components of the County Comprehensive Plan, with emphasis on active transportation and multi-modal accessibility.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor, evaluate, and report on progress toward transportation goals, initiatives, and supporting strategies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.
• Coordinate the Annual Transportation Priorities Review, including data collection, project evaluation, and preparation of recommendations for County leadership.
• Lead the Toward Zero Deaths Steering Committee, guiding countywide strategies to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on the transportation network.
• Coordinate with transportation agencies at the local, state, and regional levels on transportation projects, programs, and planning initiatives.
• Represent the County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Technical Committee and other advisory bodies, including the County Transportation Services Advisory Council.
• Analyze and interpret data to support reports and studies related to land use, transportation, housing, and demographic trends.
• Deliver presentations to the Planning Commission, County Council, elected officials, community groups, and the general public on transportation planning topics and project updates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field.
• Substitutions for the above-listed required education and experience are a Master’s Degree in urban or regional planning, geography, public administration, or a related field with 3 years of work experience as described above.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Absolutely no substitutions for the above-listed required education and experience.
• Absolutely no preference given for work experience in transportation planning or administrative work experience in grant management or grant writing.
• Absolutely no preference given for planning related certifications, licenses or professional associations.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly sit; frequently perform repetitive motions; occasionally walk; and rarely climb/ascend/descend, stoop/kneel/crouch, reach and drive.
• While working in the position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors; and rarely work outdoors.

Additional Information / Examination Process

• An evaluation of training and experience
• One or more interviews
• A pre-employment physical examination and drug test

Retirement Plan

• A defined benefit retirement plan is provided for all regular County employees.
• Employees are automatically enrolled in either the Uniformed Plan (5 year vesting) or the Non-Uniformed Plan (5 year vesting, effective 07/01/2024) depending upon position classification.
• The majority of support for the plan is provided by the County; however, employee contributions are also required.